With its majestic mountains, rich fishing culture, excellent local restaurants, and numerous historic sites, Lanshan district in Rizhao is becoming an increasingly popular place for self-driving trips.

Lying in the southeast of Shandong province and facing the Yellow Sea, Lanshan district makes use of its unique geographical location that has endowed the area with delicious seafood and striking mountains.

Its fishing, tea growing, and tourism industries are predominant. It is home to Haizhou Bay fishery, one of the eight largest fishing grounds nationwide, while its green tea plantation covers over 60,000 acres (40 million square meters) in total.

The district's fishermen will bring fresh catch back with them and sell them on site as soon as their fishing boat is steered to shore. The seafood will also be shipped to the seafood market or to restaurants.

A fisherman sorts through seafood and is busy sorting them out. [Photo by Dong Shudun/Rizhao Daily]

For visitors interested in tasting authentic Lanshan food, Derunfu Grand Restaurant on Yuquan Road is highly renowned. The restaurant once was highlighted on the CCTV series Taste of China.

The specialty here is pot-sticker mixed fish, in which all kinds of fish are braised in a pot that also includes fried dumplings. Other dishes like braised ribbonfish in brown sauce, Lanshan tofu, and Lanshan pancake are also worth trying.

A cook selects fish to cook dishes. [Photo by Fang Hongjin/Rizhao Daily]

Lanshan is a district built around Aye Mountain. Facing the Yellow Sea in the east, Aye Mountain is always shrouded with cloud and mist. There are many jagged rocks and secluded valleys waiting for visitors to explore.

Visitors can climb the mountain either by taking a cable car or taking the ring road. The ring road is like a colorful ribbon going around the mountain, while the cable cars are like a string of beads going up with the height increasing.

The ring road around Aye Mountain [Photo by Zhao Yong/Rizhao Daily]

Another famous mountain in Lanshan district is Mount Deng, which is called "a fairyland on earth". It is a nice place to enjoy the sunset on its hillside.

There is a cluster of golden ancient buildings on the hillside of Mount Deng. The golden roof shines under the sunshine, while the green mountain is blanked with the glow of the sunset, making visitors feel like they are in a wonderland.

There are also some cozy hotels built for tourists on the hillside, with a window on the roof, providing a good view to observe the stars at night. The locals grow green tea on the hillside, while the food supplied here frequently use green tea to enhance its taste.

A view of the sunset on the hillside of Mount Deng [Photo by Zhao Yong/Rizhao Daily]

A tea garden in Lanshan district in Rizhao [Photo by Zang Shaoxi/Rizhao Daily]