Rizhao, Shandong Province, China

🇨🇳 Rizhao, alternatively Jihchao, is a prefecture-level city in south-eastern Shandong province, China. It is situated on the coastline along the Yellow Sea, and features a major seaport. It borders Qingdao to the north-east, Weifang to the north, Linyi to the west and south-west, and faces Korea and Japan across the Yellow Sea to the east.

The name of the city literally means "sunshine". The city is known for its sustainability, and it mandates solar-water heaters in all new buildings. Rizhao city was recognised by the United Nations as one of the most habitable cities in the world in 2009.

The urban area consists of Donggang District.

History Rizhao is located at the place where the ancient Dawenkou culture and the Longshan culture flourished. Rizhao belonged to the Dongyi people during the Xia and Shang dynasties (2070-1046 BC), and to Ju and Yue States in the Spring and Autumn period (770-476 BC) and the Warring States period (476-221 BC). It became a part of Langye Commandery in the Qin dynasty (221-206 BC). Rizhao was named Haiqu County (海曲縣) during the Western Han (206 BC-25 AD) and Xihai County under the Eastern Han (25-220 AD).

During the Tang dynasty, together with Ju County, Rizhao belonged to Mi Prefecture of Henan Prefecture. In the second year of the Yuanyou Period of the Song dynasty, Rizhao Township was established, with the name meaning "(the first to get) sunshine". In the 24th year of the Dading Period of the Jin dynasty, Rizhao County was established. In 1940 it came under the control of the Communist Party of China. After being a county and since 1985 a city under the administration of Linyi, Rizhao became a prefecture-level city within Shandong province in 1989.

The Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago has done field survey archaeological work in Rizhao over the years.

Administration The prefecture-level city of Rizhao administers four county-level divisions, including two districts and two counties. • Donggang District (东港区) • Lanshan District (岚山区) • Ju County (莒县) • Wulian County (五莲县).

Landmarks and tourist attractions The following locations have a 4-star rating according to Chinese classification for scenic spots (旅游景区质量等级) • Wulian Mountain (五莲山风景区) • Fulai Mountain (浮来山风景区) • Daqing Mountain (大青山风景区) • Wanpingkou Beach (万平口风景区) • Rizhao Beach National Park (日照海滨国家森林公园) • Longmengu (龙门崮风景区) • Liujiawan Park (刘家湾赶海园).

Sustainable development The city now mandates the incorporation of solar panels in all new buildings, and oversees the construction process to ensure the panels are correctly installed. The effort to install solar water heaters began in 1992.

Transport Rizhao features a major seaport (Port of Rizhao), located approximately 620 km (390 mi) north of Shanghai, 170 km (110 mi) south-west of Qingdao, and 120 km (75 mi) north of Lianyungang. The seaport serves as a site for loading and unloading iron ore and coal. Other products passing through the harbor include cement, nickel, bauxite, and the like. In 2011 the Port of Rizhao, together with the cities of Qingdao, Weihai and Yantai in Shandong, signed a strategic alliance with Busan, the largest port of the Republic of Korea. The alliance aims at building a shipping and logistics centre in Northeast Asia. The new iron ore port of Lanqiao is located close to it as is the Lanshan port region.

Rizhao Shanzihe Airport (IATA: RIZ) is an airport serving the city of Rizhao. The airport received approval from the State Council and the Central Military Commission in October 2013. It is located in the town of Houcun  (后村镇), Donggang District. It was opened on 22 December 2015.

The city is served by two railway stations, Rizhao railway station for local trains and Rizhao West railway station for both local and high-speed services.

Universities and colleges Since becoming a city, Rizhao has seen a significant growth in the number of universities and colleges, all of which are located in or near the University City (大学城) of Donggang District. • Qufu Normal University (曲阜师范大学) • Jining Medical University (济宁医学院) • Rizhao Polytechnic (日照技术职业学院) • Shandong Foreign Languages Vocational College (山东外国语职业学院) • Shandong Maritime Vocational College (山东海事职业学院) • Shandong Sport College (山东体育学院) • Shandong Water Polytechnic (山东水利学院).