Vacation in Jinan China with Asian Vacations, Inc.

jinan attractions

Baotu Spring Park

Baotu Spring, or Jet Spring, the symbol of Jinan, is known not only as the first of the 72 springs in Jinan but as the "First Spring under Heaven". With its earliest account in "Spring and Autumn Annals", an ancient Chinese travelogue which states that "when the spring source rises up, the spring water gushes in the shape of wheel", it has a long history of more than 2,600 years. Baotu Spring was formed because of Jinan's special geographical position and geological structure. Because it is both pure in quality and mellow in taste, the natural spring water could be directly used for drinking. When water bursts out through the three outlets, the spring gives thunderous sounds, and water columns surge upward, looking like spinning wheels. The spring keeps its temperature at about 18C all year round. In the cold winter, mist rises from and hangs over the spring pond, and the clear, deep spring water reflects the ancient-styled buildings with colorful carvings and upturned eaves. The landscape presents a picturesque view of a paradise on earth. Poems and prose have been written for the spring view. Together with its environs, it has been turned into a park of the same name that is now one of the three major places of interest in Jinan. Baotu Spring is located in Baotu Spring Park southwest of the old Jinan City. The spring pool is rectangular with water 30m long, 18m wide and 2.2m deep. It used to occupy an area only of 4 mu (two thirds of an acre), but since liberation, the People's Government has expanded the grounds to over 50mu, or about 9 acres. Since liberation, all the old buildings and relics here have been restored, the springs and ponds have been thoroughly dredged, and the banks lined with stone. Lawns and rockeries have been built and numerous trees and flowers planted. To the east of Baotu Spring, there is a sweet teahouse situated within the "Watching Crane Pavilion". Address: 1 Baotuquan Nan Lu. How to get there: Take Bus #5 from the Central Railway Station in Ji'nan direct to the Spring. Admission: �5. Opening Times: 07:00 - 18:00

Qianfoshan (Thousand-Buddha Mountain)
Qianfo Mountain, one of the three most famous scenic spots in Jinan, is located about 2.5km southeast of the city at 285 m above sea level. It occupies an area of 166 hectares. In ancient times, the hill was called Miji Hill and Lishan Hill. When the Buddha statues were chiseled on the hill in the Sui Dynasty (581-618 AD), it was renamed the Thousand-Buddha Hill. During the early years of the Sui Dynasty, Buddhism became popular with people in the area and Buddhist disciples built many temples and carved numerous Buddhist statues on the rocks of the mountain. This is how the mountain acquired its present name. The mountain, overgrown with grass and plants of various kinds and ageless pines and cypress is, at a distance, like a giant wearing a huge green carpet dotted with pavilions, towers and terraces. The most famous is Xingguo Temple built in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). The Thousand-Buddha Cliff on the south side of the mountain presents 130 statues of Buddha carved in the Sui Dynasty. The cliff houses five caves which, from west to east, are respectively called Longquan Cave, Jile Cave, Qianlou Cave and Luzhu Cave. The largest ones are over 3 m high and the smallest ones are only 20 cm. Now the mountain is a park rich in both the natural beauty and historical relics of China. The Thousand Buddha Mountain stretches from east to west with its landscape spreading like a screen. On the north side of the mountain are three winding and zigzagging ascending paths, flanked by massive pines and cypresses with thick shady leaves that obscure the sun. On the eastern side of the mountain stands the Shandong Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery for Revolution of 1911, a key historical relic site under provincial protection. Other scenic spots on the mountain include the Tang-Dynasty Pagoda Tree Pavilion, Shandong Nine Clouds, and Cloud Passing Zen Temple, etc. If you prefer a bus ride, then you can go by bus to the top of the mountain along a mountain road that winds up the eastern side of the mountain. Admission: �6. Opening Times: 7:00 - 18:00

Black Tiger Spring
Located in the southeastern part of the old city district of Jinan, Black Tiger Spring (heihu quan) is one of the four most famous springs of Jinan, ranking first in rate of flow among all the springs inside and outside the city. A quaint moat, fed from a source that flows out of three tiger heads, the spring is worth a visit if interest and time permit. As with most of Jinan's springs, the best time to visit this sight is at peak rainfall, generally around July and August. Address: Heihuquan Dong Lu. How to get there: Take Bus #54 from Daming Park.

Daming Lake (Lake of Great Light)
Located in the northern part of the Old City district, Lake Daming is a natural lake where many springs converge. Springs empty themselves into the lake from the south and, if water overflows, the lake depletes its surplus water through the north water gate. This gate was built in the North Sung Dynasty (960-1279 AD), on the northern bank. As the lake bottom is composed of volcanic rock, the lake holds water so efficiently that the lake does not dry up during the dry season and it does not overflow after rainy onslaughts. The water level is continually kept at a steady level. It is one of Jinan's three major tourist spots. The lake park occupies an area of 86 hectares with the lake being 46 hectares. At its entrance is Daming Lake Archway, on the western side of which is the ruin of the ancient Xiayuan Garden. Inside the garden is Haoran Pavilion. The present pavilion site was selected in the Jia Jing period of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD) when the pavilion was rebuilt. On the northern bank of Daming Lake is the North Pole Pavilion, to the east of which is Zeng Gong's Temple. Zeng Gong came from Nanfeng, Jiangxi. Zeng Gong was governor of Jinan in the fifth year of the Xi Yu period of the Northern Sung Dynasty (960-1279 AD) and brought benefit to the local people, so he is still remembered now. To the west of the North Pole Pavilion is Tie Gong's Temple, which was built in memory of Tie Xuan of the Ming Dynasty. Here is the best spot for enjoying the beautiful scenery of Daming Lake, i.e. "There are lotuses on the four sides and willows on the three sides. The whole city is filled with a mountainous landscape and half the city is covered by lake water". To the south of Daming Lake is Jiaxuan Temple, built in memory of Xin Qiji, the great poet of the Southern Sung Dynasty. Lake Daming is a paradise of lotus since ancient times. Willow trees circle the lakeshore, showing their best greens and flowers among them. The lake in summer is full of lotus flowers and half of the city is full of the colors and fragrance of lotus flowers, restoring the traditional scene of "lotus on four sides and willow in three". The lake park abounds with over 30 historical relics and sites that tell stories of the lake's past. A children's playground, a roller-skating rink and flower house have been constructed and facilities for boating have been installed. Furthermore, the waters of the Five-Dragon Pool have been diverted to this place to form an artificial spring, whose flow turns into a beautiful cascade on the west bank. How to get there: Take Bus #11 from the Central Railway Station in Jinan. Cost: Tickets are �5 or 10. Opening Times: 07:00 - 18:00.

Shandong Provincial Museum
Shandong Provincial Museum is found in south Jinan near the Thousand Buddha Hill. It consists of a nature section and a history section. Included in the exhibits are a number of exquisite Buddhist carvings, stone seals and tablets from the Han Dynasty (206-220 BC), bronzes from the Shang Dynasty (1600-1027 or 1766-1122 BC) and Zhou eras (1766 - 770 BC) and pottery and other agricultural objects excavated from Neolithic sites in the area. There is also a calendar dating from 134 BC, which is believed to be the oldest one in China.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Taishan (Mount Tai)
Taishan, more than 345 miles in circumference, rises steeply and majestically in the middle of Shandong Province about 45 miles from Jinan. Massive and awesome, it has featured in many historic events throughout the ages, and has been a rich source of inspiration for countless maxims, poetic allusions, and literary works. To many people the mountain is a symbol of grandeur and stability as shown, for example, in the popular Chinese saying, �As solid as Mount Tai.

Tiankuang (Celestial Gift) Hall
The main hall of the Dai Temple, consists of nine rooms with double eaves, eight cornices and yellow glazed tile roofs. The frescoes (10 ft high and 170 ft long) of life-like figures, covering the east, west, and north walls are rare, outstanding works of art.

Jinshiyu Valley
Half a mile to the northeast of Doumu Palace is a huge wall of rock (one 15th of a hectare) bearing an engraving of the Diamond Sutra. Each character is more than a foot high. The forceful calligraphy of this ancient inscription is regarded as the prototype of the bank (placard) style.

Nantianmen (South Celestial) Gate
This is opposite the Beitianmen Gate (the Northern Celestial Gate) and can be reached by a steep, winding staircase. At the top is Mokong (Touching the Sky) tower with a stone table bearing an inscription by Du Renjie, a Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368 AD) poet.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Qufu
Arriving in Qufu, the birthplace of Confusius, the first thing coming into sight is the spacious temple of Confucius, which dominates the town. Confusius is the world-renowned Chinese philosopher born in Qufu more than 3,500 years ago. His influence on Chinese society culture lasts until the present day. Qufu has recently been restored to its former glory. It has become a tourist attraction rivaling the Great Wall. In size and scale, the Confucius Temple ranks second only to the Forbidden City in Beijing. Construction of the Temple began in 478 BC, the year after Confucius's death. It was rebuilt many times throughout the ensuing 3,000 years. The Temple grounds cover an area of 33 hectares with buildings laid out symmetrically along a 0.6 mile north-south axis. There are 53 magnificent gateways and numerous halls, pavilions and shrines elaborately roofed with glazed tiles.