Enjoy the Autumn in Spring City Jinan: Calm and Gentle

Jinan 3 Days 2 Nights Autumn Viewing Guide! Stay in a springside guesthouse for about 1000 RMB per person, watch the red leaves dye Qianfoshan Mountain, listen to the tinkling spring water, and discover the locals’ secret “autumn-only” experiences fully revealed. Who says autumn in the north is only bleak? In Jinan, autumn is warm— It’s the three streams of water bubbling with ginkgo leaves floating on Baotu Spring, It’s the layers of red and yellow forests beneath Qianfoshan Mountain, It’s the everyday life of elders carrying bird cages in Wulongtan Park. This old city, known as the “Spring City,” quietly dons a golden-red coat from late October to mid-November. This 3-day 2-night in-depth autumn tour guide is specially designed for autumn viewing, helping you avoid crowds, check in at the best scenic spots, enjoy a bowl of authentic sweet mo, all for only 900~1100 RMB per person. Students and families can easily set off! 📅 Itinerary: Day 1: Arrive in Jinan → Baotu Spring + Wulongtan + Qu Shui Ting Street Slow Life Take the high-speed train directly to [Jinan Station], then walk into the old city. First stop in the afternoon: [Baotu Spring Park] (ticket 40 RMB) ✅ Watch the “Number One Spring Under Heaven” gush from three streams ✅ Capture the scene of ginkgo leaves falling with ancient pavilions (recommended in front of the Li Qingzhao Memorial Hall) Then walk to [Wulongtan], a free and lesser-known secret spot where autumn maple leaves reflect in the pond, peaceful and picturesque. Evening stroll at [Qu Shui Ting Street]: Small bridges, flowing water, and homes; grandmothers shelling peanuts at the door; the sound of Shandong storytelling from teahouses. Must-eat dinner: Chaoyixing Fast Food (Jinan locals’ canteen), try the pork belly rice bowl + four-happiness soup, authentic and affordable! Day 2: Climb Qianfoshan Mountain to enjoy red leaves + Liberation Pavilion night view Set off early to [Qianfoshan Mountain] (ticket 30 RMB), the prime spot for autumn viewing in Jinan! ✅ Climb to [Guanyin Garden] to overlook the whole city, with a distant view of the Olympic Sports Center and CBD ✅ Walk the [Maitreya Victory Garden] trail, where yellow smoke trees, maples, and ginkgoes intertwine like an oil painting ✅ Find the hidden viewpoint: the slope east of Lishan Courtyard, fewer people, beautiful scenery, perfect for photos In the afternoon, visit the [Shandong Museum] (free, reservation required) to see Han dynasty pottery figurines and bronzes, avoiding the midday chill. In the evening, head to [Liberation Pavilion], climb the ancient city wall to watch the lights flow over the moat, framed with the Spring City Square music fountain. Recommended dinner: Kuanghouli Snack Street, try a bowl of youxuan (freshly baked, crispy and flaky) + sweet mo (savory five-grain porridge), experience old Jinan breakfast philosophy. Day 3: Autumn charm of Daming Lake + stroll in Mingfu City → Return trip The last day is dedicated to [Daming Lake]—no need to wait for summer lotus blooms, autumn Daming Lake is even more spacious and poetic. ✅ North shore lakeside trail: ginkgo leaves cover the ground in golden yellow ✅ In front of Nanfeng Opera House: photograph drooping willows, withered lotus, and reflections ✅ Beside the Tie Gong Shrine: chance encounter with folk artists playing the pipa On the way, walk into [Baihuazhou Historical and Cultural District], where white walls and gray tiles hide intangible cultural heritage workshops and spring water tofu shops. Buy a cup of spring water (2 RMB/cup), clear and sweet, the freshest taste of autumn. Return according to your train schedule, ending a gentle and healing autumn in Spring City. 💰 Cost Breakdown (per person): 🚄 Round-trip high-speed train ticket: about 300 RMB (example from within the province) 🏡 Two nights in a featured guesthouse/comfortable hotel: about 400 RMB (recommended near Daming Lake or Spring City Square) 🎫 Total tickets: about 70 RMB (Baotu Spring 40 + Qianfoshan 30, others free) 🍽 Food + snacks: about 200 RMB 🚌 Local transportation: about 30 RMB (bus + taxi) ✅ Total: about 900~1100 RMB 🌟 Autumn Exclusive Tips: ✅ Best time to view autumn: October 25 – November 15 → Ginkgo: Baotu Spring, Daming Lake, Shandong University Hongjialou Campus → Yellow smoke tree/red leaves: mainly the south slope of Qianfoshan Mountain 📸 Must-shoot spots: → Baotu Spring Wanghe Pavilion: ginkgo + spring water + pavilion in one frame → Behind the giant Maitreya Buddha on Qianfoshan: city and mountain forest together → Side corridor of Chaoran Building at Daming Lake: autumn water blends with the long sky 🧣 Travel advice: big temperature difference between morning and evening, wear a windbreaker + scarf; bring a thermos with hot water Jinan’s autumn, doesn’t rely on intense colors, but a kind of calm gentleness— like a warm cup of donkey-hide gelatin jujube tea, slowly warming your heart. It doesn’t say “Welcome,” but tells you with every tinkling spring water sound: “I’ve always been here.” This autumn, would you like to take a trip to Jinan, and listen to a dialogue between falling leaves and history? Leave a comment and tell me: what does your “most beautiful autumn” look like?🍂