Jinan combines expansive spring landscapes with a city lake, art and experiences centered around spring water. The “World's Best Spring Scenic Spot” scenic area covers three square kilometers and is a national 5A-rated scenic area. It brings together natural landscapes with significant historical and cultural heritage. For travelers looking to combine nature and culture, the spring sites, Daming Lake and Jinan Hanmeilin Art Museum offer different focal points.

Spring Groups and Daming Lake

Baotu Spring Group, one of Jinan’s ten major spring groups, lies in the southwest of the city center. It covers 17 hectares, with 37 spring pools spread across the area. The group can therefore be understood as a landscape of many individual pools, rather than just a single spring. Visitors interested in Jinan’s springs will find a distinct focal point within the city here.

Daming Lake lies in the center of Jinan, north of the historic old town. At 103.74 hectares, it is considerably larger than Baotu Spring Group. It was formed by the confluence of spring water from four spring groups in the old city. The written record also goes back a long way: the lake was mentioned about 1,500 years ago in the treatise on the Ji River in the “Water Classic” by Li Daoyuan, a scholar of the Northern Wei period. Daming Lake thus combines its origins in spring water with an early historical reference.

Visiting hours differ between the lake’s two areas: the old area is free to access from 05:00 to 22:00, while the new area is open around the clock. As opening hours may change, check the times before your visit.

Art and Spring-Related Experiences

Jinan Hanmeilin Art Museum is located at Quancheng Square. Its ten exhibition halls display nearly 1,300 works by renowned Chinese artist Han Meilin. The art forms represented include calligraphy, painting, sculpture and ceramics. The museum adds a distinct artistic focus alongside the spring and lake landscapes; the different art forms give the collection a broad thematic scope.

The springs also provide a setting for a range of experiences. A description from July 2026 lists 30 immersive spring-related experiences in Jinan. These include swimming in spring-water pools, stand-up paddleboarding on springs and drinking tea brewed with spring water. The examples represent different ways of engaging with spring water: in a pool, on the water or over a tea break. Offerings may change, so check which activities are currently available before making plans.

At drinking-water stations around Quancheng Road, visitors can sample clear spring water. As facilities may change, it is advisable to check whether the drinking-water stations are available before your visit.

Plan Your Stay

When looking for a hotel in Jinan, start with what matters most to you: spring landscapes, the lake, art or an experience centered around spring water. If you want to explore several themes, factor in the different access hours at Daming Lake and the possibility that the experience offerings may change.

Discover more destinations: Liaocheng, Dongying, Zibo, Heze, Tai'an, Dezhou, Weihai, Weifang

For the broader travel overview: Shandong.