The Tianxia First Spring Scenic Area is located in Jinan City, Shandong Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction with a total area of 3.1 square kilometers. It is composed of "one river (the City Moat), one lake (Daming Lake), three springs (Baotu Spring, Black Tiger Spring, and Five Dragon Pool), and four parks (Baotu Spring Park, Huancheng Park, Five Dragon Pool Park, and Daming Lake Scenic Area)." With abundant spring resources at its core, the scenic area integrates natural landscapes, historical culture, garden art, and folk customs, and is the concentrated embodiment of Jinan's "City of Springs" characteristics. Among them, Baotu Spring is known as "the finest spring under heaven," Daming Lake is one of Jinan's three major scenic spots, and the city moat connects many scenic spots, forming a unique landscape pattern integrating "springs, lake, river, and city." The total area of various ancient buildings and garden landscapes is about 800,000 square meters, attracting millions of tourists every year.
Historical Culture
The Tianxia First Spring Scenic Area has a profound historical and cultural heritage, closely connected with Jinan's spring culture and celebrity culture. The earliest record of Baotu Spring can be traced back to The Spring and Autumn Annals. Literati and poets of past dynasties such as Zeng Gong, Su Shi, Yuan Haowen, and Pu Songling all left poems here. Among them, Pu Songling's Ode to Baotu Spring is especially widely circulated, making Baotu Spring a representative cultural famous spring.
Daming Lake is famous for the poem "Lotus flowers on four sides and willows on three sides, a city's mountain scenery and half a city's lake." The Lixia Pavilion by the lake is one of China's four famous pavilions. Du Fu once feasted here with Li Yong, leaving the eternal famous line "This pavilion by the sea is ancient; Jinan has many famous scholars," forming a unique celebrity culture. In addition, buildings in the scenic area such as Chaoran Tower and Tie Gong Temple are respectively related to Jinan's historical changes and loyalist stories. Tie Gong Temple was built to commemorate the Ming Dynasty loyal minister Tie Xuan and carries the local culture of loyalty and righteousness.
Springs occupy an important position in the lives of Jinan people. Around Black Tiger Spring, the tradition of residents fetching water and enjoying close contact with water is still preserved, reflecting the lifestyle of the "City of Springs" people coexisting with springs. This folk culture,延续 for thousands of years, is a living component of the scenic area's historical culture.
Main Attractions
Baotu Spring
Baotu Spring is the core attraction of the scenic area and is known as "the finest spring under heaven." The spring pool is rectangular, 30 meters long, 18 meters wide, and 2.2 meters deep. Spring water gushes out from underground rock layers, forming the spectacle of "water surging like a wheel." The maximum flow of the main spring eye can reach 162,000 cubic meters per day. By the spring are buildings such as Guanlan Pavilion, Li Qingzhao Memorial Hall, and Wanzhu Garden. The "Baotu Spring" stone tablet in Guanlan Pavilion was written by the Ming Dynasty calligrapher Hu Zuanzong. Li Qingzhao Memorial Hall displays the life and works of the Song Dynasty female poet, while Wanzhu Garden is a classical garden integrating Jiangnan garden style with northern architecture. The stone carvings and wood carvings in the garden are exquisitely beautiful, with a total area of about 12,000 square meters.
Daming Lake
Daming Lake is a natural lake formed by the convergence of many springs. The lake surface area is 58 hectares, with an average depth of 2 meters and a maximum depth of 4.5 meters. In the lake are scenic spots such as Lixia Pavilion, Huibo Tower, and Chaoran Tower. Lixia Pavilion is located on the central island of the lake and is an octagonal double-eaved building. Inside the pavilion are stone carvings of Du Fu and Li Yong. Chaoran Tower was first built in the Yuan Dynasty; the existing building was reconstructed in 2008, is 51.7 meters high, and has 7 floors. From the top, one can overlook the panoramic view of Daming Lake and the urban appearance of Jinan. Ancient buildings by the lake such as Tie Gong Temple and Nanfeng Temple complement the lake and mountain scenery, forming the picture of "a city's mountain scenery and half a city's lake."
Black Tiger Spring
Black Tiger Spring is located on the east bank of the city moat and is one of Jinan's four major spring groups. It is composed of 14 spring eyes including Black Tiger Spring, Agate Spring, and Pipa Spring. Among them, the maximum flow of the main Black Tiger Spring reaches 41,000 cubic meters per day. The spring eye is located in a stone cave 3 meters deep. Above the cave are three stone-carved tiger heads, and spring water sprays from the tigers' mouths, creating a spectacular scene. By the spring are the Black Tiger Spring pool and viewing platform. The surrounding area is part of Huancheng Park. Citizens often fetch water and wash clothes here, forming a unique marketplace atmosphere and making it an excellent place to experience Jinan's spring life.
Five Dragon Pool
Five Dragon Pool is the spring group with the most spring eyes among Jinan's four major spring groups, with a total of 27 spring eyes. Among them, the main Five Dragon Pool is said to have been left by Li Erlang, son of Li Bing, the governor of Shu Commandery in the Qin Dynasty, when he controlled floods. The pool is about 5 meters deep and about 0.5 hectares in area. In the scenic area is Qin Qiong Temple, commemorating the Tang Dynasty famous general Qin Qiong. The temple displays Qin Qiong's life deeds and related cultural relics. There are also famous springs such as Yu Spring and Ancient Hot Spring. The surrounding garden layout is ingenious, with shady green trees, making it a quiet spring landscape garden with a total area of about 54,000 square meters.
Huancheng Park
Huancheng Park is built along the Jinan city moat, with a total length of 6.9 kilometers. It connects scenic spots such as Black Tiger Spring, Baotu Spring, and Five Dragon Pool, and is the only belt-shaped park built in a city center in China. In the park are many waterside platforms, sculptures, and pavilions. Tourists can take a boat tour along the moat (about 1 hour, ticket 100 yuan per person), enjoying the spring groups, ancient bridges, and residences on both banks, and experiencing the artistic conception of "boat traveling in the river, people sitting in a painting." Along the way, historical buildings such as Jiefang Pavilion can also be seen. Jiefang Pavilion was built to commemorate the liberation of Jinan, is 30 meters high, and visitors can climb to the top for views.
Food
Special Foods in the Scenic Area
Restaurants in Baotu Spring Park and by Daming Lake mainly serve traditional Jinan Lu cuisine. "Sweet and sour carp" is a must-try dish. It uses Yellow River carp, which is fried and then topped with sweet and sour sauce. It is crispy outside and tender inside, sweet and sour, and delicious. The price is about 128 yuan per portion. "Nine-turn large intestine" is also a classic Lu dish. Pig large intestine is cooked through multiple processes, with a rich taste and layered flavors. The price is about 98 yuan per portion. In addition, "spring water tea" is a special experience in the scenic area. Spring water from Baotu Spring and Black Tiger Spring is used to brew Jinan Pingyin rose tea. It is fragrant and sweet, about 30 yuan per cup.
Surrounding Foods
Furong Street and Kuanhouli around the scenic area are famous food streets in Jinan, about 500 meters from Baotu Spring. Furong Street's "yousuan" is a traditional Jinan snack. The outer skin is crispy, the inner texture is soft and tender, and it is sprinkled with sesame. It costs about 5 yuan each. Kuanhouli's "sweet foam" is a special Jinan breakfast. It is mainly made of millet flour and cooked with vegetables, tofu, and other ingredients. It costs about 6 yuan per bowl and tastes even better with fried dough sticks. In addition, "bazi rou" is a Jinan folk food. Pork belly is stewed until tender, fatty but not greasy. It costs about 25 yuan per portion and can be tasted in nearby restaurants.
Tickets：
Ticket 40 yuan per person.
You can search for the official public account "Tianxia First Spring" on WeChat to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours：
Baotu Spring Scenic Area: 7:00-19:00 (April-October), 7:00-18:00 (November-next March); Daming Lake Scenic Area: 5:00-22:00 (April-October), 5:30-21:00 (November-next March) (Chaoran Tower 9:00-21:00); Five Dragon Pool Park: 7:00-18:00 (April-October), 7:30-17:00 (November-next March); Huancheng Park: open all day (boat tours 9:00-17:00); Black Tiger Spring: open all day.
Tour Route：
Recommended one-day tour route: Arrive at Baotu Spring Scenic Area at 8:30 a.m. and visit the main spring area, Li Qingzhao Memorial Hall, and Wanzhu Garden (about 2 hours); at 10:30 walk to Five Dragon Pool Park to view the spring group and Qin Qiong Temple (about 1 hour); at 11:30 go to Kuanhouli for lunch and taste snacks such as yousuan and bazi rou; at 13:30 take the Huancheng Park boat tour, departing from Black Tiger Spring Pier, tour the moat, pass Jiefang Pavilion and Baotu Spring (viewed from the boat), and get off at Daming Lake Pier (about 1 hour); at 15:00 tour Daming Lake, climb Chaoran Tower, visit Lixia Pavilion and Tie Gong Temple (about 2 hours); at 17:00 enjoy the sunset by Daming Lake, then go to Furong Street to taste snacks; at 19:00 enjoy the night view of Chaoran Tower lighting up (lighting every night 19:00-22:00); at 20:00 end the itinerary.
Transportation：
Public transportation: Many buses in Jinan can reach the area. Baotu Spring Station can be reached by K1, K5, and K41; Daming Lake Station can be reached by K11, K41, and K109; Black Tiger Spring Station can be reached by K3, K10, and K39; take Metro Line 2 and get off at "Baotu Spring" Station, then walk about 300 meters to Baotu Spring Scenic Area.
Self-driving: From Jinan Station, drive east along Jingyi Road, turn into Gongqingtuan Road, and arrive at the Baotu Spring Scenic Area parking lot. The total distance is about 5 kilometers and the drive takes 20 minutes. Parking lots around the scenic area charge 5 yuan per hour, and spaces are tight, so green travel is recommended.
Taxi/ride-hailing: From Jinan West Railway Station (high-speed rail station) to Baotu Spring Scenic Area is about 15 kilometers, about 30 minutes by car, and the cost is about 30 yuan; from Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport to the scenic area is about 35 kilometers, about 45 minutes by car, and the cost is about 80 yuan.
Must-Visit Attractions：
Baotu Spring: Known as "the finest spring under heaven," the main spring eye has a large flow, and surrounding cultural attractions include Li Qingzhao Memorial Hall. It is the core representative of Jinan's spring culture. Ticket 40 yuan per person.
Daming Lake: The lake surface is 58 hectares, with attractions such as Lixia Pavilion and Chaoran Tower. It is open for free. Chaoran Tower's night view is highly ornamental. Climbing the tower costs 10 yuan per person.
Black Tiger Spring: The spring group consists of 14 spring eyes. The scene of citizens fetching water is vivid. It is open for free, and visitors can experience Jinan's spring life.
Huancheng Park Boat Tour: Tour along the 6.9-kilometer moat, connecting many scenic spots. Ticket 100 yuan per person, experiencing the integrated landscape of "springs, lake, and river."
Travel Suggestions：
Suggested travel time is 1 day. In summer (July-August), springs are abundant, making it the best season to view Baotu Spring gushing; in autumn (September-October), the weather is cool and suitable for lake tours and sightseeing.
Chaoran Tower's lighting time is 19:00-22:00. It is recommended to arrive by the lake 30 minutes early to reserve a spot and photograph the moment the lights turn on and the lake reflection.
At Black Tiger Spring, visitors can collect spring water for free (bring your own container). It is recommended to go in the early morning when the water quality is best, and also experience the lively scene of citizens fetching water.
There is a lot of walking in the scenic area, so comfortable sports shoes are recommended; in summer, pay attention to sun protection and bring a sun umbrella or fan; in winter, the lakeside is windy, so keep warm.
To taste food, go to Furong Street and Kuanhouli and avoid high-priced restaurants in the scenic area. Snacks such as yousuan and sweet foam are cost-effective.
Precautions：
In scenic areas such as Baotu Spring and Five Dragon Pool, playing in the water and littering are prohibited. Protect spring eyes and ancient buildings and obey scenic area regulations.
Passengers on Huancheng Park boats must wear life jackets and follow staff instructions. Children must be accompanied by adults, and avoid getting close to the side of the boat.
During holidays (such as May Day and National Day), there are many tourists. It is recommended to travel at off-peak times (before 8:00 a.m. or after 16:00 p.m.), or buy tickets online in advance to reduce queuing time.
The stone steps around Black Tiger Spring are slippery, especially after rain, so pay attention to safety. When fetching water, observe order and avoid crowding.
Keep personal belongings safe. The scenic area is crowded, so be alert to pickpocketing. If problems occur, contact scenic area patrol staff or the visitor center.