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Capital of Shandong, China
Photo: XierZhanmusi, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Jinan (济南 Jǐnán) is the provincial capital of Shandong in North China. Jinan's nicknames include Quancheng, Qizhou, and Luoyi. It is located in the north-west of the province. In the south the city is flanked by the hills of the Tai'an massif, while the Yellow River passes north of the city.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Located at the Jinan Confucius Temple, on the southern bank of Daming Lake and northern end of Furong Street, this complex hosts a number halls and pavilions with statues of Confucius and other ancient sages.
大明湖公园
A park situated on the northern and western banks, within which are cafes, pavilions, a 'strange stone' museum, and other ancient buildings. Scenic boat rides can be booked for around ¥20 per person.
A neighbourhood of alleys and traditional Chinese buildings immediately east of the Jinan Confucius Temple, an expansion with new faux-traditional Chinese architecture was completed in 2016. There are numerous springs, tea houses, the Hundred Flower Pond, and the former residence of 20th century Chinese scholar Lu Dahuang.
Rebuilt from the original Li Hongzhang Temple, this is a memorial to Xin Qiji, a famous poet and warrior from the Song dynasty.
明湖美术馆
An impressive modern pagoda standing on an island near the center of the lake containing examples of traditional Chinese arts.
趵突泉公园
Must-see park immediately to the west of Quancheng Square surrounds the 'number 1 spring under heaven', Baotu Spring. Includes gardens, pavilions and a number of small museums and memorial halls dedicated to famous locals. AAAAA attraction.
黑虎泉
A famous spring alongside the city moat which flows out from the carved heads of tigers. The spring can be reached by a short walk eastwards along the city moat from Quancheng Square. A number of other springs in the vicinity flow into pools from which you can collect spring water.
五龙潭公园
A small park within which is a very deep pool of spring water, a few natural springs, pavilions and a temple for the Tang Dynasty army general Qin Qiong who lived in Jinan.
A small museum dedicated to early 20th century Chinese author Laoshe based in his former residence while living in Jinan.
解放阁
A large structure beside the city moat near the Black Tiger Spring, contains Jinan Liberation Memorial Hall at the top.
泉城广场
A large public square in the centre of Jinan, immediately east of Baotu Spring, south of the main shopping district, and west of the Science Museum. The eastern end of the square contains a musical fountain that displays an artistically directed light, water and music show occasionally throughout the day. A semicircular viewing structure stands next to the fountain and statues of famous ancient Shandong people can be viewed at the base. There is a shopping centre and supermarket beneath the square and entrances leading down can be found at the centre and around the edges of the square (avoid in heavy rain as this shopping centre has flooded in the past resulting in deaths). Locals come here to fly kites or play other traditional Chinese games.
Three exhibition halls display the history of the Communist Party in Shandong Province.
Standing at the eastern end of Quancheng Square, this is a very simple museum for schoolchildren.
A small museum displaying the development of archaeological undertakings in Jinan.
A museum dedicated to a battle that took place in Jinan during the Chinese Civil War. A stairway north of the memorial hall leads to the Revolutionary Martyr's Memorial Tower, a large war memorial dedicated to Communists who died during the Chinese Civil War. There is an excellent view of Jinan city from the point at the top of the hill where the tower stands.
济南市博物馆
A short walk west from the northern main entrance to Qianfo Mountain; includes exhibitions on the history of the city, Chinese ceramics and old clocks.
Small exhibition space at the north-west end of Quancheng Park shows the history of development of Jinan city. Temporarily closed.
千佛山
Must-see Jinan site, this famous park contains gardens, pavilions, a bizarre imitation cave with neon-lit Buddha art, an enormous golden Buddha, statues, the Shandong Revolutionary Martyr's Cemetery for the Revolution of 1911, and temples containing the ancient Buddha statues set into stone grottoes. The top of the hill has an impressive view over the city.
泉城公园 or Spring City Park
A large public park to the south of Jinan city centre and west of Qianfu Mountain. Paths lead through the densely planted park and around a central pond that contains swan-shaped boats that may be rented. A small children's amusement park stands beside the pond. At the eastern end is a small museum of ancient jades containing interesting examples from most Chinese dynasties (you may need to find an employee to ask them to unlock the door for you).
Small museum displaying a collection of ancient stone carvings and statues.
Art gallery within the campus of the Shandong University of Art and Design.
Li Mountain
It is one of the three major scenic spots in Jinan and used to be known as Lishan. During the reign of Emperor Kaihuang of the Sui Dynasty (581-600 AD), due to the prevalence of Buddhism, thousands of Buddha statues were carved along the mountain terrain, hence the name Qianfo Mountain.
Qushanyihai Museum
The former site of the out-patient clinic of Shandong Red Swastika Society (a Chinese version of the Red Cross/Red Crescent societies), this museum focusses on Chinese folk arts.
宏济堂博物馆
A museum of traditional Chinese medicine based in a former building of the Hongjitang pharmaceutical company The building housing the museum was moved 8 meters in 2008 so that it would be saved from demolition.
A small museum displaying the history of the German Quarter and developments around the train station as China opened to the world. Shares a building with the Cai Gongshi Memorial Hall, a memorial at the site where Cai Gongshi, a negotiator sent by Chiang Kai-Shek to negotiate with the Japanese during the Jinan Incident, was murdered along with 16 members of his team by their soldiers.
齐鲁钱币博物馆
Shows coins and paper money from over 4000 years of Shandong history.
胶济铁路陈列馆
A museum showing the history and development of the Qingdao-Jinan railway.
山东华夏书信文化博物馆
Includes exhibitions on the history of letter writing, ancient and modern letter writing, and the letter writing of famous people of Shandong. Very little here for non-Chinese speakers apart from a collection of Chinese postcards although the old colonial building (formerly Jinan Telegraph Office) still has original features and is worth a quick look around.
Located in the China Unicom building on the site of the former Shandong Postal Administration Office Building, this museum mainly displays information on the history and development of communications in Shandong Province.
Formerly the site of Jinan Xiaoguanghan Theater, the earliest cinema in Jinan, this now exhibits objects related to film history.
中山公园
Jinan's oldest public park, which was rededicated mid-20th-century to the life and achievements of Chinese revolutionary and first president Sun-Yat Sen.
华阳宫
Taoist temple at the foot of Hua Mountain. The mountain was site of a famous battle during the Spring & Autumn period. There is another small temple halfway up the mountain with a viewing platform. Hua Spring, another of Jinan's famous springs is also at this site.
济南动物园
Situated in the north-west of the city, this is a large zoo alongside the banks of the Xiaoqing River.
An exhibition hall situated alongside the Qinghe River in northern Jinan, explaining the history and human management of the river.
张养浩墓公园
A short walk along the Xiluo River that flows into the Xiaoqing River, this small park contains the tomb of Yuan dynasty poet Zhang Yanghao and four of his family members.
济南奥林匹克体育中心
A large complex holding the Jinan Olympic Sports Stadium, Gymnasium, Tennis Stadium, and Natatorium, as well as restaurants and cafes.
济南警察博物馆
A small museum displaying police related relics from the Qing Dynasty and relating the history of the Jinan police force from foundation in 1902.
山东美术馆
A large modern art gallery immediately south-east of Shandong Museum, this has yet to make it on to some online mapping services despite being a significant new feature in Jinan's cultural scene. It displays international and national roaming exhibitions. Flip-flops not allowed.
山东博物馆
A large museum displaying historical items from Shandong Province; this is situated in a modern building east of the city centre. Exhibitions include a collection of Han dynasty stone carvings and relics recovered by police from criminal tomb looters, amongst others.
山东省地质博物馆, Shandong Geology Museum
百花公园
A park at the eastern end of the city that contains the Filial Piety Culture Museum.
森林公园
Large well planned park with interesting walks and lots of activities taking place in the daytime.
Hongjialou Cathedral 洪家楼教堂, Sacred Heart Cathedral 耶稣圣心主教座堂
A large European-styled Catholic Church at the eastern end of Jinan. Men are required to wear full-length trousers to enter.
An attractive natural park, a number of hiking paths lead through the valleys and hills at the south-eastern edge of Jinan. There is a grotto containing some of Jinan's famous springs and ancient Buddha statues carved into a rock face. Higher on the hills is an enormous modern head of the Buddha and a platform with a view over Jinan.
At the junction of Lashanhe West Road and Weihai Road, this is a modern art museum.
济南汽车博物馆
On the campus of Shandong Transport University, this is a museum dedicated to the history of automobiles.
A small museum and gift shop.
Traces the history of Shandong during the anti-Japanese war.
A museum displaying the collection of the Department of Archaeology and School of Historic Culture of Shandong University over two floors. Floor 26 contains a number of texts written in examples of ancient Chinese writing while the larger floor 27 has descriptions of major archaeological finds in Shandong Province with well designed exhibitions, important relics on display and good English language explanatory texts. Small but among the best museums in the city.
Small garden containing the tomb of ancient Confucian philosopher Min Ziqian and a large number of statues and other relics from the larger graveyard that previously stood at this location.
黄河森林公园
A riverside park and garden on the northern bank of the Yellow River, this is at the most northern end of the city proper. The river can be crossed via a busy and old-fashioned floating bridge to a small village beside the park. A beach area along the river is busy with locals fishing and barbecuing in good weather.
济南市长清区博物馆
Exhibits relics from the tomb of the Jibei King's Tomb from Western Han dynasty.
长清齐长城旅游区
An open air museum for the Great Wall of the Qi State, a precursor to the Chinese Great Wall that was used in defence of the ancient state of Qi that ruled half of Shandong before the first imperial consolidation of China.
五峡山
A large natural park 10 km south-east of Changqing town containing two temples and pavilions. AAA attraction.
孝堂山郭氏墓石祠 or Xiaotang Mountain Han Shrine
A funerary stone shrine from the Western Han dynasty on the bank of the Yellow River.
济南国际园博园
A large park with a number of different themed gardens. AAAA attraction.
灵岩寺
A famous temple that was amongst the most important in China during the Tang dynasty, points of interest include the Pizhi Pagoda, Thousand Buddha Hall, and a stupa forest.
山东省中医药文化博物馆
Museum at the Shandong College of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Located in Changqing Campus of Shandong University of Art & Design, this museum contains two collections: the Sun Changlin art collection and the Shandong Oriental Chinese Folk Art Museum.
Art gallery within the campus of the Shandong University of Art and Design.
百脉泉
Set within the Baimai Park in Zhangqiu district, this site was once the residence of Song dynasty poet Li Qingzhao. The park also contains other springs, a lake, historical buildings and a garden dedicated to the poet.
四门塔风景区
Contains the Sui dyntasty Four Gates Pagoda, Thousand Year Pine, and Tang dynasty Dragon-and-Tiger Pagoda and Minor Dragon-and-Tiger Pagoda,
Jinan Wildlife World, 济南野生动物世界
Wild Word Jinan has over 200 species in a 150-hectare park.
龙洞风景区
Includes the Dragon Cave, Buddha Ravine, Horse Hoof Ravine and a number of springs.
龙山文化博物馆 or 城子崖遗址博物馆
Museum connected to the Chengziya Relic Site, displaying items from the prehistoric Longshan culture including the famous black shell pottery.
红叶谷
A natural park in the mountains south of Jinan known for its autumn beauty.
济南国际会展中心 or 济南国际会展
Large conference center on the eastern outskirts of the city proper. Mostly holds industry and business fairs but there are occasional cultural exhibitions too.
明湖居
Qing Dynasty theater showing traditional operas with a restaurant and tea house.
山东省杂技团金奖演艺厅
Home theatre of world class Chinese acrobatic troupe.
山东省会大剧院歌剧厅
Modern theatre in the new western area of the city near the western railway station.
华山湖环湖步道
A 9.5-km walking route around Huashan Lake, with views of Hua Hill and the surrounding wetlands. Suitable for walking, jogging, and sightseeing.
Authentic Italian food. Pastas, pizzas and entrees from ¥70 served in an elegant atmosphere. Most of the staff speaks English and there's an English menu.
芙容街 or Freetown
Jinan's famous food street, a long narrow alley with traditional buildings holding scores of restaurants, canteens, bakeries and stalls. Foods range from traditional dishes and snacks to experimental desserts.
An Italian restaurant. Favorite place of foreign students and young Chinese. The food is not as good and tasty as in Jenny's, but cheaper.
回民小区
The authentic Muslim Quarter (Huimin Qu) is set among busy alleys in the city block immediately to the West of Baotu Spring. There are many barbecue restaurants where one may eat lamb and drink beer; many have outdoor seating with tiny chairs and tables. There are a couple of mosques and market stalls with fresh fruits, vegetables, cloth and trinkets.
A good roast duck restaurant
大观园
A shopping mall with fast food chains on the street, restaurants serving regional Chinese cuisines within an inner courtyard, and alleys of simple food stalls.
Multi-storey shopping centre with a range of restaurants including a second branch of Tales of a Small Town, plus a food hall in the basement.
美食街
Food street with restaurants and a snack center.
小城故事
Attractive restaurants with interiors designed to evoke mid-20th century small-town life, the main attraction for locals is the stewed chicken cooked in enormous outdoor pots next to the entrance. Service is good and there are a variety of interesting dishes.
Inside the Liancheng International shopping mall.
Extravagant restaurant at the top of the Sofitel Jinan Silver Plaza serves both Asian and Western dishes.
满咖啡 (CCPARK)
First Jinan branch of the trendy national coffee chain situated on the ground floor of the CCPARK shopping center, this Maan Coffee has an attractive interior and serves all types of coffee along with large desserts such as waffles and French toast. Free wifi connections and a late close at midnight.
满咖啡 (绿地中心)
The city's second branch of the trendy national chain, this is situated at the bottom of the prominent Greenland Puli Center, Jinan's tallest and most prominent building. Another attractive interior, free wifi and various coffees and desserts make this a pleasant spot for a late night break.
老城故事照相馆
In the centre of Jinan's Old Town, a short walk from the Daming Lake and Furong Street, this small coffee counter serves iced lattes and other drinks, perfect for exploring the alleys and springs of the Old Town on a hot summer day.
街角酒店
Bar serving cold bottle beer near the Sofitel.
Offers a wide range of cuisines including Italian and Mexican. This place used to be a foreigner hangout until management changed and the staff became unfriendly, the dishes halved in size and the prices doubled. Expensive western food in addition to many expensive drinks. Prices are like European prices, but at least you can eat something else than garlic beans and tofu. They also serve imported beer (Paulaner, Erdinger, Guinness, etc.) if you want a quality beer for a change. There's a small store next door that sells imported products like cheese.
兰佳方
Cheaper than the clubs and more lively than English Corner. This is a favorite of many foreign students, although some locals come here as well.
This place has bands playing on most evenings.
Western-oriented disco. Populair with foreign students. Different kinds of beer are available.
A big club, mostly locals visiting. The main alternative to 1+1.
Three-star hotel from 1996. Internet available against payment. Meeting facilities, ticket office, laundry service and sauna available. Chinese restaurant, tea house and room service.
Free internet. Meeting facilities, ticket office and laundry service available. Chinese restaurant and room service.
This 130-room hotel opened its doors in 2009. It is located along a new Eastern extension of Shanda South Road. It's located just outside the city moat, so one could easily walk from here to Black Tiger Spring and the city Square, or to Daming Lake. There is wired internet in the rooms for your laptop.
Free internet. Meeting facilities, ticket office, laundry service and chess/poker room available. Chinese restaurant and room service.
Quite affordable. It particularly boasts beautiful business suites as well as conference facilities. Online booking available on the website.
InterContinental Jinan City Centre
The Crowne Plaza Hotel and attached Guihe Shopping Plaza were stylishly renovated in 2016 to better compete with the ultra-modern neighbouring Parc 66 shopping centre. The entrance is on the eastern side of the complex where lifts can take you up to the airy lobby and attractive Western restaurant. The location, at the centre of the north-south stretch from Daming Lake through Quancheng Square to Qianfo Mountain, is likely the best of any hotel in the city for tourists.
济南万达凯悦酒店
Part of the Wanda Plaza complex at the centre of Jingsi Road shopping district and eastern end of the German Quarter, this hotel is a short taxi ride from the city centre.
济南喜来登酒店
Located next to the Olympic Sports Centre, the Sheraton Jinan Hotel is some distance from the city centre but is close to both the Shandong Museum and Shandong Art Gallery as well as the Police Museum. Free in-room internet.
济南索菲特银座大饭店
This large hotel is part of a larger complex including the city centre Inzone department store and a number of luxury boutiques including Prada. A short walk east from Quancheng Square, this is well-located for tourists. The Silver Sky revolving restaurant is located at the top of the hotel.
贵和购物中心
A luxury shopping center immediately to the east of Parc 66; Guihe shopping center holds high-end stores such as Armani, Boss, Louis Vuitton and Omega. At the eastern side of the building is the entrance to Jinan Crowne Plaza Hotel where you can have tea in the lobby or eat at the international buffet.
银座大厦
A large department store with a number of luxury boutiques such as Prada, this outlet of the Inzone chain stands a short walk from the south-eastern corner of Quancheng Square. The store can be entered from either the north or south of Luoyuan Street as a wing of the building is constructed over and on both sides of the street. There is a supermarket and small food hall in the basement.
济南恒隆广场 or Plaza 66
This enormous modern structure stands immediately north of Quancheng Square with a convenient bridge passing between them. Lower storeys hold Western brands such as Adidas, Clarks, Nike, Omega, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, Swarovski, and Zara; higher storeys hold Chinese brands and high-quality restaurants. There is parking and a supermarket in the basement. A number of casual Chinese dessert cafes stand on the multi-storey bridge that spans the two buildings forming this shopping centre.
世茂国际广场
A large modern shopping center on Quancheng Road, a short walk east from Guihe Plaza, this building holds a large number of modern Chinese brands and also some Western brands such as Casio, Costa Coffee, C&A and Uniqlo. There are cafes, restaurants and a bakery plus access through the building to the faux-ancient shopping district at the corner of Heilongquan West and Heilongquan North roads.
新华书店
Standing on the northern side of Quancheng Road, opposite Parc 66, this is an enormous multi-storey outlet for the national book selling chain. Foreign language books can be found on the top floor.
和谐广场
An enormous modern shopping center standing on the western corner of the junctions of Jingshi Road and Latitude 12th Road, this building hosts a number of Western brand stores such as C&A, H&M, Starbucks, Uniqlo, Vera Moda as well as restaurants and a cinema on higher storeys. Another shopping center, Liancheng International, containing more restaurants and a basement food hall stands on the other corner of the junction.
Another branch of the Inzone chain, this is located to the north-west of Quancheng Square and conveniently placed for a day exploring the southern end of the city center.
A modern shopping mall next to the International Exhibition Center; there are many restaurants outside and behind the building and mixed Western and Chinese brands inside.
万达广场 (魏家庄店)
A large modern shopping mall at the eastern end of the German Quarter, this is the centrepiece of the larger Jingsi Road shopping district which also includes the Zhenhua and Daguanyuan department stores, an underground market beneath Jingsi Road (look for subway-style entrances on the pavements), and close proximity to the restaurants and cafes at the Greenland Puli Center.
Large shopping district for teas including warehouse size stores and a large number of classically styled boutique shops.
英雄山文化市场
A large market with scores if not hundreds of stalls selling ancient-styled furniture, homeware, books, and antiques of all sorts. Thriving on Saturdays when a bird and insect market also takes place outside the western entrance to the culture market.
齐鲁七贤文化城
A market selling cultural items from a number of stores such as the Stone Appreciation Museum and Red Sun Bookstore.
At the junction of Jiefang Road and Shanda Road, on each of the northern corners stand Saibo Digital Square and Huaqiang Electronics World, two large multi-storey indoor technology markets. Further north along Shanda Road stand a host of other electronics markets and stores. It would be difficult to get a good deal without Mandarin skills.
By plane
You can fly to Jinan, but the airport is 40 km northeast of downtown. A taxi will take an hour and cost about ¥150. A shuttle bus travels between the airport and downtown hourly from 06:00 to 17:00.
By train
Jinan is on the major line from Shanghai to Beijing so you can take the train. It's about 2½ hours by fast train from Beijing and 3½ hours from Shanghai.
By bus
It is very easy to get to Jinan with lots of buses running all day and some at night.
By car
By bus
Buses are ¥1, or ¥2 for air-conditioned. Buses that begin with K or B are supposedly air-conditioned and even if the a/c is off or not working.
By taxi
Taxis drivers do not speak English, and they will often not be able to read maps or your destination in pinyin.
By boat
There is a moat encircling the city centre which flows into and out of Daming Lake.
By metro
As of 2023, the Jinan Metro system has 3 lines which cover the West (line 1) and East (line 3) ends of the city with another line (line 2) connecting them and passing through the north of the city.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Jinan (Licheng) · International · TNA
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