Rizhao Seaside National Forest Park

**Historical Roots** The park's origins trace to 1956, when the Lunan Coastal Forest Farm was established to plant windbreaks along the Yellow Sea shoreline, mirroring a tradition of coastal afforestation seen in France's Landes Forest and Poland's Baltic dunes. Six decades of patient reforestation transformed barren coastal scrub into the thriving ecosystem visitors enjoy today. On the park's eastern edge, the Tai Gong Cultural Garden honours Jiang Ziya, the legendary strategist of the Zhou Dynasty and founder of the ancient Qi Kingdom, born here over 3,000 years ago—a figure often compared to Machiavelli for his political cunning. **A Landscape Like No Other** Spanning some 8,000 hectares, the park presents what Chinese ecologists call the rarest sight in the country: forest meeting the sea without buffer. Towering dawn redwoods, Chinese firs, and Japanese black pines form a cathedral-like canopy just steps from the tideline, recalling the primeval Bialowieza Forest of Poland, but with ocean views. The air carries negative-ion concentrations that far exceed urban levels, lending the woodland an almost Alpine freshness. **The Golden Beach** The seven-kilometre stretch of fine golden sand has drawn comparisons to the Mediterranean and even Hawaii—so much so that Nobel physics laureate Samuel Ting, a native of Shandong, once declared it "beyond Hawaii." The gentle slope and shallow, calm waters create one of northern China's safest swimming beaches, while a clifftop boardwalk offers a spectacular vantage for sunset photography, framing silhouetted pines against the glowing sea. **Seasonal Highlights** From June to August, some 20 hectares of lotus blossoms transform the Hundred Lotus Garden into a pink-and-green spectacle reminiscent of Monet's Giverny water gardens, perfuming the cool forest air. Nearby, a sanctuary for Père David's deer—one of conservation's greatest comeback stories, rescued from extinction in the 19th century—allows visitors to observe these gentle, antlered animals at close range, adding genuine ecological depth to the visit. **Practical Visitor Information** Admission is free and the park is open all day, year-round. Travellers should enter through Gate 2, where facilities, bike rentals, and a charming forest-train shuttle are concentrated. Early morning (7:30–9:30 a.m.) and late afternoon (after 4 p.m.) offer the most comfortable temperatures and the best light, and align nicely with the sunset hour. On-site restaurants serve local fare, while family-run guesthouses and seafood homestays dot the surrounding countryside. **Extending the Day** Just outside the park, Dongyi Town—a recreated ancient fishing settlement—beckons in the evening with sizzling seafood skewers, fresh clams, and grilled squid, accompanied by lantern-lit streets and nightly fountain shows. It is the perfect cultural counterpoint to a day spent immersed in forest and sea, rounding out a one-day itinerary that captures the very best of coastal Shandong.