Rizhao is a prefecture-level city in Shandong Province, located on the coast of the Yellow Sea and in the southeast wing of Shandong Peninsula. It faces Japan and South Korea across the Yellow Sea in the east, Linyi in the west, Qingdao and Weifang in the north and Lianyungang in Jiangsu Province in the south. The land area of the city is 53 10 square kilometers and the sea area is 6000 square kilometers. It has jurisdiction over Donggang District, Lanshan District, Juxian County, Wulian County, Rizhao Economic and Technological Development Zone and Shanhaitian County.

Rizhao is a coastal city and an important part of Shandong Peninsula urban agglomeration and Shandong Peninsula blue economic zone. In recent years, Rizhao has successfully hosted the National Youth Sailing Championship, Shandong Sailing and Windsurfing Championship, National Mass Mountaineering Fitness Conference, China-Japan-Korea International Sailing Competition and other major sports events. Rizhao is known as "Water Sports Capital" and "Oriental Sun City" and won the UN Habitat Award.