Introduction to jinan China

inan is endowed with abundant tourist resources. She possesses a special geographical feature, which is a mixture of mountains, springs, lakes, and rivers. She has gained the good name "Spring City," because the bubbling waters of 72 famous springs enhance the city's atmosphere. Daming Lake, where all springs flow together; Mount Qianfo, sacred to Buddhists; Lingyan Temple, famous throughout the country; Simen Pagoda, the earliest unlined stone tower in China; the Wall of the Qi Dynasty, even older than the Great Wall itself; the relics of Longshan culture, one of the three ancient cultures of China; the Han Dynasty King Mausoleum at Luozhuang, evaluated as the most important of China’s Ten New Archeological Discoveries in the year 2000; as well as Red Leaves Alley, Wufeng Mountain, Liantai Mountain, the scenic spot of Wolong Islet, and so on, are all characteristic of the great natural beauty and enduring civilization found in the vicinity of Jinan, which therefore attracts a great number of tourists every year. In 2001, Jinan welcomed almost 8.5 million international tourists, an increase of 13.9 per cent over the previous year. The total revenue derived from tourism was 6.13 billion yuan, an increase of 22.2 per cent

Daming Lake

The name of Daming Lake was first recorded in the Annotated Book of Waters written by Li Daoyuan, a writer in the Northern Wei Dynasty. The park takes an area of 86 ha., with the lake covering 46.5 ha. Inside the park, willows queue around the lake with lotus overlapping on the lake. For its beauty, Daming Lake has been the converging place for celebrities throughout history. In 13 century, the Italian traveler, Mark Polo marveled here as "what a beautiful landscape of lake and rocks." In the center of the lake perches the Lixia Pavilion, upon which hangs the horizontal name scroll written by an ancient emperor and the vertical scroll, "Old is the pavilion in central China and many are celebrities in Jinan", written by Du Fu. With some other scenic spots dotted inside, such as "Rest Garden", "Jiaxuan Temple" and "Beiji Temple", the Lake has become very popular among tourists from home and abroad

Botu apring

Centering around springs, Baotu Spring Park is a natural rock and spring garden unique in ethnic style. Baotu Spring, the best one among the famous 72 springs in Jinan, is hailed as "the first spring under the heaven", the spring water spurts out in three prongs, with water droplets falling around, just like three piles of snow, which is very spectacular. The spring water is very sweet, optimum for making tea, which is limpid in color, rich in aroma, good in taste. Sitting under the "Watching Crane Pavilion" in the east side of the spring with a cup of tea in hand, one's mind will fly faraway and hates to leave.

Throughout history, Baotu Spring Park is the performing place for talk-show and local opera. During the weekend, some classical pieces of Peking Opera, such as "seeking a rich son-in-law" and "watch-Yangzi River pavilion", will be performed under the "White Snow Building". Tourists can also enjoy some local special opera here, like Lü Ju and Liuzi Opera.

"Bamboo Woods Garden" takes a land of 18 Mu and the garden got its name in the Yuan Dynasty, when the garden was very large and full of bamboo. In the garden lie some famous springs, including Wangshui Spring, Donggao Spring and Baiyun Spring, four pavilions, five bridges and one flower garden. In 1985, the Memorial Hall of Li Kuchan was established here and now the "Bamboo Grove Garden" is attached to the Baotu Spring Park.

Qianfu mountain

Qianfu Mountain stands in the south of the city proper and was called Mount Lishan in the old times. According to legend, Yu Shun (one of the sagacious kings in the late primitive society of China) once tilled at its foot, so it is called Shun Tilling Mountain too. From 581 to 600 A.C., Buddhism was in trend and thousands of stone Buddhist sculptures were engraved on the mountain. From then on, it took the name of Qianfo Mountain (Thousand Buddha Mountain). Main peak of the mountain is 280m above sea level, many big stones, temples, pavilions, terraces are dotted on the mountain. The main scenic spots include pagoda-tree of the Tang Dynasty, Xingguo Temple, Nine Spots Terrace, Wenchang Temple, Shun Temple and Stone Buddhist Head.

Spring city Square

Embraced by mountain, spring, river and city, Spring City Square is the central square of the capital city of Shandong Province, Jinan. Looking around, you can have a look at the old city in the north, see Baotu Spring spurting or flowing slowly in the west, look into distance at the verdant Thousand Buddha Mountain stretching along in the south, look ahead the Liberation Pavilion fresh and elegant as a picture in the east.

Spring City Square has a total area of 16.96 hectares, with 780m from east to west and 230m from south to north. It is planned on a major axis between Baotu Spring and Liberation Pavilion and on a minor axis between Bangpeng Avenue and Shuowen Avenue. At the main entrance, the national flag is fluttering in the wind, under which the four Chinese characters of “Spring City Square” are sculptured on the signal of entrance, with “Spring City Square Record” on its back.

“Celebrity Forest” is divided into south and north parts, inside which are growing many exuberant trees. Two groups of celebrity pavilions are built in the two parts of the forest, serving as a rest place for the tourist. Between the two parts the space is wide and plain, providing pleasant stage for entertainment and celebration.

Large-scale steel sculpture “Spring” is 38 meters in height and 170 tons in weight, towering over the crossing point between the axises, which is very rare in the country. Coming from the charm of Chinese seal character “spring”, the sculpture looks like three spring-like stream statues going up windingly, which accords with the creation of Jinan city logo appropriately. The decoration of the floor originates from the description of the city in history book, coordinated with 72 springs in 4 groups. The frozen “spring” and the spouting springs spurt majestically, showing the elegance of this spring city.

To the east of the main sculpture is situated the transitional space connecting the above-ground and the underground, adding changes in levels. Granite paved “Shandong Territory” portraits the vast land.

The Maturing Garden and the Growing Garden are constructed around the main sculpture, which is the rest and pleassure place for children and old people to enjoy themselves near the green grass and colorful flowers or falling leaves.

A large- scale relief "Resorts of Spring City" reclining to the west displays the beautiful scenery of Jinan. Stepping up to the east and strolling along center of the square, you will be full of zest no matter you are touring, resting or dancing and excising. At the cross point of main axis and Shuowen Avenue, lotus sculpture and colorful laser musical fountains show graceful bearing. More than four thousand sprinkler heads play several thousands changes of water views together with the music. The integration of moving and freezing fountain demonstrates a riotous profusion. Cultural corridor looks like a jade screen half embracing the square. You can ascend to have a birds-eye view of the square or appreciate the art gallery showing Qilu culture. Through the middle of corridor, Liberation Pavilion is close at hand as in a picture. The relief “ Relics of Saints” is sculptured at two endings and pillars of the corridor, which shows “Shun (an ancient Chinese king) cultivating at Li Mountain” etc. 15 ancient stories form the historical line of Qilu culture. Inside are statues showing the grace of 12 ancient celebrities of Shandong, including Shun, Confucius, etc.

The flower garden lies against Luo Yuan Main Street. Flowers contend in beauty like spring all year  round. Citizens can delight in spring flowers or autumn leaves so as to enjoy colorful beauty of horticulture.

Northern part of the square is the walking part beside the city moat. Inside this place, willows dance in the wind and transparent springs flow sluggishly, reminding us of the old life style of the city, “There are flowing streams by every house and willow trees by every door”.

Underground mall covers 46 thousand square meters, with such main businesses as trade, touring, culture, entertainment and parking.

Born in the first light of morning, Spring City Square is the combination of city style and natural scenery. It conveys the new millennium hope of the city's people: old spring city constructs the brilliance of modern provincial capital.