Baotu Spring趵突泉
Baotu Spring is the most famous of Jinan's 72 springs — a triple jet of water surging from three limestone vents, described by Emperor Qianlong as 'the first spring under heaven.' The walled park holds 20-plus springs, teahouses and the memorial to Song-era poet Li Qingzhao.
Jinan · Visitor Guide2026-10-27
Quick Answer
Is Baotu Spring worth visiting?
The signature karst spring of Jinan erupts up to 240,000 cubic meters a day at the center of a compact park of pavilions and springs. Allow 1-2 hours; combine with nearby Daming Lake.
What to expect
The main spring's three jets surge from underground limestone — in high season they stand knee-high — and have been recorded for over 2,000 years, from the Records of the Grand Historian onward. The park around it is a network of ponds, pavilions and bridges where secondary springs bubble up through sand beds.
A hall by the west pond commemorates the Song poet Li Qingzhao; a teahouse by the main spring serves tea brewed with spring water. Guanwen streets and the Furun shopping streets connect the park to Daming Lake, 1 km north — the classic Jinan walk.
How to get there
Metro Line 4 to Baotu Spring East Gate, or bus routes 39/66/K51; the park sits 1 km south of Daming Lake.
Best photo spots
- The triple jet at the main spring
- Spring water bubbling through sand beds
- Li Qingzhao memorial hall
Tips
- Sep-Nov has the strongest flow after rains
- The classic walk: Baotu Spring south gate → Quancheng Square → Daming Lake
Frequently asked questions
Why is Baotu Spring famous?
It is the head of Jinan's 72 springs and was named 'the first spring under heaven' by Emperor Qianlong; the three jets run continuously except in severe droughts.
What else is in the park?
Twenty-plus secondary springs, the Li Qingzhao memorial hall, and a teahouse serving water drawn from the spring itself.
Read next
Other things to do in Jinan
Daming Lake
Jinan's 46-hectare downtown lake, free to enter and walkable in 90 minutes, sits inside the old city wall next to Baotu Spring and is most photogenic in lotus season (July–August).
Shandong Museum
Jinan's provincial museum holds 40,000+ artifacts including a 2,500-year-old bronze shell-shaped cup and a 9-meter dinosaur; plan 2-3 hours and it's free with ID.
Thousand Buddha Mountain
Climb 288 meters to see more than 130 Tang-era stone Buddhas carved into the cliffs; budget 2.5 hours including the cable car and Xingguang Temple.
Museums in Jinan
Shandong Museum
Confucius-era artifacts, Shang and Zhou Dynasty bronzes, and the Dawenkou Neolithic culture — Shandong's provincial powerhouse. Free. A massive 2010 building east of Jinan's center.
Shandong Provincial Museum
The museum of Confucius's home province — strong in Shandong's Dawenkou Neolithic cultures, Western Zhou bronze inscriptions, and Han Dynasty treasures. Free with passport; 2.5–3.5 hours.