This modern and affluent city has 4,000 years of history behind it. While most tourists simply pass through Ji’nan for transportation hub, there is plenty of interesting architecture worth seeing here before traveling on to other Shandong cities.
Ji’nan’s neighbor, Qingdao, was ceded to Germany for a period beginning in 1898, and the Bavarian-style architecture found its way into Ji’nan’s historic center as well. But this modern city is more mainstream in its appeal, with a variety of provincial museums, large shopping centers and Buddhist temples garnering most of the attention.
Ji’nan has also been dubbed the ‘City of Springs’ due to the 72 artesian springs found here. Some are in the city center, including the one found in Baotu Spring Park. Daming Lake to the north of the park catches the runoff from some of these springs and is one of the city’s most popular sites.
Getting There & Away
Ji’nan’s airport is about 15 miles north of the city center and offers regular connections to major destinations around the country. International passengers are usually routed through Beijing’s international airport, less than an hour away by air. The bullet train connects to Beijing (3 hours, 30 minutes) and Shanghai (5 hours).
Things to Do
Ji’nan Attractions
- Thousand Buddha Hill
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It takes 1 to 2 hours to climb this hill on foot, stopping by to view the many buddha images and pavilions along the way. there’s also a cable car and bus route that go to the top of the hill.
- Daming Lake Park
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This large park boasts ornate pagodas, a taoist temple and beautiful landscaping.
- Artesian springs
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There are more than 70 of these springs on record, and they come in all sizes and activity levels.
- Shandong Provincial Museum
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The best exhibits here include collections of bronze-ware dating back over 3,500 years.