Jinan Travel Guide
Jinan, known as the “City of Springs,” is a place where nature and urban life blend seamlessly. The city is characterized by its unique landscape of mountains and lakes, with Qianfoshan (Thousand Buddha Mountain) stretching for miles like a massive screen within the city, perfectly complementing the famous Daming Lake. This creates a distinctive natural scenery described as “half the city with mountain views, half with lakes.” Jinan’s terrain slopes from south to north, and it experiences a clear distinction between the four seasons, with an annual average temperature of 13.6°C. January is the coldest month with an average temperature of -1.9°C, while July is the hottest.
The city is also known for its well-developed water system, earning it the title of the “City of Springs.” When visiting Jinan, you can enjoy the famous Baotu Spring in spring or the snowy scenery of Daming Lake in winter. However, the best time to visit is in autumn, from September to November, after the rainy season when the groundwater levels rise, leading to the unique spectacle of the city’s springs gushing with water.
Most Popular Jinan Attractions
Other Attractions in Jinan
The Christmas atmosphere in Jinan is very strong; the 579 Art District (579百工集) really feels like being back on Oxford Street in London.
I visited the Shandong Art Museum’s biennale. Even though some of the art was hard to understand, it was still quite shocking!
The Hongjialou Church is really photogenic. There’s a big Christmas tree as well, but the surrounding area is under construction for a light rail, so you need to find a good spot to take pictures.
I haven’t quite adjusted to the indoor heating in Jinan; it’s really hot!
There is a Chrysanthemum Exhibition at Jinan Baotu Spring.
We started queuing as soon as we entered; it was really crowded on the weekend. We didn’t arrive too late, as we got in around 9 AM. Inside, there were many chrysanthemums. The variety of species and colors was quite impressive. In the ginkgo forest area, there were small wooden tables, and you could enjoy tea made with spring water, which also made for great photo opportunities.
Today, it suddenly got colder and started raining, but the weather during the National Day holiday was nice. Everyone should definitely bring a thick jacket when they come.
It was scorching hot in Jinan at noon, and suddenly it started pouring in the afternoon while we were out exploring, leaving us completely soaked like drowned rats.