Lake Daminghu

Well-known for “Spring City”, Jinan is endowed with 72 famous springs. Ranks as one of the top scenic spots in Jinan, Lake Daminghu is a natural lake formed from many springs that famous for never affected by heavy rains or drought. The lake lies on the northeast part of downtown of Jinan City, northern of the old city. Covering an area of 460,000 square meters, Lake Daminghu takes a mean depth of 2 meters with 4 meters at the deepest point. 

History

Lake Daminghu can trace its history in the Annotated Book of Waters written by Li Daoyuan, a writer in the Northern Wei Dynasty (368-534). Serving as a converging place for celebrities, it was well-known since Tang (618-907) and Song Dynasty (960-1279) with tranquil surroundings and beautiful scenery. In 13th century, Mark Polo, an Italian traveler and explorer, marveled here as "what a beautiful landscape of lake and rocks!" In 1072, the governor of Jinan Zeng Gong ordered to lead the lake water to Xiaoqiang River to keep a constant water level. And he also had some pavilions, embankments, terraces and corridors built surround the lake, making here a sightseeing landscape.

How came the Lake

The lake was formed naturally with the constant spring waters from Zhuoying Spring, Pearl Spring, Lotus spring and Wangfu Pool. Spring water flows from the south bank into the lake and runs out through the water gate when it reaches a level. Therefore, the water level is constant all year round, as a saying goes “No flooding with everlasting rain and not to dry up in the severest drought”.

Ancient Buildings

As a poem says “With lotus on all sides and willows on three sides, the lake presents half of the beauty of the mountainous city of Jinan”, Lake Daminghu is famous for lotus flowers, weeping willows, clear water, hovering birds and drifting boats.

Besides, the lake is scattered with ancient buildings which were built in memory of some celebrities. Among these, there are some special ones: Lixia Pavilion, Beiji Temple, Tiegong Ancestral Temple, Moon-lit Pavilion, Huibo Building and so on.

Lixia Pavilion

Located at the largest island in the lake-Central Island-surrounded by clear water, the pavilion is an elegant wooden structure with double-eave octagonal roof. In 745 of Tang Dynasty, Dufu, a master poet in that time, once hosted a feast for Li Yong, a calligrapher and honored the pavilion as the oldest one in the west of the sea. Since then, Lixia Pavilion attracted more and more refined scholars and celebrities.

Beiji Temple

Beiji Temple (North Pole Temple), also known as Zhenwu Temple, is a Taoist temple that lies on the northeast bank of Lake Daminghu. The temple was originally built in 1280 of Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and renovated in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The group of constructions is composed of Bell Tower, Drum Tower, the Front Hall, the Back Hall and two subordinate rooms. A statue of Zhenwu, a god in Taoism, stands in the center and flanked by other deities that in charge of wind, rain, thunder and lightning.

Tiegong Ancestral Temple

Located at the northwest bank of Lake Daminghu, Tiegong Ancestral Temple wad built in 1792 of Qing Dynasty (1638-1912) to commemorate Tie Xuan, who was the lead of the Ministry of War in Ming Dynasty. He gains high reputation for protecting Jinan from attacks by King of Yan Empire and refusing to surrender after being defeated. With an area of 6,000 square meters, the ancestral temple consists of zigzag verandas, three ancestral halls and a building that can overview the scenery of lake and mountains. In a fine day, visitors can even see the inverted reflection of Thousand Buddha Mountain.

Huibo (collecting water) Building

Huibo Building is situated on the water gate on the northeast bank of Lake Daminghu. The water gate was built in 1072 of Ming Dynasty to adjust the water level of the lake. The building was set up in 1370 with tow storeys and named because it is the place where water of several spring flowing together.