Facing the Yellow River to the north and bordering Mount Tai to the south, Ji'nan, the provincial capital of Shandong province, is located in the central west area of Shandong province. Lying in a basin surrounded by mountains, the city has a population of 5.49 million people. As the capital of Shandong Province, Ji'nan is the main transit point for travelers to all points of Shandong and beyond and most travelers in the province inevitably find themselves holed up here for a night or two.

With a long history, Ji'nan is considered most famous for its proximity to Longshan town, some 30 kilometers to the east. The Longshan people, one of China's prehistoric cultures, are noted for their production of black ceramic pottery dating back more than 4,000 years. During the Warring States Period, 2,600 years ago, Ji'nan was also a key frontier stronghold of the Qi State.

Embraced in the arms of Mount Tai and the Yellow River, Ji'nan is  transitionally located between a zone of upland and plain, giving it a variety of natural resources and beauty. It is also commonly known as"the spring city" due to its profusion of natural springs.  Most of the sights within the city itself, however, are a little uninspiring, as are the springs themselves. But a walk around the many city parks or a visit to the Thousand Buddha Mountain in the south can be a nice way to spend the day.

Climate:
Rainfall varies greatly from month to month in Ji'nan, with the total amount in July and August, 214 millimeters and 147.9 millimeters respectively, accounting for 54 per cent of the year's total. This is clearly the best time to visit the often drought affected springs.

The temperature rises rapidly between winter and spring here, from an average temperature of minus 1.7 degrees C in January to 15.1 degrees C in April. The average temperature for July is 27.6 degrees C, with no more than 10 days above 35 degrees C. It gets cooler in autumn and the temperature continues to fall, reaching a temperature of around 4 degrees C in January.

Compared with the surrounding area,winter in Ji'nan is relatively warm, the main form of precipitation being snow. From November to April, there are about 10 snowy days each year.

Baotu Spring in spring and the snowy Daming Lake in winter are renowned tourist attractions. But to avoid the heat in summer and sandstorms in spring, autumn is probably the best time to visit.

Scattered and interlocked, the famous 72 springs include, most famously, the four spring sets of Baotu Spring, Black Tiger Spring, Pearl Spring and Five Dragon Spring.

Topping the list of the 72 most famous springs, Baotu Spring is divided into 3 streams. The "Leyuan Hall", the "Watching Waves Pavilion" and the "Coming Crane Bridge" were erected respectively in the northern, southwestern and eastern part of the spring. Delighted by the sight of Baotu Spring, Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty gave this particular Spring the imperial title of "the first spring in the world".

To the northeast of Baotu Spring is the Golden Thread Spring, known for the shiny, golden water that gushes intermittently. Washing Jade Spring is to the east with its green willows and crystal water. To the north of the Washing Jade Spring, the quiet and secluded "Li Qingzhao Memorial", named after a famous female poet from the Song Dynasty, nestles in a shade of bamboo.

To the northeast of the Washing Jade Spring, among the cliffs and crags, lie the emerald line of the Horse Running Spring, the Shallow Well Spring, the Washing Bowl Spring and a few other springs.

Popular with foreigners and locals alike, the Black Tiger Spring is located to the east of Golden Thread Spring. Flowing through three stone carved tiger heads, the crystal green spring water pours down into a square pool here. The Lute Spring nearby gurgles with musical rhythms all year around. The other 14 springs, including the "Nine Heaven Spring" and the "Lotus Spring", are perhaps worth a look if you haven't had your fill already!