Escape the Crowds: A Guide to Rizhao's Best Kept Secrets

🚗 [New Transportation Options: High-Speed Rail + Coastal Cycling] In May 2025, Rizhao West Station introduced a new "High-Speed Rail + Scenic Spot Shuttle" service. Upon exiting the station, you can seamlessly transfer to a sightseeing bus by scanning a QR code. I chose a top-level seat on the double-decker bus. To my left was the vast, blue sea, and to my right were rolling green hills. Each stop was accompanied by audio commentary. When the bus reached Wanpingkou, everyone on board collectively gasped. The 4,400m golden coastline looked like a blue ribbon floating towards the horizon. Cycling enthusiasts are recommended to rent an electric bike (CNY 20/hr) and chase the wind along Bihai Road. Remember to stop at the corner of "Taigong Island Oyster Park," where you'll find a hidden gem: a "T-junction leading to the sea," perfect for capturing a shot reminiscent of "Our Little Sister"! 🌅 [Must-Capture Moments: A Symphony of Sunrise and Stars] 🌇 Wanpingkou Gate 3 · Orange Sea at 5 AM At 5:20 AM, I rushed to "Coffee and Sea" at Wanpingkou Gate 3 in the dark, ordered a Rizhao green tea latte, and sat by the white piano to wait for the sunrise. At 6:08 AM, the sunlight pierced through the clouds, instantly turning the sea into a tangerine color. Photographer Lao Li handed me a smoke pellet: "Girl, press the shutter when the seagulls fly by!" Sure enough, the moment the seagulls' wings swept across the light, the photo straight from my phone looked like a National Geographic cover. 🌌 Lighthouse Scenic Area · The Magical Night of Blue Tears At 8 PM, I squatted in the reef area south of the lighthouse. As the waves crashed against the rocks, creating a ghostly blue fluorescence, the sound of shutters echoed throughout the area. A local guide secretly shared a tip: throw sand into the waves using a mineral water bottle to create an even larger area of blue tears! Remember to wear non-slip shoes. I almost slipped into the "Avatar world" while trying to capture a slow shutter shot. 🏝️ [Secret Spot Attack: Private Play Options to Avoid Crowds] ✨ Non-Core Area of ​​Seaside Forest Park Avoid the crowds at the main entrance and sneak into the "Elk Secret Realm" from Forest Park Gate 2. Spend CNY 10 to buy a bag of carrots and hand-feed the elk herd. When their wet noses brush against your palm, you'll feel like you've traveled into the forest of "Princess Mononoke." Even more amazing is the morning in "Linhai Slow Road." The mist flows through the cedar forest. Run against the light in a white dress, and your hair will be plated with gold. 🐚 Wujiattai Village Beachcombing Blind Box At 3 PM, when the tide recedes, rush into the reef area of ​​Wujiattai and learn the secrets from the "Beachcombing Brothers" wearing fluorescent vests: • Round hole = clam (automatically pokes its head out 30 seconds after sprinkling salt) • Eight-shaped hole = crab (use chopsticks to clip the third pair of walking feet) • Crescent mark = cat's eye snail (quickly shovel sand 3 cm deep) In 1 hour, you can dig up half a bucket of seafood, which the neighboring fisherman's family will process into a spicy stir-fry platter for CNY 20. It's so fresh that your tongue will hurt! 🦀 [Late Night Canteen: A Double Attack of Seafood and Carbohydrates] 🍲 Chocolate Fisherman's Family · The Ultimate Steamed Seafood Experience The most amazing meal I had in Rizhao in three days! Live mantis shrimp and palm-sized oysters are thrown directly into the steam pot. When the hourglass timer reaches 3 minutes and 30 seconds, the lid is lifted, and the fresh, sweet seafood aroma mixed with the fragrance of corn hits your face. Hidden way to eat: mix Wuchang rice with seafood juice, then add a spoonful of spicy fried sea intestines. The happiness of carbohydrates + protein is directly sealed. 🌮 Dongyi Town · The Gastronomic Battlefield at 2 AM Dongyi Town after 10 PM is the climax! I recommend "Sea Sand Noodles" with "Mackerel Pot Stickers." The noodle soup, which costs CNY 15/bowl, is so fresh that you can drink it all the way to the bottom. The bottom of the pot stickers is as crispy as potato chips. Secretly tell you: tell the stall owner to "ask for Teacher Zheng's recommendation" to unlock the hidden "Seaweed Seed Hot Pot" - a seasonal fresh product only available from March to May, paired with ancient sun-dried sauce, so fresh that your mind will take off! 🏡 [Accommodation Surprise: Sleep in a Landscape Painting] 🌌 Noah Cliff Beauty Inn · Whispers of Caves and Stars A newly opened Wabi-sabi style homestay in Wujiattai embeds the rooms into sea-eroded caves. Wake up in the morning to the sound of the rising tide, and open the floor-to-ceiling windows to step on the reef and go beachcombing. The moon shells you dig up can be directly handed over to the kitchen to make sashimi. The most amazing thing is the rock wall swimming pool. Float in it at night and look up at the stars, as if you are in "Interstellar." ⛺ Senhai Camping Base · Fall Asleep to the Sound of Waves Parents with children must rush to the starlight tent in Shanhaitian. The smart skylight opens automatically in the early morning, and the Milky Way is so clear that you can see the Big Dipper handle. Wake up in the morning by the seagulls, and the butler will bring you a picnic basket: freshly baked Rizhao pancakes rolled with toon sprouts, served with iced mulberry juice. This is the right way to open a seaside vacation! 📸 [2025 Exclusive Tips] 1️⃣ Avoid Peak Hours: Rush to Liujiwan Beachcombing Garden on the mornings of May 2–3, and visit the Forest Park in reverse in the afternoon. 2️⃣ Photography Equipment: Polarizing filter + 70–200mm telephoto lens are essential for capturing wave textures and blue tears. 3️⃣ Beachcombing Tools: Buy a small iron shovel + salt jar (CNY 15/set) at Gumo Early Market, which is 50% cheaper than in scenic spots. 4️⃣ Dressing Tips: White long dress + straw hat, the beach shooting comes with a reflector effect 5️⃣ Transportation Benefits: Use the "Rizhao Hui Parking" mini program to receive an electronic pass, and one code can be used for buses/sightseeing buses/ferries. When I finished gnawing on the last spicy crab on the reef in Wujiattai, the sea breeze suddenly lifted my notebook - the falling pages read the blue tear observation record from last night: "The so-called secret realm is just that brave people are willing to take a few more steps to kiss the waves hidden by time." Perhaps this is the magic of Rizhao - buying a carnival to escape the crowds with a CNY 40 seafood pot, and even the starlight has become a romantic footnote 🌌. Practical Coordinates 📍Wanpingkou Gate 3: No. 399 Bihai Road, Donggang District (navigate to "Coffee and Sea") 📍Wujiattai Beachcombing Area: East side of Wujiattai Village, Shanhaitian Tourist Resort ⚠️ Note: The temperature difference between morning and evening in May is large, so prepare a windproof jacket; some seafood stalls need to be booked in advance.