Baotu Spring

趵突泉

The 'First Spring under Heaven', where three jets of spring water gush day and night. The garden made up of the spring pool, the Li Qingzhao Memorial Hall and the Wanzhu Garden is the core of Jinan's spring culture.

Baotu Spring lies on Baotu Spring South Road in Lixia District. It is the foremost of Jinan's 72 famous springs, and the Qianlong Emperor bestowed on it the title 'First Spring under Heaven'. Water wells up from cracks in the underground limestone to form three jets, and the water temperature stays around 18°C year-round. The iconic view of the spring pool is framed by the Guanlan Pavilion, Laihe Bridge and the Baotu Spring stele. The park covers about 100,000 square metres. Besides the main spring, there are more than 30 other springs, including Shuyu Spring, Jinxian Spring, Mapao Spring and Woniu Spring. The park also houses the Li Qingzhao Memorial Hall (Li Qingzhao was a native of Jinan, and the Shuyu Spring in front of the hall inspired her Shuyu Ci), Wanzhu Garden (a Qing-dynasty private garden with Ming and Qing architecture and winding corridors), Cang Garden and Baixue Tower. Koi and small seals can be seen around the spring pool, in a small seal house inside the park. Admission is about 40 yuan, and tickets can be bought through the WeChat official account of the First Spring under Heaven Scenic Area. The scenic area also includes Daming Lake, Five Dragon Pool and the moat, all nearby. Suggested itinerary: go early, when the park opens, for fewer crowds and the strongest spray over the spring for photos. Follow this order: Baotu main spring, then Shuyu Spring and the Li Qingzhao Memorial Hall, then Wanzhu Garden and Cang Garden, about 1.5 hours in total. Exit the east gate to reach Quancheng Square; exit the north gate and cross the road to Five Dragon Pool, then continue on to Furong Street and Qushui Pavilion Street. Getting there: take Metro Line 1 to Baotu Spring Station (depending on the line's status, it may still be under construction or require a transfer), or take several bus routes to Baotu Spring East Gate. From Jinan railway station, it's about a 20-minute walk. Note that the height of the water jets varies with the season and rainfall, and the three streams are weaker in the dry season. It's crowded on holidays. The spring water is drinkable, but please use the designated drinking points in the park.

Baotu Spring

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