This lesser-known seaside town accessible by high-speed rail has been my secret for three years

Did you know there’s a "City of Light" hidden on the map of Shandong?
While Qingdao’s Zhanqiao Pier is packed with visitors
And Weihai’s popular street forms long lines
This place still preserves the slow coastal pace of 20 years ago

Riding the high-speed train across the southern hills of Shandong
The moment you step off the train, the sea breeze embraces you fully
Wanpingkou’s 4 km golden sandy beach is just for you and the whispering waves
At 5 am in Lighthouse Square
Watch the sunrise tear open the horizon with dazzling golden light

Turn into the old town’s Shijiu Market
The weathered stone walls still hold propaganda posters from the 1980s
Seafood vendors lift steaming baskets
Fat oysters, three for 10 yuan, carry the salty freshness of the Pacific
An elderly man picking bamboo wares murmurs tidal patterns in dialect
As if this city has never been disturbed by the digital age

Here’s how I recommend you explore Rizhao:
1. Wait for a sunset over the orange sea at Renjiatai Reef Park
2. Enjoy coffee and listen to pages turning with the ocean waves at the Ocean Aesthetics Museum
3. Ride a bike through the dawn mist of the coastal forest park’s dawn redwoods
4. Spend 30 yuan at the university town night market to taste a blind box of Shandong flavors

Special reminder:
Check the tide schedule before clam digging
Pair sea cucumber rice with ice-cold Tsingtao beer
Choose a homestay at Wujia Tai Fisherman’s Guesthouse
Avoid the crowds in July and August

This underrated Eastern Sun City
Replaces trendy BGM with fishermen’s boat songs
Heals urban anxiety with 10-yuan seafood noodles
In Rizhao, you won’t find luxury goods
But you can reclaim the time the city stole from you

(It still quietly shines on the list of hidden gems)