Famous Cultural City

Rizhao leadership pays close attention to cultural progress and conscientiously carries outthe national and provincial principles and policies about cultural work. Aiming to fully implement scientific outlook on development, enhancing soft power of culture and building harmonious society, Rizhao spares no effort to deepen “culture yesterday”, solidate “culture today” and create “culture tomorrow”, promoting the prosperity of culture and construction of famous coastal cultural city. 　 Rizhao is one of the important cradles of Chinese civilization. There are more than 2000 relic sites in Rizhao, of which Liangcheng, Yaowangcheng, Dnghaiyu, and Dantu belong to famous Longshan culture or Dawenkou culture and have been listed among the important cultural relic sites under state-level protection. The pictograph inscribed on the earthenware excavated in Ju County of Rizhao City is more than 4800 years old. The pictograph has been proved to be the earliest pictograph in China, which is over 1000 years earlier than oracle. Rizhao black pottery with the history of 5000 years is the treasure of Chinese civilization. LiangchengTown is the earliest city in Asia in period of Longshan Culture.

Riviera sunshine Forest Park

A number of celebrities are from Rizhao. Liu Xie, the author of the first Chinese literary theoretical works----Wen Xin Diao Long as well as the famous Chinese literary critic in South and North Dynasty finished his remarkable works in Dinglin Temple on Fulai Mountain of Ju County; it is the hometown of Jiangshang, the famous politician and strategist of Western Zhou Dynasty and Dr. Samuel Ting, the world famous physicist and Nobel Prize laureate

Rizhao abounds in folk culture. The Lu Opera Shilong Bay has won the national prize of “Five-One Project”. It has been in the first batch of “Chinese modern folk painting capitals” by Ministry of Culture. So far, more than 100 painting works created by rural people in Rizhao have got awarded in national exhibition; more than 80 works are on the list of state collection; more than 300 pieces of work have been brought abroad for exhibition as foreign exchanges program by Ministry of Culture.

Tourism economy

Because of an old saying that it is the place where sunlight of the rising sun comes first Rizhao obtains its name and it also enjoys the reputation of Eastern Sun City. It is situated in the intermediate place between northern climate zone and southern climate zone and therefore boasts warm temperate sub-humid continental climate featured by mild and winter, cool summer, abundant precipitation and affluent sunshine. The coastline trends for hundreds of kilometers and natural beach accounts for 64 kilometers. So the integration of clear sky, blue sea, golden beach and green forest zone constitutes its unique tourism resource. In recent years, the tourism economy has developed rapidly. In 2008, the city received 14.66 million domestic and foreign tourists, up by 18.4% over last year, achieving total revenue of tourism of 8.17 billion yuan, up by 23.6% compared to previous year. There are 36 starred hotels and restaurants, 113 domestic and foreign travel agencies, 7 national level A tourist zones and 10 industrial and agricultural tourism demonstrations. Tourism economy has become pillar industry in Rizhao from the initial economic growth point.

Wulian Bright Temple