Qushuiting Street (曲水亭街, Qushui Pavilion Street), stretching 530 meters long and 2.8 meters wide, is a historic and culturally rich street in Jinan, China. It links several notable locations: Daming Lake, Baihua Zhou, Wangfu Pond, and Furong Street. The street is named after Qushui Pavilion, which once stood near the west entrance of Xiaoxinglong Street on the eastern bank of the river. The pavilion, with its three grass-roofed rooms, was surrounded by a picturesque setting of winding streams and willow trees.
The clear waters from Pearl Spring and Wangfu Pond merge to form a river that runs alongside Qushuiting Street. On one side of the street are old houses with green tiles and bricks, while the other side features the flowing spring water. The pristine water can be seen flowing through courtyards, street corners, and alleys. Residents often use this water for daily chores like washing rice and clothes, adding a touch of liveliness to the ancient street.
Qushuiting Pavilion and its street were once a hub for scholars and literati who would gather here to play chess, chat, and enjoy tea. One of the notable traditions was the “Qushui Liushang” event, held annually on the third day of the third lunar month. During this event, participants would float wine cups along the winding streams in wooden trays. When a cup stopped in front of someone, they would drink the wine and compose a poem. If the poem was unsatisfactory, they would be penalized with more wine. This poetic tradition continued until the Qing Dynasty. Up until the liberation period, both sides of the river near the pavilion were lined with numerous bookstores, approximately 40 to 50, engaging in the trade of ancient and second-hand books.
Qushuiting Street also houses the former residence of Lu Dahuang, originally named Hongzao, born in 1895 in Caiyuan Village, Zichuan County. Lu Dahuang is renowned for collecting and editing the manuscripts of Pu Songling, resulting in the compilation of “The Complete Works of Liaozhai” and “The Chronology of Mr. Puliuquan.” He was known for his rigorous academic style and upright character, contributing significantly to the preservation of traditional Chinese literature.
Basic Information
Estimated Length of Tour | 1 hour |
Ticket Price | Free |
Opening Hours | 24 hours a day |
Location and Transportation
Qushuiting Street is located in Lixia District, Jinan, Shandong Province. It is situated with Daming Lake to the north, Xigeng Road to the south, the north gate of Prince De Mansion to the east, and the Jinan Confucian Temple to the west. To get there, you can take bus B98, K109, K11, K170, K41, or K95 and get off at Daming Lake Stop (大明湖站).