History

Rizhao is located at the place where the ancient Dawenkou culture and the Longshan culture flourished. Rizhao belonged to the Dongyi people during the Xia and Shang dynasties (2070-1046 BC), and to Ju and Yue states in the Spring and Autumn period (770-476 BC) and the Warring States period (476-221 BC). It became a part of Langye Commandery in the Qin dynasty (221-206 BC). Rizhao was named Haiqu County (海曲县) during the Western Han (206 BC-25 AD) and Xihai County under the Eastern Han (25-220 AD).During the Tang dynasty, together with Ju County, Rizhao belonged to Mi Prefecture 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) sunshine". In the 24th year of the Dading Period of the Jin dynasty, Rizhao County was established. In 1940 it came under control of the Communist Party of China. After being a county and since 1985 a city under administration of Linyi, Rizhao became a prefecture-level city within Shandong province in 1989.The Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago has done field survey archaeological work in Rizhao over years.