Jinan | Salvaging Time in the Spring Veins, Healing the Soul with the Warmth of Everyday Life

——3 Days 2 Nights In-Depth Travel Guide, Unlocking 100 Poetic Possibilities of the "City of Springs" Why Choose Jinan? Jinan’s summer is the emerald waves surging beside Baotu Spring, the willow branches swaying along the moat, and the sweet and sour aroma rising from the fireworks on Furong Street. It lacks the crowded hustle of Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, yet it hides the unique laziness and vitality of a northern water city—a city half covered by mountains and half by lakes, with seventy-two springs reflecting the Spring City. During the 2025 Jinan International Spring Water Festival, we explored 10 newly released spring-themed routes, from classic attractions to hidden villages, from local flavors to intangible cultural heritage crafts. In 3 days, you’ll understand this millennium-old city where “every household has spring water, every door has willow trees.” 🌿 Highlights at a Glance ✅ Spring Marvels: Check in at Baotu Spring, the "Number One Spring Under Heaven," enjoy a night cruise on the moat’s painted boat, and explore the spectacular water drawing scene at the Black Tiger Spring group. ✅ Old City Life: Stroll along Qushuiting Street listening to flowing water, visit Furong Street to taste braised pork with youxuan (oil spiral bread), and unlock intangible cultural heritage crafts at Baihua Island. ✅ Mountain and Wilderness Secrets: Climb Thousand Buddha Mountain for a panoramic view of the Spring City, hike through the Jiuru Mountain flower sea, and stay overnight at Lingyan Temple to listen to Zen chants. ✅ Culinary Feast: Huang Family Barbecue paired with spring water herbal tea, Pingyin rose pastry with donkey-hide gelatin cake, and super Yixing braised pork with sweet mo. 📅 3 Days 2 Nights Itinerary Plan Day 1: Tracing the Springs · Old City Stroll 🌅 Morning: Baotu Spring + Wulongtan - Baotu Spring: Opens at 7:30 to avoid crowds; watch the three streams spouting like silver dragons playing with pearls (recommended to rent an AR guide to unlock the story behind Li Qingzhao’s poetry stele). - Wulongtan: A 10-minute walk from Baotu Spring’s east gate; the water is crystal clear, perfect for summer water play or winter ice viewing. Don’t miss the “Clear Spring Flows Over Stones” stone carving. 🌇 Afternoon: Daming Lake + Qushuiting Street - Daming Lake: Take a painted boat tour (ticket 50 RMB); witness the golden moment at Chaoran Tower (18:30-19:00) when lights reflect the thousand-year cultural heritage on the lake surface. - Qushuiting Street: The cobblestone path links white walls and black tiles; recommended to visit “Spring Water Study” for Mingqian Longjing tea and experience movable type printing craft (68 RMB per person including tea and snacks). 🌃 Evening: Spring City Square Music Fountain - Fountain shows at 19:30 and 20:30, synchronized with the melody of “Spring Water Dingdong.” Arrive 30 minutes early for the best spot (best view along the south moat). Day 2: Dance of Mountain Springs · Secret Exploration ⛰️ Morning: Thousand Buddha Mountain + Lingyan Temple - Thousand Buddha Mountain: Take the cable car (20 RMB one way) to the top; inside the Ten Thousand Buddha Cave, 300 Buddha statues are vividly lifelike. On the way down, stop by the “Qiyan Jiudian” archway. - Lingyan Temple: A 40-minute drive; visit one of the “Four Great Temples in China,” admire Song Dynasty painted arhats with fluttering robes, and hike 20 minutes behind the temple to Ganlu Spring in Peach Blossom Valley. 🍲 Lunch: Lingyan Vegetarian Meal + Spring Water Herbal Tea - At the temple’s “Shifang Zhai,” try the Arhat vegetarian soup (15 RMB/bowl) made with 18 kinds of mushrooms, paired with a pot of Black Tiger Spring water for a refreshing cleanse. 🌸 Afternoon: Jiuru Mountain + Red Leaf Valley - Jiuru Mountain: Ride the popular mini train (30 RMB) through the flower sea; recommended to visit the “Infinity Pool” overlooking the colorful forest (open until October in summer). - Red Leaf Valley: Hike the wooden plank trail to admire drunken hibiscus; during September-October when red leaves cover the mountains, try the glass plank road (ticket + trail 80 RMB). Day 3: Spring Town Life · Culinary Carnival 🌾 Morning: Mingshui Ancient City + Baimai Spring - Mingshui Ancient City: Drink big bowls of tea (10 RMB) near Li Qingzhao’s former residence, experience Zhangqiu iron pot cold forging craft, and don’t miss “Huang Family Barbecue” with Zhangqiu green onions (40 RMB per person). - Baimai Spring: Plum Blossom Spring erupts most vigorously at 10:00; at the spring pool’s “Moquan Book Garden,” try making rubbings (50 RMB/person). 🌙 Evening: Old Commercial Port + Kuanhouli - Old Commercial Port: Check in at the European-style “Rose Waterfall,” recommended to visit “Lao She Teahouse” for crosstalk performances (14:00 show), order a pot of jasmine tea with nine-turn large intestine. - Kuanhouli: Avoid the main street’s trendy shops, turn into “Houzaimen Street” to eat Meng Family Braised Pig Trotters (limited sale at 17:00), and pack “Spring Water Tofu Pudding” for a late-night snack. 🍜 Must-Eat List in Spring City (Local Secrets) Food Recommended Shop Hidden Way to Eat Price Reference Braised Pork Super Yixing Fast Food (Quancheng Road) With rice + four happiness meatballs + kelp knots, mix sauce with rice 15 RMB Youxuan Furong Street Lao Zhou’s With sweet mo + chili oil, extra crispy 6 RMB Sweet Mo Qushuiting Street “Quancheng Old Taste” Add dried shrimp + spinach, savory and warming 8 RMB Donkey-hide Gelatin Cake Pingyin “Fupai” Direct Store Pair with rose honey water, nourishing and satisfying 38 RMB/box Spring Water Herbal Tea Thousand Buddha Mountain Vegetarian Hall Add mint leaves after chilling, cools summer heat 10 RMB/cup 🏡 Accommodation Guide: Various Choices to Sleep by the Springs - Luxury: Jinan Shangri-La Hotel (Quancheng Square branch) with rooftop terrace overlooking the moat, executive lounge offers special spring water cold brew cocktails (approx. ¥1200/night). - Artsy: Qushuiting Street “Spring Water Homestay,” a century-old siheyuan courtyard with a hundred-year-old soapberry tree, offers Hanfu rental (¥88/day including breakfast). - Nature Lover: Jiuru Mountain wooden cabin hotel with forest cabins and viewing terraces, join the “Firefly Night Watch” activity at night (approx. ¥680/night). 🚗 Transportation Tips: Efficiently Explore the Spring City - Airport/High-Speed Rail: Jinan Yaoqiang Airport is 40 minutes from downtown; taxi from Jinan West Station to Baotu Spring costs about 35 RMB. - City Transport: ✔️ Moat boat tour (¥30/person) connects Baotu Spring and Daming Lake, saving time and effort ✔️ Shared bikes on the “Spring City Greenway” connect four major spring groups (scan to ride) ✔️ Self-driving recommended in southern mountainous areas; set navigation to “Jiuru Mountain Visitor Center” parking lot 📌 Pitfall Avoidance Guide: Local Insider Tips 1. Be cautious buying silver jewelry in scenic spots: many “pure silver bracelets” on Furong Street are silver-plated; look for the old brand “Ruifuxiang.” 2. Night tour tips: Kuanhouli’s “drone show” requires booking 2 days in advance; on-site queueing is invalid. 3. Seasonal limited experiences: - April-May: Red Leaf Valley Tulip Festival (ticket ¥50) - September-October: Jiuru Mountain Osmanthus Brewing Festival (¥198 including handmade experience) - December-February: Daming Lake Ice and Snow World (¥80 including ice fishing) 🌠 Travel Bonus: Spring City Exclusive Romance - Custom Souvenirs: Baotu Spring cultural shop “Spring Drop” scented candle (¥98), shaped like dripping spring water. - Secret Check-in: Black Tiger Spring “Spring Water Post Office” (south bank of the moat), stamp postcards with spring eye postmark. - Night View: Thousand Buddha Mountain “Qilu Galaxy” light show (open on the 15th of each lunar month). 📝 Summary: The charm of Jinan lies in its ability to satisfy your poetic imagination of “silent spring eyes cherishing the fine flow,” while healing your fatigue with the warm city life of “youxuan, sweet mo, and fireworks.” Time here moves slowly—slow enough to clearly see how the three streams of Baotu Spring leap through a thousand years, and slow enough for the aroma of a basket of braised pork to soak into every fold of your memory. 📍 This summer, come to Jinan for a date with the spring water! “When the evening breeze of the moat brushes past the tiger head of Black Tiger Spring, when the lanterns of Qushuiting illuminate the cobblestones, you will understand—what makes life worthwhile is the Spring City gifting you a scoop of pure joy.”