Jinan in Shandong Province

Jinan (济南) is the capital of Shandong province in China. It is called a "City of Springs" because of the numerous artesian springs. It is known also because of the lakes, and the weeping willows that grow along the water.

Dawei's third grandpa and grandma, who live in Jinan, took us around the city to show us famous springs. Near the springs there were lines of people waiting to get some spring water into containers. We drank water from one of the springs just to check the taste and I must say that water was fresh and cold. For water drinkers Jinan is an excellent spot:)

Trying to make a wish with a coin

Water in Baotu Spring Park

Later on we went to The Baotu Spring Park, which is the most popular of the springs in the City. "Baotu" (趵突) means "jumping and leaping" in Chinese. As you can see on the pictures below water in the spring pool looks like boiling. It is constantly moving and when you look at it for few minutes you don't want to look at other things anymore. At least that what they claimed on the tablet beside the spring;) The spring was visited by the Emperor Qian Long of the Qing Dynasty in XVIII century. A tablet with the Emperor's handwriting "Baotu Spring" has since been erected beside the spring pool.

Baotu Spring in Jinan

Other notable sites in the city are the Five Dragon Pool (五龙潭) near the Baotu Spring Park and the Black Tiger Springs (黑虎泉) on the southern city moat which we also had a chance to see.

Beside the Black Tiger Springs in Jinan