Embark on a captivating three-day journey through Jinan, the City of Springs, where history, culture, and natural beauty converge. From exploring the rich collections at the Shandong Museum and admiring the architectural splendor of Hongjialou Catholic Church to strolling through the bustling Furong Street, this itinerary offers a perfect blend of cultural experiences and scenic views. Ascend the revered Qianfoshan, immerse yourself in the vibrant colors of Hongye Valley, and indulge in local culinary delights. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, nature lover, or food aficionado, Jinan’s diverse attractions promise an unforgettable experience.
Day 1: Baotu Spring → Quancheng Square → Black Tiger Spring → Daming Lake → Qushuiting Street
First Stop: Baotu Spring ⏱1-2 hours
Baotu Spring Park, located in the bustling heart of Jinan, is a unique garden centered around springs. The most famous attraction here is Baotu Spring, often referred to as the “Number One Spring under Heaven.” It tops Jinan’s list of “72 Famous Springs” and boasts over 2,000 years of history. The spring, which consists of three streams of clear, cold water, gushes day and night. The famous Chinese writer Lao She wrote about this very scene in his essay Baotu Spring. Besides the spring itself, the park’s grand South Gate is worth a visit, with its opulent design and the inscription “Baotu Spring” in gold characters on a blue plaque, penned by the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. After exploring the park, you can take a boat ride from the Baotu Spring dock to visit other nearby attractions.
Tips: Enter through the South Gate and exit through the East Gate to head towards Quancheng Square.
Opening Hours: April 10th – October 9th: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM; October 10th – April 9th: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Second Stop: Quancheng Square ⏱0.1-0.5 hours
🚦 Just a five-minute walk from Baotu Spring’s East Gate.
Quancheng Square is located in the heart of Jinan, surrounded by numerous attractions, making it a true landmark of the city. At the center of the square is the iconic “Spring” sculpture, a tall, blue steel structure with an iron orb in the middle, forming the Chinese character for “spring” (泉). The square’s eastern side features a large lotus sculpture, with fountains that create various patterns during a 30-minute show. The evening fountain shows, with their changing lights, are particularly beautiful and perfect for night photography. The area around Quancheng Square is also home to large shopping malls and restaurants, catering to all your needs.
Opening Hours: Open 24 hours
Third Stop: Black Tiger Spring ⏱1 hour
🚦 Black Tiger Spring is a 15-minute walk from Quancheng Square.
Black Tiger Spring is one of Jinan’s four major spring clusters, located within the Huancheng Park. It is the second largest spring in Jinan, following Baotu Spring. The spring, housed in a natural cave with a depth of 3 meters, is renowned for its powerful water flow, which roars like a tiger, giving the spring its name. Due to its high-quality, clear water, many locals come here to collect spring water. If you’d like, bring a clean container and experience this local tradition for yourself.
Tips: Black Tiger Spring is located in Huancheng Park, an open area with no entrance fee.
Opening Hours: Open 24 hours
Fourth Stop: Daming Lake ⏱2-3 hours
🚦 A 20-minute bus ride from Black Tiger Spring.
Daming Lake Scenic Area is located in the northeast of Jinan’s city center, blending water views, garden landscapes, and ancient architecture. The area features 16 scenic spots, offering a picturesque experience as if you were wandering through a traditional Chinese ink painting. The park is divided into free and ticketed sections. For general sightseeing, the free area is more than sufficient. However, if you wish to explore further, the Lao She Memorial Hall, with inscriptions from his essay Winter in Jinan, and Chaoran Tower, offering panoramic lake views, are worth a visit.
Tips:
- Summer is the best time to visit, as it is the season for viewing lotus flowers and boating.
- In July, Daming Lake hosts various events like the Lotus Fairy Selection, Lotus Lantern Festival, and Lotus Exhibition. Participate if you’re interested!
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM; Chaoran Tower: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Moat Boat Rides: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Daming Lake Underwater World: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Fifth Stop: Qushuiting Street
🚦 A 10-minute walk south from Daming Lake Scenic Area.
Qushuiting Street is a charming little street filled with poetic charm. On one side, you’ll find old houses with gray bricks and tiles, while on the other, clear springs with green algae flow gently. Locals often wash their rice and clothes in these springs. The street has preserved the “household springs, willows by every door” scenery described in the classic Chinese novel Travels of Lao Can. Here, you can sip on tea brewed with spring water and enjoy the slow-paced life of this old street.
Tips: The scene of small bridges and flowing water after nightfall is perfect for photography.
Opening Hours: Open 24 hours
Dining Suggestions
🍴 Lunch (near Quancheng Square):
- Yan Chu Private Kitchen (Henglong Plaza) (闫厨私房菜): A must-try restaurant in Jinan, famous for its stir-fried pork kidney.
- City South Memories Flavor Theme Restaurant (Shimao Plaza) (城南往事风味主题餐厅): Known for its simple and elegant decor, this chain restaurant is highly rated in Jinan. Their signature dish is sweet and sour carp, presented in a lifelike form—make sure to take a photo before eating!
🍴 Dinner (near Daming Lake):
- Weishan Lake Fish Restaurant (Daming Lake Branch) (微山湖鱼馆): A Jinan specialty restaurant focusing on home-style dishes, especially freshwater fish. It’s always bustling with customers.
- Minghu Xiaolou (Daming Lake Branch) (明湖小楼): This restaurant features a retro water city garden style with Daming Lake as its theme. Enjoy Shandong cuisine in a tranquil environment.
Day 2 Itinerary: Shandong Museum – Hongjialou Catholic Church – Furong Street
First Stop: Shandong Museum ⏱2-3 hours
Shandong Museum, located in the eastern part of Jinan, is one of the earliest established provincial comprehensive geological museums in China. The museum boasts a vast collection of over 140,000 cultural relics and nearly 10,000 natural specimens, with a wide variety of exhibits. Here, you can admire an extensive array of ancient ceramics, bronzes, calligraphy and painting, oracle bones, Han dynasty stone reliefs, and more. Among its most prized possessions are the red pottery animal-shaped vessel from the Dawenkou site, Shang dynasty oracle bones, the massive jade bi disc from the Warring States period, bamboo slips of The Art of War by Sun Tzu and The Art of War by Sun Bin, and murals from the Eastern Han dynasty tomb in Dongping. These rare treasures are occasionally displayed.
Admission: Free, but you must bring your ID to enter.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (last entry at 4:00 PM); closed on Mondays (except for national holidays).
Second Stop: Hongjialou Catholic Church ⏱1 hour
🚦From Shandong Museum, take a bus for about 40 minutes to reach the Catholic Church.
The Hongjialou Catholic Church is a “double-tower Gothic church” and is one of the three most famous Catholic churches in China, as well as a significant cultural landmark in Jinan. The church’s exterior is grand and imposing, with intricately carved layers on the arches, creating a beautifully ornate decoration. Inside, the stained glass windows depict stories from the Bible , which you can explore in detail if you’re interested.
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday: 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM; 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM; Sunday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM.
Third Stop: Furong Street ⏱1-3 hours
🚦After leaving the church, take a bus for about 40 minutes to reach Furong Street.
Furong Street is an old commercial street in Jinan, renowned as the “Number One Snack Street in Shandong”. The street is named after the Furong Spring located within, and is adjacent to two ancient government offices and the Confucian Temple, as well as the main roads of the old city. In the Jin, Ming, and Qing dynasties, it was a popular gathering place for scholars and poets who came here to drink and compose poetry. Today, among Jinan’s old streets, Furong Street is possibly the most bustling. It is a must-visit spot for food lovers, offering a wide range of delicacies from all over the country.
🍴Dinner (near Furong Street)
- Furong Street (芙蓉街): A famous old street and snack street in Jinan, where you can find not only Jinan’s local snacks but also various delicacies from across the country.
- Quancheng Da Paidang (泉城大排档): Ranked first for Shandong cuisine near Daming Lake. It has an excellent reputation and offers affordable prices. Be sure to try their signature dish, Zaozhuang spicy chicken.
Day 3: Qianfoshan (Thousand Buddha Mountain) – Hongye Valley
First Stop: Qianfoshan (Thousand Buddha Mountain) ⏱4-5 hours
🚦You can reach Qianfoshan Scenic Area by taking a bus from the city center.
Qianfoshan, located in the southern part of Jinan, is one of the “Three Major Scenic Spots of Jinan”, along with Baotu Spring and Daming Lake. Though the mountain is not very high, it boasts rolling peaks and lush forests and is famous for its ancient stone carvings of numerous Buddha statues. Here, you can explore the Wanfo Cave, which houses nearly 30,000 Buddha statues, offering a glimpse into the mysteries of Buddhism. You can also visit Xingguo Temple to offer incense and prayers. Upon reaching the summit, you will be rewarded with a panoramic view of Jinan City, a sight that is truly breathtaking.
Tips:
- Qianfoshan is not very high, making it accessible for people of all ages.
- Each year, on the third day of the third lunar month and the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, Qianfoshan hosts a grand temple fair, typically lasting a week. During this time, you can enjoy various performances, including drum shows, martial arts, and Shandong Kuaishu storytelling, as well as a wide array of local snacks and mountain goods. The mountain is particularly crowded with people coming to offer incense and prayers, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.
Opening Hours:
- March 1 – October 31: 6:30 AM – 7:30 PM
- November 1 – February 28: 6:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Second Stop: Hongye Valley ⏱3-4 hours
🚦Take Bus 65 from the city center and get off at “Hongye Valley Station” to reach the scenic area.
Hongye Valley, located in the southern mountainous area of Jinxiuchuan Township in Jinan, is known for its wild smoke trees, a type of ornamental tree. In autumn, the entire valley is painted in vibrant red as the leaves turn, creating a stunning view. However, Hongye Valley is not just a fall destination; it offers a unique beauty each season, earning its reputation as “the source of springs, the homeland of clouds, the world of flowers, the ocean of forests, and a paradise for leisure and vacation.” The picturesque scenes at Xuanchiu Lake within the valley are perfect for photography. The park also features attractions like the European Style Valley, Lovers’ Valley, and Wanye Tower. The European Style Valley, themed around tulips, hosts the Hongye Valley Tulip Festival every April and May.
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
🍴Lunch (near Qianfoshan):
- Sanyihe Restaurant (三义和酒楼): A highly regarded restaurant near Qianfoshan Park, specializing in dishes such as Shandong’s century-old lamb soup, lamb brain and sea cucumber soup, fruitwood charcoal-roasted biscuits, and various lamb dishes.
- Caobao Baozi Shop (草包包子铺): A traditional and well-known bun shop located at the foot of Qianfoshan, perfect for a quick rest and to regain energy. They offer classic flavors like pork soup-filled buns, shrimp, and three delicacies. The buns taste best when eaten hot.