The Rizhao Orient ship sets sail from Rizhao Port in East China's Shandong province on Oct 8, bringing nearly 300 passengers to South Korea. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Rizhao Orient ship set sail from Rizhao Port in East China's Shandong province on Oct 8, bringing nearly 300 passengers to South Korea.

The voyage marked the resumption of the Rizhao-Pyeongtaek international tourism route and international passenger services between the two countries at Shandong ports.

The ship sails three times a week on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday from Rizhao Port to Pyeongtaek Port in South Korea and returns the following day.

Shandong Port Group's China-ROK route is serviced by three passenger ships and one ro-ro ship, all of which travel nine times a week to South Korea from Rizhao, Weihai and Yantai in Shandong.

Before the epidemic, the route transported 500,000 passengers annually.

The Rizhao Orient is one of the largest, most advanced high-speed passenger vessels servicing the route. It has 420-passenger cabins and onboard amenities for business, tourism and family needs.

The route's resumption coincides with the autumn travel peak season and has further promoted economic cooperation between the two countries.

A significant international port city and coastal tourism destination in China, Rizhao has close economic, trade and cultural ties with Japan and South Korea. It serves as a major trade hub with great potential for further tourism and industrial development.

SPG will further boost investment to consolidate the route's recovery and support regional economic development with optimized route layout and customs clearance procedures, according to the port authority.