Jinan: a veritable City of Springs

Heihu Spring (Black Tiger Spring)

Black Tiger Spring of Jinan, Shandong province. [Photo/dzwww.com]

Heihu Spring is ranked as the second most significant among the 72 named springs in Jinan, located on the south bank along the moat of Heihu Spring Street. The water gushing through the cave generates terrifying roars of a tiger. For this reason, the spring is known as "hei hu", or "black tiger". The spring water rises from the cave and cascades from the mouths of three ornamental stone-carved tiger heads from 28 meters high and into a square-shaped spring pool 13 meters long and 9 meters wide. From there it runs into the old city moat, next to which the spring is located.

Daming Lake

An aerial view of the Daming Lake in Jinan, Shandong province. [Photo by Ju Chuanjiang/ China Daily]

Hailed as the "Pearl of the City of Springs", the Daming Lake is the largest lake in Jinan and one of city's main natural and cultural landmarks.

Located to the north of the historical city center, the lake is fed by the artesian karst springs of the area and hence retains a fairly constant water level throughout the entire year.

Covering an area of 57 hectares, the lake is picturesque, with a number of ancient temples and houses surrounding it, making it a national tourist resort.

The autumn beauty of Daming Lake. [Photo/Xinhua]