Plan your Jinan tour? Jinan is definitely your good springboard to start your exploration into the beautiful coastal province. But Jinan itself is also worth a pop by on your Jinan tour.
Jinan is located in north-western Shandong about 400 kilometers south of the national capital of Beijing, is a hot tourist destination in China. Jinan has played an important role in the history of the region from the earliest beginnings of civilization.
You can spend a leisure time by losing yourself in this charming city. Baotu Spring is the symbol of Jinan. And the Daming Lake is clean and bright as a mirror. Mt. Tai, a marvelous mountain in China, possesses the beautiful and charming natural scenery with its unique posture.
No. 01: Daming Lake Park
Reputed as one of city’s main natural and cultural landmarks, Daming Lake is located in the northern part of Jinan City. Daming Lake is the largest lakes in Jinan.
The Daming Lake was built into a garden in 1985. Daming Lake Park covers a total area of 860,000 square meters of which the lake itself comprises of 460,000 square meters. Main spots in the Daming Lake Park include Lixia Pavilion, North Pole Pavilion, Jiaxuan Ancestral Temple, Minghu Pavilion, Tiegong Ancestral Temple, Xiayuan Garden, and Little Canglang Pavilion.
Entrance Fee: CNY 30
Opening Hours: 8：00-17：00
How to get there: There are many buses can reach Daming Lake Park, including Buses No. K98, K91, K54, 6, 11, 14, 30, 33, 36, 37, 41, 63, 83 or Tourist Bus No.66.|
No. 02: Baotu Spring Park
Baotu Spring is a culturally significant artesian karst spring located in the city of Jinan. The Baotu Spring is now one of the three major places of interest in Shandong Province.
The Baotu Spring has a long history of more than 2,600 years. The recharge area of the springs covers 1,500 square kilometers, out of which 550 km2 provide direct recharge and 950 km2 indirect recharge. The Baotu Spring Park has memorials of Li Kuchan, a master in traditional Chinese
Painting, Wang Xuetao and Li Qingzhao.Entrance Fee: CNY 40
Opening Hours: 07:00-21:00
How to get there: Buses of No. 41, 49, K54, K96, 85, 102, 103, 104 can reach the Baotu Spring Park.
No. 03: Thousand-Buddha Mountain
Lying 2.5 kilometers to the south of Jinan Shandong Province, the Thousand-Buddha Mountain is one of the key points of interest in Jinan.
The mountain was called Mt. Li in ancient times. There are the Daxiong Baodian, Kwan-yin Hall, the Laughing Buddha Hall and Duihua Kiosk distributed in the temple.
The Shun Temple, the Luban Temple, the Wenchang Pavilion and the Yilan Kiosk are to be found in it. There are also many scenic spots and historical relics distributed in the mountain. You can enjoy the beautiful sceneries all along the way wandering up either by foot or by bus.
Entrance Fee: CNY 20
How to get there: take Buses No. 2, 31, 48, K51, K56, or Tourist Buses No. 66, 68 to the Thousand-Buddha Mountain
No. 04: Black Tiger Spring
Black Tiger Spring, or Heihu Spring, which is one of the four most famous springs of Jinan, is located in the southeastern part of the old city district of Jinan.
The water of spring stems from moderately-deep circulation and emerges from a water-filled limestone cave in a steep cliff. From the mouth of the cave, the water is funneled to flow out of the mouths of three ornamental stone-carved tiger heads into a square-shaped spring pool.
The name of the spring is said to be derived from the shape and color of the rock, which resembled a black tiger, and the sound of the water gushing past the rock being reminiscent of the roar of a tiger.
Entrance Fee: free of charge
Opening Hours: 08:00-17:00
How to get there: take Buses No. 5, 36, 44, 70, 89, 91, K54, K55 to the Black Tiger Spring.
No. 05: Lingyan Temple
The Lingyan Temple is a Buddhist temple located at the south piedmont of Taishan Mountain in Shandong Province.
The Lingyan Temple has a long recorded history, and was one of the main temples in China during the times of the Tang and Song Dynasties. In the west of the temple there is a cemetery for past abbots of the Lingyan Temple. 167 tombs and dagobas built from the Tianbao reign of the Tang Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty are preserved here.
Nestled in remote mountains and dwelling with jumping springs, the Lingyan Temple is reputed as the most secluded place behind Taishan Mountain. There are twelve wonderful sights around the temple.
Entrance Fee: CNY 60
Opening Hours: 8:00-18:30
How to get there: take Bus Y 60 to the Lingyan Temple.
No. 06: Shandong Provincial Museum
Founded in 1953, the Shandong Provincial Museum is located at Wenhua West Road in south Jinan near the Thousand Buddha Hill.
The Shandong Provincial Museum was established in 1954. It houses a collection of more than 210 000 historical artifacts natural history collection specimens.
Highlights of the historical collection include relics from the neolithic Dawenkou and Longshan cultures, bronze artifacts from the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, stone carvings from the Han Dynasty, and paintings from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The natural history section features fossils from Shanwang and a fossil skeleton of Shantungosaurus.
Entrance Fee: free of charge
Opening Hours: 8:30-12:00, 14:30-18:00 (from Tuesday to Friday)
How to get there: take Buses No. 31, K51, 79, 2, 48, 117 or 93 to the Shandong Provincial Museum, and get off at Li San Lu Nan Kou Station.; or take Buses No. K54, K68 or 64, then get off at Sheng Bowuguan Station.
No. 07: Five-Dragon Pool
Five-Dragon Pool, one of the most renown springs among the 72 famous springs of Jinan, is located outside the west gate of Jinan.
The spring that supplies the water for the Five Dragon Pool belongs to a group of springs that also contains 28 other springs, such as the Tianjing Spring, Seventy-three Spring, Ximizhi Spring, Dongmizhi Spring, Yueya Spring, Jing Spring, and the Congming Spring. The water of the Five Dragon Spring originates from the deepest circulation of all the springs in Jinan City.
Entrance Fee: CNY 5
Opening Hours: 07:00-19:00
How to get there: take the minibuses No. 1, 3, 5, K50, K54, K59, Y66 or 101 from the South Station to the Five-Dragon Pool.
No. 08: Four Gates Pagoda
Four Gates Pagoda, which is located on the Qinglong mountain, 33km (20 miles) southeast of Jinan, is a Sui Dynasty (581-618 AD) stone Chinese pagoda.
There are 4 arched doorways on each face of the square structure facing 4 beautiful Buddhas. The pagoda is 15 meters high and is still in good condition.
The roof of the pagoda is supported by 16 triangular beams which link the outer walls to the central pillar. The head of one of the four Buddha statues in the pagoda, the Akshobhya Buddha seated on the east wall, was sawed off and stolen in 1997.
Entrance Fee: CNY 30
Opening Hours: 08:00-17:30
How to get there: take Buses No. 67 or 82 to the Four Gates Pagoda.
No. 09: Hongye Valley
Hongye Valley is located in Licheng District of Jinan City. When autumn comes, it will be all red with all the leaves turn their colors. That’s how the name comes to being.
Hongye Valley’s special topography and rich forest resources forms its unique mountain climate. When you come into it, you will feel the charm of ecological culture and red leaves culture.
Fresh air, clear streams, mildly birds singing may relax your nerves after a long period of work, which is terrifically beneficial to your health. There’s also beautiful scenery you dream of and it is looking forward to those who love the nature coming.
Entrance Fee: CNY 40
Opening Hours: 08:00-17:00
How to get there: take Buses No. 65, 29 or Tourist Bus No. 89 to the Hongye Valley.
No. 10: Quancheng Square
Quancheng Square is the central square of Jinan, the capital city of Shandong Province.
Quancheng Square covers an area of 16.96 hectares, with 780m from east to west and 230m from south to north. It mirrors in the Daming Lake in the north, and stretches along the verdant Thousand Buddha Mountain in the south.
It is constituted of over ten parts, including Baotu Spring Square, Jinan Personage Corridor, Quanbiao Square, Sinking Square, Yitian Garden, pleasure ground for children, Binhe Square, music fountain, Siji Garden, Culture Corridor, Science and culture center and Silver Plaza.
Entrance Fee: free of charge
Opening Hours: the whole day
How to get there: many buses can reach Quancheng Square, including Buses No. 14, 41, 49, 51, 52, 66, 72, 82, 85, 101, 102, 103 or 104.
Tip: Hassle-free Jinan Guided Tours
If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself bus route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for guided tours to Jinan:
Jinan Highlight Day Tour from US$ 95 p/p
Jinan Mt.Taishan Qufu 3 Day Tour from US$ 349 p/p
Jinan Car Rental with a driver from US$ 89
Further Readings
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