Jinan travel guide
济南
Jinan people embody the honest, generous spirit of Shandong to the full, and their boldness when drinking is sure to leave you speechless. The warm,…
11 places · In the guidebook: pages 1321–1338
Jinan, Shandong Province · AI illustration for China Trip
Quick itinerary
Jinan in 3 days
- Day 1
- Daming Lake→
- Wulong Pool→
- Baotu Spring→
- Quancheng Square (watch the musical fountains, then have dinner on nearby Furong Street)
- Day 2
- Day 3
The feel of the place
- Boldness
- Jinan people embody the honest, generous spirit of Shandong to the full, and their boldness when drinking is sure to leave you speechless. The warm, hospitable people of Jinan also carry on the teachings of Confucius and Mencius well. If you walk the streets of Jinan and ask for directions, you can count on a satisfying answer. If they don't know, or you didn't quite catch the answer, they will go out of their way to take you to your destination. Taking a taxi is also safe: drivers won't take you around in circles, and they are happy to offer good advice. Many people in other cities could learn from this.
- City of Springs
- Jinan is famous for its springs: the city has 72 springs, big and small, which earned it the nickname 'City of Springs'. Long ago, Baotu Spring was known for its sight of water 'leaping into the sky', and it was named the 'First Spring under Heaven'. Lao She's essay 'Baotu Spring' paints the beauty of the City of Springs so vividly that you feel as if you were there. It is little wonder that some readers, after reading his essay, have followed the sound of the springs and settled here.
- Street Sculptures
- Jinan is a city blessed with both remarkable springs and remarkable people. Xin Qiji, Li Qingzhao... and dozens more celebrated figures. Strolling along Jinan's streets, the sculptures of these famous people will set your mind wandering.
Lantern-Releasing Custom
In Jinan, people used to release lanterns on the night of the 30th day of the seventh lunar month. The lanterns were made from wet flour dough; once dried, they were filled with soybean oil, with wicks twisted from cotton. It was said to offer solace to the souls of those who had drowned. Today it has evolved into a folk recreational activity.
Best Time to Visit
Autumn is the most suitable time to visit Jinan. However, Daming Lake in winter snow and Baotu Spring in spring are at their most beautiful.
Folk Festivals
April: Peach Blossom Tourism Festival
At Quancheng Square you can admire peach blossoms, watch performances and browse exhibitions of local specialty travel goods.
July: Daming Lake Lotus Art Festival
Within the Daming Lake scenic area there are activities such as a Lotus Fairy selection contest, a lotus lantern fair, a Qixi Festival gala, dragon boat races and a beer festival.
August–September: Jinan International Wushu Festival
Martial arts enthusiasts from around the world gather in Jinan to exchange skills and make friends.
Preparation and Information
Language
Mandarin is widely spoken here as well.
Climate and Best Seasons
Four distinct seasons are the defining feature of Jinan's climate, and the transitions between them are especially quick, so first-time visitors may need a little time to adjust.
July and August are Jinan's rainy season, as these two months account for 54% of the year's rainfall. Winters in Jinan are milder than in surrounding areas. Snow falls only about 10 days in a typical winter, spread between November and April.
Things to see
1. The Ultimate Joy Cave houses 16 Buddha statues, the tallest reaching 3 metres.
Daming Lake
“Lotus flowers on four sides, willows on three, mountain views across the city and half the city a lake.” Daming Lake has been covered with lotus since ancient times, and willows sway along its banks. The new Daming Lake scenic area adds eight new highlights: Seven Bridges Breeze and Moon, Autumn Willows in Mist, Mingchang Morning Bell, Bamboo Harbour Breeze, Jiaxuan Lingering Melody, Chaoran Distant Journey, Zeng Embankment Water Ripples, and Birdsong in Green Shade. Residents can admire this “lake within the city” from Daming Lake Road, and visitors can take a boat to see the lake's scenery in full.
4–5 hours · Free entry; Chaoran Tower ¥40; sightseeing bus ¥10 per person; boat ride ¥10 per person
Baotu Spring
Baotu Spring Park is located in Lixia District, Jinan, and is a natural landscape park centred on springs. Within it is Baotu Spring, known as the “First Spring under Heaven.” Its most remarkable sight is that the water divides into three streams that gush day and night, rising several feet at high water. The south gate of Baotu Spring Park is especially worth seeing: it is magnificently decorated, and the horizontal plaque above the gate carries the characters “Baotu Spring” in gold on a blue background, written by the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing dynasty. It is hailed as the “First Gate” of Chinese gardens.
2–3 hours · ¥40; night square for tea-tasting by the spring ¥20
Wulongtan Park
Bordered by Baotu Spring to the south and Daming Lake to the north, Wulongtan has numerous famous springs around its pool, forming the Wulongtan spring cluster. The park is named after its main feature, Wulongtan (Five Dragons Pool). Legend says the pool was once the residence of Qin Qiong, a hero of the Sui and Tang dynasties, and that it later sank after heavy rain to become the Wulongtan of today.
1–2 hours · Free
Thousand Buddha Mountain
The famous Buddhist mountain, Thousand Buddha Mountain, lies on the south side of Jingshi 11th Road. Historical records show that during the Sui dynasty, Buddhism flourished in Shandong, and devout believers carved numerous stone Buddhas into the mountainside, giving rise to the name Thousand Buddha Temple. The Buddhist sculptures are concentrated on the Thousand Buddha Cliff behind Xingguo Temple and are well worth seeing. Major sights include Guanyin Garden, Xingguo Temple, Wanfo Cave, Longquan Cave, Jile Cave, the Dongtian Fudi Stone Archway and Duihua Pavilion. On the east side of Thousand Buddha Mountain, at the foot of the main peak of Fohui Mountain, a niche holds a carved Buddha head that stands 7 metres tall and over 4 metres wide. Commonly known as the “Great Buddha Head,” it is very rare.
2–3 hours · Thousand Buddha Mountain ¥30; Guanyin Garden ¥5; Wanfo Cave ¥15; Xingguo Temple ¥5
Jiuru Mountain Waterfalls
The Jiuru Mountain Waterfall Cluster lies on the northern foot of Mount Tai, with its main attractions being the Eight Pools, Nine Waterfalls, Twenty-Four Springs and Thirty-Six Peaks. Visitors come to Jiuru chiefly for the waterfall cluster: cascades and deep pools, with clouds and mist rising in glorious layers that together create a dazzling natural landscape. The scenic area also contains remains of the Qi Great Wall and stone-slab ancient paths once traveled by people of the Ming and Qing dynasties, where you can feel the vicissitudes of nature and history alike.
4–6 hours; 1–2 hours · Admission ¥89; lifetime pass ¥198; sightseeing shuttle one-way ¥20, round trip ¥40; Free; Free
Shandong Museum
Shandong Museum holds more than 5,000 Shang-dynasty oracle bone fragments, making it one of the museums with the largest oracle bone collections in China. Among its treasures are Western Han bamboo slips of The Art of War and Sun Bin's Art of War, unearthed at Yinque Mountain in Linyi, which were listed among China's Top Ten Archaeological Discoveries of the 21st Century.
3–4 hours · Free
Hongye Valley (Red Leaf Valley)
One valley has four seasons, and each season brings a different sky. In spring, flowers bloom among the trees and orioles flit about in flocks. In summer, mountain breezes bring refreshing coolness, making it a rare retreat from the heat. In autumn, the mountains turn red as far as the eye can see, a magnificent sight. In winter, snow blankets the peaks and the trees glisten like jade and flowers of ice. It is an excellent year-round holiday destination.
1 day · ¥80; ¥100 (October–November)
Getting there & around
Getting There
Shandong is a province with a very well-developed transport network. Road travel is the main link with neighbouring provinces and cities. Jinan also has flights to dozens of major cities across China, and its railway network is extensive.
By Air
Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport lies in the northeast of the city, about 30 km from the city centre. It takes only 2 hours by car from the airport to Mount Tai and Qufu, Confucius' hometown. There are flights to major cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen and Chongqing.
From the Airport to the City
Line 1: Airport → Jinan Zhan Square Bus Station (or Airport → railway and bus stations). Departs 9:00–20:00. Fare ¥20.
Line 2: Jinan Jichang Zhan (济南机场站) → Yuquan Senxin Hotel. Departs continuously 9:00–20:00. Fare ¥20.
Line 3: Jinan Jichang Zhan → Jinan Xi Zhan. Departs 9:00–20:30. Fare ¥20.
From the City to the Airport
Line 1: Jinan Zhan Square Bus Station → Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport. Departs on the hour 6:00–19:00. Fare ¥20.
Line 2: Yuquan Senxin Hotel → Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport. Departs on the hour 6:00–21:00. Fare ¥20.
Line 3: Jinan Xi Zhan Bus Hub → Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport. Departs every 30 minutes 7:30–19:30. Fare ¥20.
By Train
Jinan Zhan is located in the city centre. It is Jinan's oldest station and also its busiest. Jinan Dong Zhan is an auxiliary station to Jinan Zhan, mainly handling arrivals and departures of trains (EMUs) to Taiyuan, Dandong, Tonghua, Shijiazhuang North, Beijing and Qingdao.
High-Speed Rail
Since the Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway opened, the Beijing–Shanghai Railway's Jinan Zhan has been linked to Jinan Xi Zhan on the high-speed line by a connecting line. High-speed trains departing from or stopping at Jinan Zhan include 51 pairs of 'G' trains and 89 pairs of 'D' trains.
By Road
As the provincial capital of Shandong, Jinan has a very well-developed road network. Nearly every township is served by bus, and buses run continuously. Road links also connect with neighbouring provinces and cities. Many people prefer to travel by coach rather than by train.
Jinan's long-distance bus station is not far from the railway station; a rickshaw ride takes about 10 minutes and costs around ¥5.
Jinan has 13 express bus routes. Regular buses cost ¥1; air-conditioned buses, mostly numbered with a K prefix, cost ¥2. There are also 9 sightseeing bus routes: 778, J2 (777), J3, J4B, J5, J6, J7, J10 and J13.
Metro
Jinan currently has Metro Lines 1, 2 and 3. The starting fare is ¥2.
Taxi Fares
Daytime: starting fare ¥8 for the first 3 km; ¥1.5 per km for 3–6 km. Night: starting fare ¥8 for the first 3 km; ¥1.7 per km for 3–6 km.
Jinan Zhan (济南站)
By Train- Phone:
- 0531-82422002
Jinan Dong Zhan (济南东站)
By Train- Phone:
- 0531-95105105
Jinan Xi Zhan (济南西站)
By Train- Phone:
- 0531-82490971
Eat & drink
Famous Jinan Dishes
3. Jinan's Food Streets
Jingshiyi Road Food Street: A Snack Street
Weijiu Road Street: A Barbecue Street
Quancheng Road: A Western Food Street
Furong Street: Northern and Southern Snacks
Local Snacks
Jiuzhuan Dachang (Braised Pork Intestines)
Famous Jinan DishesA traditional famous dish of Jinan, Shandong. After being blanched, boiled, deep-fried and braised, the large intestine takes on a glossy reddish hue and a soft, tender texture. It combines salty, sweet, sour and spicy flavours, is intensely savoury yet not greasy, and never tires the palate, no matter how often you eat it.
Yellow River Carp
Famous Jinan DishesNamed after the idiom 'the carp leaps through the Dragon Gate', Jinan's Yellow River carp is sweet and sour with a rich garlic aroma, and it is wonderfully satisfying to eat.
- 1. Head-and-tail soup: By local custom, once the fish has been eaten, the fish head, fish tail and leftover seasonings on the plate are made into a soup known as 'head-and-tail soup' or 'huashui'. It too carries the meaning of 'the carp leaps through the Dragon Gate'. 2. Other local specialties: Sweet and sour carp, Jinan roast duck, Tangbao Shuangcui (double-crisp stir-fry), milk-broth cattail shoots, Nanchang sausage and Yuji braised chicken are all household-name dishes.
Caobao Baozi Shop (Puli Street Branch)
Recommended Places to EatA time-honoured Chinese brand whose signature 'Caobao buns' are a Jinan classic, with delicate, thin skins and juicy, flavourful fillings. The name comes from the founder, Mr. Zhang Wenhan, whose good-natured, straightforward character earned him the affectionate nickname 'Caobao'.
- Address:
- No. 15 Puli Street, Jinan
- Phone:
- 0531-88880077
Meifei Restaurant (Sangyuan Road Branch)
Recommended Places to EatA Shandong cuisine restaurant that is a must-visit in Jinan, with a queue outside almost all the time. The must-order dishes are the duck egg yolk lion's head meatballs and the cucumber salad with youtiao (fried dough sticks), both hugely popular.
- Address:
- No. 9-1 Sangyuan Road
- Phone:
- 0531-83179985
Luoxuan Gao (Spiral Cake)
Local SnacksA spiral-shaped cake that stands out because it is made with peanut oil rather than animal fat. The finished cake is wrapped in noodles, giving it a golden exterior that is crisp and crunchy from the first bite.
Tangsu Jianbing (Sugar Crisp Pancake)
Local SnacksA Jinan specialty made by adding white sugar and flavouring to ordinary millet batter. This not only enhances the taste but also keeps the pancake from turning stiff and hard as it cools. Depending on the spices added, the flavours vary, including peanut, chestnut, pineapple, banana, mint and rose. The pancake is thin and crisp, sweet without being cloying, golden in colour and varied in type. It is nutritious and easy to digest.
Where to stay
Jinan has countless hotels, guesthouses and inns, with nearly 50 star-rated hotels alone.
Jinan Yizheng Building
Recommended AccommodationVery well located, with easy access to Quancheng Square, Baotu Spring, Quancheng Road and other sights. Good value and clean.
- Address:
- No. 110 Lishan Road, Lixia District, Jinan
- Phone:
- 0531-85035888
Shopping
The hosting of the National Games and the Garden Expo, the expansion of Daming Lake, the launch of the moat river cruises, the start of the Queshan Longhu project, and the successive openings of the Qilu Seven Sages Cultural City and phase one of the Qilu Cultural Industry Park have further catered to visitors' shopping needs. When visiting Jinan, don't forget to bring some local specialties home. Black pottery, woodfish stone, Zhangqiu green onions, Longshan millet, Minghu lotus root, Pingyin ejiao (donkey-hide gelatin, the home of ejiao in China), Pingyin roses, dough figurines and embroidery (Lu embroidery) are all good choices.
Jinan's Shopping Streets
Quancheng Road is Jinan's busiest shopping street. The areas around Daguanyuan, the People's Department Store and the South Gate are also lively shopping districts.
Nightlife
In the evening, take a stroll around Quancheng Square. The square is very large and looks even more beautiful once it is lit up at night, and the nearby canal offers boat rides.
Day trips & beyond
Lingyan Temple
Ranked first among the Four Great Buddhist Temples of China, Lingyan Temple has long been described as 'the most secluded spot on the back of Mount Tai; no tour of Mount Tai is complete without Lingyan.' Highlights within the temple include the Hall of a Thousand Buddhas, the Pizhi Pagoda and the Pagoda Forest.
2–3 hours
Zhujiayu Ancient Village
Zhujiayu is a classic northern ancient mountain village, known as the 'Number One Village of Qilu.' Unlike the carved beams and painted rafters of the ancient towns of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, Zhujiayu is simple and natural: its houses, bridges and roads were built with local materials, with no trace of luxury or grandeur. Since the Ming dynasty, it has weathered more than 600 years yet still preserves its original layout of ancient bridges, roads, ancestral halls, temples, residences, schools, springs and sentry posts. Zhujiayu has nearly 200 ancient structures large and small, 99 stone bridges large and small, 66 wells and springs, and more than 100 natural scenic spots.
3–4 hours
Wufeng Mountain
Since ancient times, Wufeng Mountain has been named alongside Mount Tai and Lingyan Temple as one of the 'Three Mountains of Central Shandong.' It takes its name from five peaks, Welcoming Immortal, Gazing at Immortal, Gathering Immortal, Recording Immortal and Assembling Immortals, which rise like immortals ascending into the sky.
2–3 hours
Jinan Wildlife World
Jinan Wildlife World offers beautiful scenery and a strong sense of the wild. Most of its animals were moved here in batches from the Paomaling Wildlife World. The park is divided into a northern and a southern section: the north is a walking area, and the south is a driving area. The walking area consists of seven zones: Birdsong Flower Valley, Elephant Territory, Treetop Kingdom, Leopard Trail, Rainforest Exploration, Tiger Roar Valley, and Blue Dragon Impression. The driving area consists of five zones: African Savanna, Alpine Zone, Australian Mountain Forest, Wild Zone, and Asian Savanna.
Wildlife · Nature
Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 1321–1338. Translated from the Chinese edition; names and prices follow the guidebook. · Plain text version