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Jinan,
capital of Shandong Province, is on the southern bank of the Yellow
River, north of the famous Mt.
Tai. The Beijing-Shanghai and Qingdao-Jinan railways meet here.
The area was
first inhabited during
the Neolithic Period.
Some 3,600 years ago, walls were built to enclose the town, which
was then called Lu. The name was changed to Jinan 3,100 years ago
because it was located to the south of the ancient Jishui River. In
1116, Jinan was established as a prefecture, and in 1368 it became the
provincial capital.
For centuries, the city
has been renowned for its lakes and springs, including Daming Lake, and
“The First Spring under Heaven,”
the
Baotu Springs.
The most exciting
sights on a
trip to Jinan, however, are probably excursions to Qufu, the birthplace
of the ancient philosopher, Confucius, and Mount Tai, the best of the
country's “Five Sacred Mountains.”
Jinan Tourist Attractions
Baotu (Jet) spring
Baotu spring is the largest spring in Jinan. Water gushes out from the
crevices of the underground karsts caves everywhere, some rushing in
cascades with the sound of suppressed thunder, some bubbling day and
night, giving off vapour like boiling water and some sending out sprays
of fine rain. When it shoots up at its highest, it is five inches above
its surface, with an average flow capacity of 1,600 litres per second.
The spring water is pure, sweet and refreshing, hence the name of the
“First Spring under Heaven”.
Daming (Great Brightness) Lake
Daming Lake has a surface area of over 460,000 square metres. Its water
is blue and clear. The lake is surrounded by lush trees, with pavilions,
kiosks, terraces, halls and covered corridors or walks dotting or lining
its shore. On an islet in the lake stands Lixia Pavilion with
ingeniously laid-out octagonal eaves.
Qianfo (Thousand-Buddha) Hill
Qianfo Hill is located in the south of Jinan, is overgrown with grass
and flowers and ageless pines and cypresses, and its peaks raise one
higher than another. There are many monasteries built in the area and
numerous images of Buddha sculptured on the rocky cliffs. The Hill is
like a huge carpet of green dotted with pavilions, towers and terraces,
with picturesque and tranquil scenery. From a distance on the height,
one can take a bird’s-eyes view of the whole city of Jinan with
mirror-like surface of the Daming Lake and the every flowing Huanghe
River.
Other Tourist Attraction Around Jinan
Taishan (Mount Tai)
Taishan, more than 345 miles in circumference, rises steeply and
majestically in the middle of Shandong Province about 45 miles from
Jinan. Massive and awesome, it has featured in many historic events
throughout the ages, and has been a rich source of inspiration for
countless maxims, poetic allusions, and literary works. To many people the
mountain is a symbol of grandeur and stability
as shown, for example, in the popular Chinese saying, “As
solid as Mount Tai.”
Tiankuang (Celestial
Gift) Hall, the main hall of the Dai Temple,
consists of nine rooms with double eaves, eight cornices and yellow
glazed tile roofs. The frescoes (10 ft. high and 170 ft. long) of
life-like figures, covering the east, west, and north walls are rare,
outstanding works of art.
Jinshiyu Valley: Half a
mile to the northeast of Doumu Palace is a huge wall of rock (one 15th
of a hectare) bearing an engraving of the Diamond Sutra. Each character
is more than a foot high. The forceful calligraphy of this ancient
inscription is regarded as the prototype of the bank (placard) style.
Nantianmen
(South Celestial) Gate: This is opposite the Beitianmen Gate (the
Northern Celestial Gate) and can be reached by a steep, winding
staircase. At the top is Mokong (Touching the Sky) tower with a stone
table bearing an inscription by Du Renjie, a Yuan Dynasty
poet.
Qufu
Arriving
in Qufu, the birthplace of Confucius,
the first thing coming
into sight is the spacious temple of Confucius, which dominates
the town.
Confucius is the
world-renowned Chinese philosopher born in Qufu more than 3,500 years
ago.
His influence
on Chinese society culture
lasts until the present day. Qufu has recently been restored to
its former glory. It has
become a tourist attraction rivaling the Great Wall.
In size and scale, the
Confucius Temple ranks second only to the Forbidden City in
Beijing. Construction of the Temple began in 478 B.C., the year after
Confucius's death. It was rebuilt many times throughout
the ensuing 3,000 years.
The Temple grounds
cover an area of 33 hectares with buildings laid out symmetrically along
a 0.6-mile north-south
axis. There are 53 magnificent gateways and numerous halls, pavilions
and shrines elaborately roofed with glazed tiles.
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