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Rizhao (Chinese:日照; pinyin:Rìzhào), alternatively romanized as Jihchao, is a prefecture-level city in southeastern Shandongprovince, China. It is situated on the coastline along the Yellow Sea, and features a major seaport, the Port of Rizhao. It borders Qingdao to the northeast, Weifang to the north, Linyi to the west and southwest, and faces Korea and Japan across the Yellow Sea to the east.
The name of the city literally means "sunshine".[4] The city is known for its sustainability, and it mandates solar-water heaters in all new buildings. Rizhao city was recognized by the United Nations as one of the most habitable cities in the world in 2009.[5][6]
The city population stands at 2,968,365 people as of the 2020 Chinese census, of whom 1,172,205 live in the urban area of Donggang District. As of 2024, the resident population is estimated at 2,929,000. Compared with the 2,801,013 people in 2010 Chinese census, there has been a total increase of 167,352 people in the past decade, an increase of 5.97%, with an average annual growth rate of 0.58%.[7]
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). The fangsheng pond of Haiqu's early Buddhist community is the earliest attested.[8]
During the Tang dynasty, together with Ju County, Rizhao belonged to Mi Prefecture of Henan Prefecture. In 1087, during the Northern Song dynasty, Rizhao Town was established under Ju County, originating the name meaning "(the place that first receives the) sunshine" due to its eastern coastal location. Rizhao County was set up in 1184 during the Jin dynasty. In 1940, it came under the control of the Chinese Communist Party. 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.[9]
Rizhao has a temperate, four-season, monsoon-influenced climate that lies in the transition between the humid subtropical (KöppenCwa) and humid continental (Köppen Dwa) regimes. Winter is cool to cold and windy, but generally dry, with a January average of 0.3 °C (32.5 °F). Summer is generally hot and humid, but sweltering days are rare, with an August average of 25.5 °C (77.9 °F). Due to its proximity to the coast and being on a peninsula, it experiences a one-month delayed spring compared to much of the province. Conversely, fall is milder than inland areas in Shandong. The annual mean temperature is 13.7 °C (56.7 °F). On average, there are 2,310 hours of bright sunshine annually, and the relative humidity is 69%.
The prefecture-level city of Rizhao administers four county-level divisions, including two districts and two counties.
The Zaishui Art Museum on an artificial lake was completed in December 2023, along with a promenade and café by the Spanish firm SelgasCano. In addition to the museum, Jun'ya Ishigami designed a horseback-riding center, a hotel, and a 148-foot-high, concrete church.[14]
The following locations have a 4-star rating according to Chinese classification for scenic spots (旅游景区质量等级)
Since the early 1990s, the city has mandated the incorporation of solar water heaters in all new buildings and renovated public buildings, and oversees the construction process to ensure they are correctly installed.[15] The effort to install solar water heaters began in 1992. By 2007, 99% of households in the central districts used solar water heaters, contributing to the city's high sustainability rankings.
Rizhao features a major seaport (Port of Rizhao), located approximately 620 km (390 mi) north of Shanghai, 170 km (110 mi) southwest 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.[16] 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 center in Northeast Asia.[17] The iron ore port of Lanqiao, which opened in 2014, is located close to it as is the Lanshan port region.[18]
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, which was rebuilt and reopened in April 2025, and Rizhao West railway station for both local and high-speed services.
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.
Rizhao has established twin towns and sister city relationships with several international partners.[19][20]
As of 2025, Rizhao has also formed friendly cooperation agreements with additional localities, such as Pakhtakor District (Uzbekistan, 2023) and Kovacica (Serbia, 2025), though these may differ from formal sister city status.
