Leadership Insights | Illustrated Lectures: Enjoying Seaview and Sunshine in Rizhao

The construction of greenways should meet the needs of the public and win the hearts of the people. The purpose of advancing Chinese modernization is to ensure the people live a better life. With a sound ecological environment, the people can gain a real sense of happiness. Everyone should work together to build and protect our beautiful home.

Rizhao City, Shandong Province, located on the coast of the Yellow Sea, is reputed as the place where “the sun rises on the sea and the light of dawn shines first.” It is not only a major birthplace of the Longshan culture, but also the cradle of the sun culture in ancient China. In recent years, Rizhao has won honors and titles such as the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honor Award and one of the Outstanding Tourism Cities of China for its picturesque natural scenery and livable environment.

Blue sky, clear sea, and golden sand beaches have become synonyms of Rizhao. Among them, the most impressive tourist attraction in the city is a 28-kilometer Sunshine Coast Greenway. This multifunctional and colorful greenway stretches from Taigong Island Park in the south to Liangcheng River Estuary National Wetland Park in the north, stringing together 13 scenic spots along the coastline. Along the greenway, there are observation platforms, running trails, and squares for tourists to rest.

During the design and construction of the greenway, the pine forests, reefs and wetlands in the coastal beach scenic areas were preserved in their original appearance. People can walk, jog, and cycle along the coastal greenway while basking in the sun, enjoying the massive seaside scenery, and breathe in the fresh air brought by the sea breeze. It feels like traveling in a painting. Thanks to its stunning natural scenery and complete service facilities, the Sunshine Coast Greenway has become an ideal place to host a variety of sporting events, with more than 20 cycling, hiking and other events held here every year.

The Sunshine Coast Greenway is not only a beautiful calling card of Rizhao, but also a vivid epitome of its efforts to build an ecological civilization. The continuous improvement of the ecological environment has not only improved the quality of the city, but also brought benefits to the people. Here, we see a beautiful picture of harmonious coexistence between man and nature, and feel the tangible happiness brought by green development.