日照市

Why this place

Rizhao means 'first sunshine', and it is a beach city that has developed fast as a holiday destination for northern China. Its beaches are long and sandy, and it holds the remains of one of the earliest Neolithic cultures in China.

What to see

• Wanpingkou and the beaches, with a long seafront promenade
• The Liangchengzhen Neolithic site, part of the Longshan culture sequence
• Wulian Mountain and the areas inland, with the Nine Immortals' Mountain and the bamboo groves

What to eat

• Shandong seafood, especially prawns and crab
• Rizhao green tea — the province's main tea-growing area

Best time

June–September for the beach; April–May for the tea