As we approach Chinese New Year Eve on Feb 11th, the menu is our daily hot topic. Taierzhuang’s LanQi Restaurant has prepared dinner sets that incorporate many local specialties with canal flavors from neighboring Jiangsu Province.

Rizhao boasts to grow the best green tea in northern China. It is called “Rizhao Qing”, directly translated to the “Rizhao Green”. As compared with China’s well-known tea brand, the “Long Jing”, Rizhao Green’s fragrance is more intense and its tea leaf body is curvy and larger. By official record, Rizhao is recognized as one of the top three seaside green tea cities by the World Tea Association. Rizhao produces 1,500 tons of tea annually, about 50% of Shandong’s total tea output. The best tea garden you should not miss is called, “Yu Hai…

The hot and sour mullet egg soup is made of fresh squid slices, local vinegar and secret mixed spices. Mullet egg is a high ticket item. So it goes into the soup. This is the #1 local delicacy of Rizhao.

Xi Shi Tong is Rizhao’s local treat. Direct translated – Xishi is “clam”; and Tong is “tongue”. Quite a fresh and refreshing experience.

A new bike route to take you to sights in Rizhao while you enjoy the good weather and scenery – Lighthouse Scenic Area.

Here’s a project to convert old farm houses into modern houses. Great work Rizhao! Some are even opened as rental homestays.

The number of cultural relics exhibited in the new Juzhou Museum has increased from a little over 800 pieces to more than 2000 pieces. The new hall contains 6 special exhibitions such as Dongyi Regional Historical Highlights, Dawn of Civilization, Ju Kingdom, Works of Liu Xie, Famous Calligraphy and Paintings, and Steles of Generalization.

The number of cultural relics exhibited in the new Juzhou Museum has increased from a little over 800 pieces to more than 2000 pieces. The new hall contains 6 special exhibitions such as Dongyi Regional Historical Highlights, Dawn of Civilization, Ju Kingdom, Works of Liu Xie, Famous Calligraphy and Paintings, and Steles of Generalization.

Nine Angel Peak is part of the Five Lotus mountain range in Rizhao. It is ruggedized, elegant, and challenging, but yet enticing to climbers of all ages.

The Bamboo World is a bamboo garden with Polynesian-style performances by exotic ethnic dancers and singers from Yunnan Province of Southern China. The farm covers 163 acres with over 100 varieties of bamboos, including moso, henon, mottled, and indocalamus, black bamboo, etc. All the bamboo trees are imported from Southern China. Bamboo in China symbolizes persistency, beauty and romance. You will see bamboo-themed historical or fabled statues and sculptures dotted throughout the bamboo garden. You will also find tea houses…

Rizhao boasts to grow the best green tea in northern China. It is called “Rizhao Qing”, directly translated to the “Rizhao Green”. As compared with China’s well-known tea brand, the “Long Jing”, Rizhao Green’s fragrance is more intense and its tea leaf body is curvy and larger. By official record, Rizhao is recognized as one of the top three seaside green tea cities by the World Tea Association. Rizhao produces 1,500 tons of tea annually, about 50% of Shandong’s total tea output. The best tea garden you should not miss is called, “Yu Hai…

Wan Ping Kou is Rizhao’s official city center beach, stretching out to 5 km long. This place used to be a docking spot for ancient merchant ships. Today, it is also where the “Sun worshipping ceremony” that takes place every New Year’s Day happens. Adjacent to the beach is the city’s Olympic sailing site, where the city regularly hosted world sailing annual national tournaments. Without a doubt, the sailing event of the 2008 Beijing Olympics is the talk of local pride.

This is the best looking forest of 2,000 acres with 80% tree coverage in Shandong. Within the forest borders, there is a 7 km coastal beach with extremely fine sand. Walking and biking paths have been maintained at top conditions. In the summer, flowers of hundreds of varieties are in full blossom. There are about 70 forest staffers who provide guided tours during travel seasons. And in the winter, forest workers plant new trees joyfully. Take a listen into the many stories they can tell you.

The Five Lotus Mountain is known for several of its peaked valleys. A 10,000 acre wild rhododendron garden just around the corner is blossomed in spring. Temples & schools are buried in the woods. A good place to recharge.

The Heshan Scenic Area consists of the three largest: Rizhao world’s largest giant stone carved cliff, which became the new symbol of Rizhao City; the ancient Asian city, Liangcheng; and Heshan Mountain, the beauty of China. Archaeologists have found relics of Liangcheng with proof that it is the oldest city in Asia.

A beautiful community with such dense forests and fresh air, it is often a popular place for city slickers too. You can enjoy great outdoor activities such as taking a walk, hiking, or participate in temple events. Prefer a more relaxing activity? There is a tea garden in the park as well.

A little township community that is located on 4 small islands has a combination of food, lifestyle, exploring, shopping, and fun among these islands. The bar and food street are the top 2 must-see places here.

Less than an hour from the Gingko Tree, there is a county museum that is highly recommended to visit. It is the largest county museum in Shandong, possibly in the entire China. The Ju Kingdom (aka Ju State) was established during the Shang Dynasty (1571-1046 BC).  As compared with Lu and Qi State, the Ju Kingdom is small. But the king of the Ju Kingdom was good at maneuvering large neighboring states. Historical artifacts are unearthed in Ju (state) that had pronounced the beginning of China’s Bronze Age.

Immediately, your glance will shift to a huge gingko tree upon entering the temple courtyards. The tree is over 27 meters high and 5 meters in diameter; making it the oldest “Gingko Tree on Earth”, at 4,000 years of age. It is regarded as a living fossil in the biological world. This tree has witnessed many historical events such as the most important truce between the Lu and Ju Kingdom around 1,000 BC. It took place under the same shade that you may stand before. Reenactments of the historical moment are available in the summer.

Dinglin Temple is among the oldest temples in Shandong. First constructed in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420 AD), the temple reached its peak popularity in the Southern and Northern Dynasties (420-589 AD). In this ancient temple, author, Liu Xie (465-523 AD) wrote China’s first and best known art review book, The Literary Mind and the Carving of the Dragon. It is an aesthetic and literary critique book.

6 km west of the ancient city state of Ju, in what is now Juxian County, lies a natural preservation of Shandong’s geological ruins. Mt. Fulai is elegant, refined, and graceful. It has a large number of historical sites. In the Dinglin Temple on the mountain, there are 3 pavilions by the pond and a large number of historic inscriptions. Numerous cliff side inscriptions can be found on Cloud and Dragon Precipice. The Mystic Rock Valley and the stories about the ancient Great Wall are topics that locals are proud to brag about.

Street/shopping mall

Started out 4500 years ago locally, Rizhao’s Black Pottery gains its fame as pottery of the Longshan culture. It is called “the treasure of early civilization” by historians. Rizhao black pottery is elegantly with delicate texture, and exquisite craftsmanship. In addition, it is a collectable art collection. It is primarily used to make tea.

Rizhao is known as the “first tea in Jiangbei” and it is the northernmost tea in China. It features a strong aroma, rich taste, and thick leaves. Good tea is attributed to the latitude and moisture. Rizhao enjoys both.

Hanfu, a type of traditional Chinese clothing, is one of the key symbols that will be celebrated in Rizhao’s Flower Festival.

June 19th of Chinese Lunar calendar. There are huge gatherings to bow to the Sun, drums rock the sky, folk singing and dancing. June 19th is the Sun’s birthday according to local rituals.

A local traditional ceremony that has been carried over for centuries.

Sep 23rd, the National Harvest Day is celebrated at “Shanhaitian” Resort. Shandong is a big agricultural province. Local farmers celebrate their season by dancing in their traditional costumes or singing ancient tunes. The festivity last for 2 days.

A tradition for toasting three rounds is what will kick off the Sea Ceremony. The first to thank for the harvest; second to wish someone’s safety and health; and third, to fill the fishing boats with plenty of fishes.60 fishermen are usually selected to toast to the sea. After a dragon dance, fishing boats undock and sail away.

Rizhao’s fishermen sacrifice pigs & sheep to show their tribute to sea dragons. On the birthday of the sea dragon, ritual performances to worship him take place in Rizhao. Usually that day is the opening of the fishing season for the year.