Getting Around Rizhao
Rizhao is a coastal prefecture-level city in southeastern Shandong, and its transport network is oriented around the urban core in Donggang District, where most visitors base themselves. The city's sights are spread along the coast and into the hills, so a mix of buses, taxis and the two railway stations will cover most trips.
Rail: Two Stations, Two Roles
Rizhao is served by two railway stations, and which one you use depends on the kind of train you are taking.
- Rizhao Railway Station is the older, more centrally located station on Haibin 5th Road in Donggang District. It handles regular-speed (K-class) trains. A bus stop sits right outside, served by routes 1, 8, 11, 22, 33, 44 and c307.
- Rizhao West Railway Station lies in the western suburbs on Tianjin Road, Donggang District, and is the station for high-speed services. It is also a major bus hub, with routes 15, 17, 22, 40, 55, a long list of c-prefixed suburban routes, and the k1, k2 and k3 lines. The city's main long-distance bus terminal is next door.
For a visitor, the practical upshot is simple: if you arrive on a high-speed train you will come into the West Station and need a bus or taxi to reach the coast; if you arrive on a regular train you will step out closer to the centre.
Buses and Public Transport
Rizhao's city bus network is the workhorse of local travel. It covers the city proper, Shijiu, the New City, the Rizhao Development Zone and the Shanhaitian Tourist Resort, so it can meet most everyday travel needs. Buses run from roughly 06:10 to 19:00, and the fare is ¥1 per person.
Several routes are useful specifically for sightseeing from the railway station area:
- Route 8 runs to Taohua Island and Wangjiazao; at Wangjiazao you can change to Route 35, and Route 36 reaches Renjiatai and the Forest Park.
- Route 1 goes to Rizhao Lighthouse and the Donggang District Government.
- A tourist express line starts at the lighthouse station and strings together many of the coastal sights: lighthouse – sailing base – Wanpingkou – Wangjiazao Beach – Peach Blossom Island Style Garden – Forest Park.
Note that the airport bus route c106 only operates between 06:00 and 17:50, so plan around that window if you intend to use it.
Public Bicycles
Rizhao operates a public bicycle scheme with a large fleet of bikes around the city. You need to register before use. The first hour is free; beyond that an additional fee applies. This is a pleasant option along the flat coastal stretches.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are metered and easy to flag in the urban area. The fare structure is ¥6 for trips under 3 km, ¥1.5 per km from 3 to 7 km, and ¥2.25 per km beyond 7 km, with a ¥1 per vehicle fuel surcharge. A return-trip discount applies on the operating price, with a return mileage threshold of 7 km.
Rizhao also has taxi-hailing services, with several calling platforms and numbers in operation. The line +86-633-2179999 is backed by a GPS system and a large pool of taxis, which makes it a convenient choice when you want a car dispatched to your location.
Walkability
The central districts are compact enough that walking works well for short errands and for strolling the seafront, and the city's flat coastal setting is friendly to pedestrians and cyclists alike. For longer hops between the coast, the railway stations and the western suburbs, though, you will want a bus or a taxi rather than relying on foot.
Getting In: Airport and Long-Distance Connections
Rizhao Shanzihe Airport (IATA: RIZ) is the city's own airport, located at Shanzihe in Houcun Town, Donggang District. It handles domestic flights, with services from a wide range of Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Xi'an, Wuhan, Changsha, Kunming, Harbin and others.
To reach the city from the airport you have two options:
- Special airport buses convey passengers between the airport and the city — the straightforward choice if you are carrying luggage.
- Public bus c106 also serves the airport, but only if you are travelling light, and it runs only between 06:00 and 17:50.
For airport enquiries, call +86 633 7999996; for ticket sales, +86 633 7999999.
If you are flying internationally, the nearest major international gateway is Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport in Qingdao. Direct bus services run between that airport and Rizhao, with a journey time of around 1.5 hours.
Rizhao is also reachable by long-distance bus: the main terminal is Rizhao Bus Terminal on Tianjin Road West in Donggang District, right next door to Rizhao West Railway Station, which makes transfers between coach and high-speed rail convenient. By road, the city sits on several expressways, including the Beijing–Shanghai Expressway (G2), the Qingdao–Rizhao Expressway (G3W), the Jinan–Rizhao Expressway (G3W2) and the Binzhou–Rizhao Expressway (G2516).