Baotu Spring

Baotu Spring is nestled in the centre of Baotu Spring Park which is located in the center of Jinan city, Shandong Province. When water bursts out from the three outlets; the spring creates thunderous sounds and sprays water jets. Sometimes water columns are created that reach as high as 26.49 meters (about 86.9 feet), making a real spectacle.

"First Spring Under Heaven"

The spring gushes out in three fountains bubbling like boiling water about a foot high. Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911), on an inspection tour to the south, stopped here and tasted the water of the spring. He was so pleased that he conferred on it the title "First Spring Under Heaven."

One of the three must-see spots

Baotu Spring Park is one of the three must-see tourist spots in Jinan, others include Lake Daminghu, and Thousand Buddha Mountain.

Where it is

Baotu Spring is nestled in the centre of Baotu Spring Park, which neighbors the Thousand Buddha Mountain to the south, Quancheng Square to the east and the Lake Daminghu to the north.

Baotu Spring

The Baotu Spring flows from the underground caves. Its largest steam flows at a rate of 240,000 cubic meters per day. When water bursts out through the three outlets, the spring gives thunderous sounds, and water columns surge upward, looking like spinning wheels.

The spring keeps its temperature at about 18 degree Celsius all year round. In the cold winter, mist rises from and hangs over the spring pond, and the clear, deep spring water reflects the ancient-styled buildings with colorful carvings and upturned eaves.

The landscape presents a picturesque view of a paradise on earth. Poems and prose have been written for the spring view. Together with its environs, it has been turned into a park of the same name that is now one of the three major places of interest in Jinan.

Baotu Pool

Baotu Spring's pool is rectangular in shape, 30 meters long and 20 meters wide, and is encircled by stone balustrades. The pool of the spring assumes the shape of a square, and the water is of pure and sweet quality.

All the old buildings and relics there have been restored. The springs and ponds have been thoroughly dredged, and the banks lined with stone. Lawns and rockeries have been built and numerous trees and flower planted. Around the pool sit such famed buildings as the Luoyuan Hall, Banbi Corridor, Waterside Chamber, and Guanlan Pavilion.

Tasting tea

There is a saying here that you will spoil your Jinan tour if you do not drink the tea brewed with Baotu Spring water. Because it is both pure in quality and mellow in taste, the natural spring water could be directly used for drinking, especially making tea.

Tea tasting is a favorite past time here. To the east of the spring is the famous Wangheting Teahouse, where you can recreate the moment when past Emperors sat there, tasting tea and enjoying the beautiful scenic delights of Baotu Spring.

Baotu Spring Park

With ten cultural features, including the spring, rocks, opera performances, lanterns, chrysanthemum, calligraphy, paintings and stone tablets, the Baotu Spring Park has become a world famous tour spot, which synthesizes characteristics of both the south and north parks in China and combines the spring, rocks and culture of landscape garden in one park.

Former home of Li Qingzhao

The park was the former home compound of Song Dynasty poetess Li Qingzhao. The park contains a full museum devoted to her life and work, with placards in English and Chinese, and wax figures illustrating her childhood, marriage, and later years.

Various courtyards

In addition to the poetry and history of Li Qingzhao, the park is full of courtyards that guide you in and out of one another. Each one is devoted to a natural Chinese icon such as bamboo, plum, peach, crab tree, persimmon, or even the springs themselves. Therefore every courtyard inspires a different feeling, one that was carefully engineered by initiated feng shui masters!

Enjoy the Lantern Festival

Lantern Festival of Baotu Spring Park has a long history. During the lantern festival period, you may find lanterns everywhere in the park, on top of the buildings, in the trees, on the water, inside the rooms. The lanterns are of various shapes: dragon, lion, and crab etc. which are designed in accordance with the style of the garden and water views in the park.

Meanwhile, there are also entertaining performances organized and presented in the park, such as stilts walking (Gaoqiao), land boats and lion dances. The park also holds performances of Peking Opera all year round.

When to visit

• Opening Hours: 7:00a.m. - 11:00p.m.

Getting there

• By bus: 5, 41, 49, K54, K96, K66, 85, 102, 103, 104