Jinan

Jinan carries the nickname City of Springs (泉城 quánchéng) because of the many artesian wells that bubble up within the city limits, flowing north to Daming Lake and onwards to the Yellow River. While it doesn't always make the short list for tourists visiting China, there is enough to warrant a couple days' stay with major attractions like Baotu Spring (the number one spring under heaven), Daming Lake Park, and Qianfo Mountain all within the central north-south stretch. Jinan is also a perfect base for exploring Shandong Province, notably Qufu (hometown of Confucius) and Mount Tai (foremost of the Five Great Mountains).

Jinan has four well-defined seasons: spring is dry, summer is hot and wet with temperatures reaching 32°C in July, autumn is crisp and pleasant, and winter is dry and cold with little snow (averaging -4.6°C in January). The shoulder seasons of spring and autumn offer the most comfortable temperatures for sightseeing, though summer brings lush scenery and autumn showcases colorful foliage at spots like Red Leaves Valley.

Jinan is the regional transport hub with high-speed rail running on both north-south and east-west lines. Jinan Station serves the Qingdao-Jinan High-Speed Railway and is most convenient for destinations like Zibo and Qingdao, located in the city center near Quancheng Square. Jinan West Station handles Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway services but is approximately 45 minutes from the city center. Jinan East Station serves trains to Shijiazhuang but is closer to the airport. Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport is a small but modern facility far to the northeast of the city center.

Jinan is a very large city and traveling by public transport is very difficult for non-Chinese speakers, with the exception of the Jinan Metro. The city center can be explored on foot along the north-south stretch from Daming Lake through Quancheng Square to Qianfo Mountain. Bus services exist but require Mandarin skills to navigate effectively.

Plenty of accommodation is available in the ¥200 range, with options spanning budget to luxury. The transport nexus near Jinan Train Station offers convenient access for arrivals but is somewhat removed from the main tourist sites. For tourists, the area around Quancheng Square and Daming Lake offers the best location for walking to major attractions. There is a complex of surprisingly affordable fancy hotels in the southeast of the city at the end of Lishan Lu, offering five-star services and beautiful grounds for approximately US$70-80.

The cuisine of Shandong province (LuCai) is one of China's eight great culinary traditions, with local dishes typically featuring soup (a particular focus of Jinan-style cuisine), seafood, maize, peanuts, and breads in place of rice. Many visitors may find these tastes unusual if their previous experience of Chinese food is mainly from Cantonese-style restaurants abroad. For non-Chinese speakers, canteens, food halls, and restaurants within shopping centers are more convenient options. Furong Street is Jinan's famous food street with scores of traditional restaurants, canteens, bakeries and stalls. Vegetarians and vegans face special difficulties as traditional restaurants have few options. Street barbecues and small beer shops with miniature chairs and tables are popular evening gathering spots.

Travelers on a short trip should focus on the city center, particularly the north-south stretch from Daming Lake through Quancheng Square to Qianfo Mountain. Must-see attractions include Baotu Spring Park (¥40/20 for regular/student tickets) surrounding the 'number one spring under heaven,' Daming Lake Park (free entrance, boat rides around ¥20), and Qianfo Mountain Scenic Spot with its enormous golden Buddha and city views. Many museums are free to visit but identification is required. For day trips, consider Lingyan Temple (one of the most important temples in China during the Tang dynasty) or the Jinan International Garden Expo Park (¥60).

Jinan is a very safe city; the people of Shandong are famously known as friendly throughout China. The city center and commercial areas are safe to walk around until late at night, with large numbers of people about until around 22:00 when streets quickly empty. Theft and pickpocketing are the most likely crimes a traveler might encounter, particularly on public transport, in markets, and at transport hubs like Jinan Train Station. Always keep bags and purses in a monitored position and maintain sight of luggage.

Jinan's area code for landlines is 0531, adding "0531" at the beginning if calling from outside the city. For international calls add +86, China's country code. Internet cafés are fewer than in some other large Chinese cities. Many bars catering to expatriates and chains like Starbucks, KFC, and McDonald's offer free WiFi, as do most hotels. The Great Firewall of China blocks Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google, and Yahoo. Partially blocked sites include Wikipedia, BlogSpot, WordPress, and Tumblr. Travelers commonly use VPN services to access blocked websites and secure public WiFi connections.

Budget travelers can eat well for under ¥15 at street food stalls and canteens, with meals at traditional restaurants ranging ¥15-40. Museum entrances are often free (ID required) or modest fees like ¥5-40. Accommodation ranges from ¥130-170 for budget hotels like Jinjiang Inn, to ¥200+ for mid-range options. High-speed rail to nearby cities like Tai'an for Mount Tai is economical and efficient. Daily budget of ¥200-350 covers accommodation, meals, transport, and attractions.

Jinan is a great base for exploring Shandong Province. Mount Tai (Tai'an) is a short train ride away and hosts a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Qufu contains the Confucius Manor, Temple and Graveyard, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Qingdao, Shandong's second city, is known for its internationally known Chinese beer brand and former German colonial architecture. Closer options include Pinyi County home to the Guinness World Records approved largest dinosaur museum, the Tianyu Natural Museum. Lingyan Temple in Changqing District is one of the most important temples in China during the Tang dynasty.

When visiting temples and religious sites like the Hongjialou Catholic Church, men are required to wear full-length trousers. Many museums require identification (passport) for entry, so carry it at all times. As with anywhere in China, removing shoes in certain traditional settings may be expected. Spring water from the famous springs can be collected by locals; observe local practices when visiting Black Tiger Spring and other spring sites.

The Beijing-Shanghai railway makes major cities easily reachable from Jinan: Beijing to the north, Shanghai to the south, Tianjin to the northeast, and Zhengzhou to the west. Destinations in Shandong include Qingdao (east, known for Tsingtao beer and German colonial heritage), Qufu (home of Confucius, UNESCO site), Tai'an (Mount Tai, UNESCO site), Zibo (interesting museums), and Dezhou (famous chicken dish). Pinyi County offers the Tianyu Natural Museum with the Guinness World Records approved largest dinosaur museum.