Summer Sun Trip with Kids in Rizhao

As a child growing up inland, I have always yearned for the sea. Playing by the seaside has almost become an annual must-go destination and a great place to take kids. Shandong Rizhao may not be the best seaside, but it is indeed the most suitable for me. From Zhengzhou to the seaside, the most famous and closest are Lianyungang, Rizhao, and Qingdao. Qingdao is more famous, but for taking kids, as long as they can play in the waves and sand by the sea, they can be happy all day. In this case, Rizhao can meet all the scenes that children like and is more cost-effective compared to Qingdao: lower consumption, closer distance, and relatively fewer people. Of course, if it's not for taking kids and just for adults to play, Qingdao is more recommended. ⛱️ Must-visit attractions: Rizhao's attractions are relatively concentrated, mostly along the coastline. The more popular ones are: Lighthouse Square: A free attraction, not very large, can be visited in an hour. But it is very worth going once, especially on a sunny day to watch the sunrise early in the morning, the location is excellent. It is recommended to go once during high tide and once after low tide, completely different scenery. Sitting on the reef and dazing for a while, the mood is much better. Wanpingkou Scenic Area: The main scenic area, naturally worth a visit, very large, and free. Gate 1, very crowded, has a free children's playground, suitable for taking kids to play. Gate 2, suitable for swimming and playing in the sand. Building 3, suitable for taking photos and checking in, with many romantic scenes. Third Seawater Bathing Beach and Sunshine Coast: These two are next to each other, both free, comprehensive, suitable for swimming, playing in the sand, and taking photos. The photos I posted are from the Sunshine Coast. Forest Park: There are forests and the sea, perfect for sun protection in the hot summer. Science and Technology Museum: Rizhao Science and Technology Museum is not large, don't have too high expectations if you have been to large science and technology museums like the China Science and Technology Museum or provincial-level science and technology museums. The reason why it is popular, I guess, is because it is a great place to cool off during the strongest midday sun, providing sun protection and play. The tickets for the Science and Technology Museum and the science and education movies inside are free, but reservations are required in advance. Speaking of reservations, I have to complain about the Rizhao Science and Technology Museum's system, it's too difficult to make a reservation, you have to refresh it hundreds of times to get one. Dongyi Town: No comment, mainly because I am not interested in this kind of commercial street, those who are interested can go and have a look. 🌄 Travel tips: No special tips, I just simply take the kids around, wherever we go, we go, basically playing along the coastline. There is everything along the way. However, the coastline is very long, it is recommended to combine walking, small trains, tourist cars, and electric vehicles for travel. 🏨 Accommodation tips: Farmhouses are cheap, but the conditions are definitely worse than hotels. Since we have kids, we chose a hotel. In the city center, not far from various attractions. Accommodation in Rizhao is much cheaper than in Qingdao. 💗 Other tips: 1. Sun protection, be sure to protect against the sun, the sun by the sea is scorching hot. 2. During the peak summer season, if you drive here, it is recommended to leave the car at the hotel and take a taxi or rent an electric vehicle. It took more than an hour to queue up to enter the parking lot at Sunshine Coast, it was frustrating. 3. Many articles online talk about catching the sea, but in reality, those unfamiliar with the sea usually return empty-handed. At Taigong Island Oyster Park, we went to catch the sea at low tide in the early morning, and after asking a bunch of people around, we only found small shrimps and hermit crabs. Of course, this is mainly because we don't know how to do it, seeing other people's posts, they have a lot of harvest. 4. University Town Snack Street may vary from person to person, but if you are with kids or the elderly, it is really not recommended, better to find a proper restaurant to eat. This place is only suitable for young couples and little fairies. Very crowded, and the food is not very special, basically the same as the snack streets all over the country. But the prices are really not expensive, if you just want to join the fun and check in, you can go and have a look. 5. New energy vehicles are free for the first two hours in Rizhao's public parking lots, which is great. Charging in the city is also very convenient, there are charging piles everywhere. The hotel we stayed at had charging piles in the underground parking lot, very convenient. 6. For eating seafood, find a chain store, the prices are transparent, fresh, and affordable, be careful of those pulling customers on the roadside, I haven't been but heard from other tourists that they have been scammed. We went to the Chocolate Fisherman's Wanxianghui store recommended by many people online, it was indeed good. But queuing for a seat was also frustrating, maybe because we went at meal time.