Discover the Pulse of Old Jinan at Baotu Spring!

**Baotu Spring Travel Guide: How to Best Experience the First Spring Under Heaven** Baotu Spring is one of Jinan's three most famous attractions and is known as the "First Spring Under Heaven." It's also the landmark that earned Jinan its nickname "City of Springs." With its pearl-like gushing spring water and surrounding pavilions, it boasts rich cultural heritage. This guide will help you explore Baotu Spring without missing any highlights! --- ### **I. Basic Information** 📍 **Address**: No. 1 Baotu Spring South Road, Lixia District, Jinan, Shandong Province 🎫 **Admission**: - Peak season (Apr 10-Oct 9): CNY 40/person - Off-peak season (Oct 10-Apr 9): CNY 20/person ⏰ **Opening Hours**: 7:00-19:00 (May extend to 21:00 in summer, night light show recommended) 🚌 **Transportation**: - Bus: K1, K3, K5, K51, K66, etc. to "Baotu Spring East Gate" or "Baotu Spring North Gate" station - Subway: Line 2 to "Quancheng Square" station, 10-minute walk --- ### **II. Best Time to Visit** ✅ **Spring and Fall (Mar-May, Sep-Nov)**: Pleasant weather, strongest spring flow, perfect for photos. ✅ **Summer (Jun-Aug)**: Experience the cool spring water, enjoy the night light show. ✅ **Winter (Dec-Feb)**: Less crowded, misty spring surface creates a fairyland effect in cold weather. ⚠ **Avoid holidays** to prevent overcrowding and ensure a better experience. --- ### **III. Must-Visit Spots** 1️⃣ **Main Spring Area** - Three springs gush out magnificently, forming the core attraction. - **Guanlan Pavilion** offers the best photo spot overlooking the spring pool. 2️⃣ **Li Qingzhao Memorial Hall (Shuyu Spring)** - Shuyu Spring is said to be where Li Qingzhao washed her face. - The memorial hall features Li Qingzhao's poems and life story, rich in cultural atmosphere. 3️⃣ **Ten Thousand Bamboo Garden** - Features Jiangnan garden style, peaceful bamboo grove, perfect for traditional-style photos. 4️⃣ **Luoyuan Hall & Shangzhi Hall** - Houses the "First Spring" stone tablet, showcasing Baotu Spring's history. 5️⃣ **Night Light Show (Summer only)** - The illuminated spring creates a dreamlike atmosphere, more mystical than daytime. --- ### **IV. Special Experiences** 🍵 **Spring Water Tea**: Enjoy jasmine tea made with authentic spring water at a local teahouse. 🍦 **Creative Ice Cream**: Try the CNY 20 Baotu Spring-themed ice cream, perfect for social media photos. 📜 **Collect Stamps**: Various stamp collection points throughout the scenic area. --- ### **V. Recommended Routes** **🚶‍♂️ Classic Half-Day Tour (2-3 hours)** East Gate → Shuyu Spring (Li Qingzhao Memorial Hall) → Jinxian Spring → Huanghua Spring → Main Spring Area (Guanlan Pavilion photos) → Luoyuan Hall → Ten Thousand Bamboo Garden → North Gate **🚶‍♂️ In-Depth Full-Day Tour** Baotu Spring → Wulong Pool (5-min walk, free) → Daming Lake (15-min walk) → Qushuiting Street (Old Jinan alley) --- ### **VI. Nearby Food Recommendations** 🍴 **Caobao Baozi**: Time-honored Jinan restaurant, famous for pork soup dumplings. 🍴 **Chunjiang Restaurant**: Century-old Lu cuisine restaurant, must-try braised intestines and sweet and sour carp. 🍢 **Furong Street**: Food hub featuring local snacks like oil twists, pork pieces, and sweet soup. --- ### **VII. Useful Tips** ✔ Visit before 8:00 or after 16:00 for fewer crowds. ✔ Be careful of slippery surfaces near springs, especially with children. ✔ Don't throw coins into springs to protect the environment. ✔ Consider buying the "First Spring Under Heaven" combo ticket (includes Baotu Spring, Daming Lake, Wulong Pool) if time permits. --- Baotu Spring is the soul of Jinan. Walking through it, you'll experience both natural wonders and profound cultural heritage. Hope this guide helps you make the most of your visit! 🌊📸