Da Ming Lake
In ancient times the local residents of Jinan were confused as to why they couldn’t hear frogs croak or snakes slither at Da Ming Lake. Today science has led the savvy Chinese to discover that this freshwater lake is fed by multiple natural springs throughout Jinan. Therefore Da Ming Lake&r...
In ancient times the local residents of Jinan were confused as to why they couldn’t hear frogs croak or snakes slither at Da Ming Lake. Today science has led the savvy Chinese to discover that this freshwater lake is fed by multiple natural springs throughout Jinan. Therefore Da Ming Lake’s temperature is too cold for the frogs to get hot during mating season. As for the snakes, they’ve found warmer pastures.
Photo: Cui Hong Jiang (崔洪江)
Da Ming Lake is dappled with vendors of ancient classic books and trinkets, a few amusement rides, and the real crown of my trip there, an extremely old Taoist Temple. Be very careful not to take any of the temple’s spirits home with you! You can also rent a paddle boat or simply swing from willow branches weeping over the water edge.
There are gates on every side of the lake area. Admission to the lake is 25 yuan, so spend some time, relax, and make it a worthwhile venture.
How To Get There:
Bus: K98、K91、K54、6、11、14、30、31、33、36、37、41、63、83
The Map of Daming Lake:
Website: www.daminglake.com
Bao Tu Quan Park (Baotu Spring Park)
Bao Tu Quan Park provided me with the best experience I've ever had in a park in China. It’s as if the soul of Chinese literature itself was breathing throughout the park, with natural springs as its gills. The park was the former home compound of Song Dynasty poetess Li Qing Zhao. The park...
Bao Tu Quan Park provided me with the best experience I've ever had in a park in China. It’s as if the soul of Chinese literature itself was breathing throughout the park, with natural springs as its gills. The park was the former home compound of Song Dynasty poetess Li Qing Zhao. The park contains a full museum devoted to her life and work, with placards in English and Chinese, and wax figures illustrating her childhood, marriage, and later years.
In addition to the poetry and history of Li Qing Zhao, the park is full of courtyards that guide you in and out of one another. Each one is devoted to a natural Chinese icon such as bamboo, plum, peach, crabtree, persimmon, or even the springs themselves. Therefore every courtyard inspires a different feeling, one that was carefully engineered by initiated feng shui masters!
Baotu Spring Park is located across the street from Quan Cheng Square (泉城广场) on Qingnian Xilu (青年西路), north of Luoyuan Da Jie (泺源大街) and south of Heihuquan Xilu.
Chinese Website
