Rizhao
Encyclopedia
Rizhao is a prefecture-level city
in southeastern Shandong
province, People's Republic of China
. It is situated on the coastline along the Yellow Sea
, 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. Rizhao is a major seaport and is approximately 620 km north of Shanghai
, 170 km southwest of Qingdao
, and 120 km north of Lianyungang
. The Rizhao seaport's primary business is loading and unloading iron ore and coal. Other products passing through the seaport include cement, nickel, bauxite, and the like. Rizhao City means City of Sunshine in Chinese. 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.
Its population is 2,801,100 at the 2010 census whom 865,032 in the built up area made of Donggang
urban district.
and the Longshan Culture
flourished. Rizhao belonged to Dongyi during the Xia and the Shang Dynasty (2070-1046 BC), and to Ju State and Yue State in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) and the Warring States Period
(476-221 BC). It became a part of Langya Prefecture in the Qin Dynasty
(221-206 BC). Rizhao was named Haiqu County during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-25 AD) and Xihai County under the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD).
During the Tang Dynasty
, together with Ju County, Rizhao belonged to Mizhou District of Henan
Prefecture. In the second year of the Yuanyou Period of the Song Dynasty
, Rizhao Township was established, with the name meaning “the first to get the sunshine”. In the 24th year of the Dading Period of the Jin Dynasty
, Rizhao County was established. After being part of Linyi
in modern times, Rizhao became a prefecture-level city within Shandong province in 1989.
The historical average annual temperature is 12.7°C , though it has risen to 13.8°C around the year 2010. The highest temperatures to be reached in summer is 36.1°C, while in the winter it can fall down to -14.7 °C.
Annual rainfall in the city is uneven distributied, annual precipitation in Wulian County is 857.3 mm, while it hits a low of 661.5 mm in the urban areas.
of Rizhao administers four county-level divisions, including two districts and two counties.
Prefecture-level city
A prefectural level city , prefectural city or prefectural level municipality is an administrative division of the People's Republic of China, ranking below a province and above a county in China's administrative structure. Prefectural level cities form the second level of the administrative...
in southeastern Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
province, People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. It is situated on the coastline along the Yellow Sea
Yellow Sea
The Yellow Sea is the name given to the northern part of the East China Sea, which is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It is located between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula. Its name comes from the sand particles from Gobi Desert sand storms that turn the surface of the water golden...
, borders Qingdao
Qingdao
' also known in the West by its postal map spelling Tsingtao, is a major city with a population of over 8.715 million in eastern Shandong province, Eastern China. Its built up area, made of 7 urban districts plus Jimo city, is home to about 4,346,000 inhabitants in 2010.It borders Yantai to the...
to the northeast, Weifang
Weifang
Weifang is a prefecture-level city in central Shandong province, People's Republic of China. It borders Dongying to the northwest, Zibo to the west, Linyi to the southwest, Rizhao to the south, Qingdao to the east, and looks out to the Laizhou Bay to the north.-History:Weifang is a historical city...
to the north, Linyi
Linyi
Linyi is a prefecture-level city in the south of Shandong province, People's Republic of China. The largest prefecture-level city in Shandong both by area and total population, Linyi borders Rizhao to the east, Weifang to the northeast, Zibo to the north, Tai'an to the northwest, Jining to the...
to the west and southwest, and faces Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
across the Yellow Sea
Yellow Sea
The Yellow Sea is the name given to the northern part of the East China Sea, which is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It is located between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula. Its name comes from the sand particles from Gobi Desert sand storms that turn the surface of the water golden...
to the east. Rizhao is a major seaport and is approximately 620 km north of Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, 170 km southwest of Qingdao
Qingdao
' also known in the West by its postal map spelling Tsingtao, is a major city with a population of over 8.715 million in eastern Shandong province, Eastern China. Its built up area, made of 7 urban districts plus Jimo city, is home to about 4,346,000 inhabitants in 2010.It borders Yantai to the...
, and 120 km north of Lianyungang
Lianyungang
Lianyungang is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Jiangsu province, People's Republic of China. It borders Yancheng to its southeast, Huai'an and Suqian to its south, Xuzhou to its southwest, and the province of Shandong to its north...
. The Rizhao seaport's primary business is loading and unloading iron ore and coal. Other products passing through the seaport include cement, nickel, bauxite, and the like. Rizhao City means City of Sunshine in Chinese. The city is known for its sustainability, and it mandates solar-water heaters
Solar hot water
Solar water heating or solar hot water systems comprise several innovations and many mature renewable energy technologies that have been well established for many years...
in all new buildings. Rizhao city was recognized by the United Nations as one of the most habitable cities in the world in 2009.
Its population is 2,801,100 at the 2010 census whom 865,032 in the built up area made of Donggang
Donggang
-Mainland China:*Donggang District , in Rizhao, Shandong*Donggang, Liaoning , county-level city in Dandong, LiaoningTownsWritten as "东港镇":*Donggang, Huilai County, in Huilai County, Guangdong...
urban district.
History
Rizhao is located at the place where the ancient Dawenkou CultureDawenkou culture
The Dawenkou culture is a name given by archaeologists to a group of Neolithic communities who lived primarily in Shandong, but also appeared in Anhui, Henan and Jiangsu, China. The culture existed from 4100 BC to 2600 BC, co-existing with the Yangshao culture. Turquoise, jade and ivory artefacts...
and the Longshan Culture
Longshan culture
The Longshan culture was a late Neolithic culture in China, centered on the central and lower Yellow River and dated from about 3000 BC to 2000 BC...
flourished. Rizhao belonged to Dongyi during the Xia and the Shang Dynasty (2070-1046 BC), and to Ju State and Yue State in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) and the Warring States Period
Warring States Period
The Warring States Period , also known as the Era of Warring States, or the Warring Kingdoms period, covers the Iron Age period from about 475 BC to the reunification of China under the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC...
(476-221 BC). It became a part of Langya Prefecture in the Qin Dynasty
Qin Dynasty
The Qin Dynasty was the first imperial dynasty of China, lasting from 221 to 207 BC. The Qin state derived its name from its heartland of Qin, in modern-day Shaanxi. The strength of the Qin state was greatly increased by the legalist reforms of Shang Yang in the 4th century BC, during the Warring...
(221-206 BC). Rizhao was named Haiqu County during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-25 AD) and Xihai County under the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD).
During the Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
, together with Ju County, Rizhao belonged to Mizhou District of Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
Prefecture. In the second year of the Yuanyou Period of the Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
, Rizhao Township was established, with the name meaning “the first to get the sunshine”. In the 24th year of the Dading Period of the Jin Dynasty
Jin Dynasty
Jin Dynasty may refer to:* Jin Dynasty , Chinese dynasty, subdivided into the Western and Eastern Jin periods* Later Jin Dynasty , one of the Five Dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period in China.* Jin Dynasty , a Jurchen kingdom in northern China* Later Jīn Dynasty, or...
, Rizhao County was established. After being part of Linyi
Linyi
Linyi is a prefecture-level city in the south of Shandong province, People's Republic of China. The largest prefecture-level city in Shandong both by area and total population, Linyi borders Rizhao to the east, Weifang to the northeast, Zibo to the north, Tai'an to the northwest, Jining to the...
in modern times, Rizhao became a prefecture-level city within Shandong province in 1989.
Climate
Rizhao has a warm and humid climate, the summer are hot and rainy, while winters are cold and dry. With an annual average 2533 hours of sunshine, it is well-known as a holiday resort. The average humidity is 72% and it enjoys a frost-free period of 223 days.The historical average annual temperature is 12.7°C , though it has risen to 13.8°C around the year 2010. The highest temperatures to be reached in summer is 36.1°C, while in the winter it can fall down to -14.7 °C.
Annual rainfall in the city is uneven distributied, annual precipitation in Wulian County is 857.3 mm, while it hits a low of 661.5 mm in the urban areas.
Administration
The prefecture-level cityPrefecture-level city
A prefectural level city , prefectural city or prefectural level municipality is an administrative division of the People's Republic of China, ranking below a province and above a county in China's administrative structure. Prefectural level cities form the second level of the administrative...
of Rizhao administers four county-level divisions, including two districts and two counties.
- Donggang DistrictDonggang DistrictDonggang District is the main urban district of Rizhao in the Chinese province of Shandong. It has an area of 1.507 km² and around 865,000 inhabitants . All the main government agencies of the city, as well as the Port of Rizhao, are locared in Donggang.- External links :* *...
- Lanshan DistrictLanshan District, RizhaoLanshan is a district of the province of Shandong in the People's Republic of China. It lies in the prefecture-level city of Rizhao.- External links :*...
- Ju CountyJu CountyJu County is a county of Rizhao City, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China.Ju County has a population of nearly 1.1016 million.The total area of 1952 square kilometers.-External links:*...
- Wulian CountyWulian CountyWulian County is a county under charge of Rizhao City, Shandong Province of China. It has a land area of 1,443 square kilometers, and a population of 520,000 in 2001.-Administrative divisions:...
Landmarks and tourist attractions
The following locations have a 4-star rating according to Chinese classification for scenic spots (旅游景区质量等级)- Wulian Mountain (五莲山风景区)
- Wanpingkou Beach (万平口风景区)
- Rizhao Beach National Park (日照海滨国家森林公园)
- Liujiawan Park (刘家湾赶海园)
- Fulai Mountain (浮来山风景区)
Sustainable development
The city now mandates the incorporation of solar panels in all new buildings, and oversees the construction process to ensure the panels are correctly installed. The effort to install solar water heaters began in 1992. As of 2007, 99 percent of households in the central districts use solar water heaters, and most of the lighting and traffic signals are powered with photovoltaic solar power. In 2007 the city had over a half-million square meters of solar water heating panels, which have effectively reduced conventional electricity usage by 348 million kilowatthours per year. The city has been designated as the Environmental Protection Model City by China's SEPA, and is consistently listed in the top 10 cities for air quality in China.External links
- Government website of Rizhao (in Chinese), retrieved on 2008-08-23