Jinan
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East China (华东) » Shandong (山东) » Jinan (济南)
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[edit] Overview
Jinan is the capital of Shandong province. It was known for its heavy industry and textiles, trucks and paper in the 2nd half of 20th century, but now it has a diversified industry base including information technology, home appliances, bio-engineered products, transportation, etc. Jinan's Buddhist temples, springs, and the nearby Mount Taishan (100km) , and Qufu (170km), the hometown of Confucius draw a large number of tourists every year.
The name "Jinan", meaning south of the Ji River, refers to the old Ji River that once flowed to the north of the city, but disappeared when the Yellow River changed its course and took over the bed of the Ji River in 1852.
Jinan is about 500km to the south of Beijing, and only 15km from the south shore of the Yellow River. Jinan is about 500km from Yantai and 400 km from Qingdao, which are two other famous tourist destinations in Shandong province.
Jinan has a population of about 6 million, and covers an area of 8,177 km².
[edit] History
Jinan was settled more than 5000 thousand years ago by the neolithic Dawenkou and Longshan peoples. It became the gate city to the state of Qi and the starting point of the ancient Qi Great Wall in the 6th century BC. Jinan started to become the cultural and economic hub of the region in the Han Dynasty. It was a busy commercial center during the Tang Dynasty for its thriving silk industry, and flourishing Buddhism. Jinan remained the cultural center of the region during the Song and Yuan Dynasty.
Jinan became the capital of Shandong Province since the Ming Dynasty. The city was opened to foreign trade in 1904 after Jiaoji (Qingdao-Jinan) railway was built, and became a major trading center for agricultural goods in northern China when another railway, Jinpu railway from Tianjin to Pukou, was completed in 1912.
[edit] Weather
Jinan has a temperate climate. The hottest days are seen from late July to early August with temperatures reaching 33 °C; the coldest is in January, -10 °C.
Current Conditions (2010-03-17 11:00:00, local time)
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Jinan |
Temp: 40°F (4°C) |
Jinan Weather Forecast
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| Weather averages for Jinan | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Avg high °C (°F) | 4 (39) | 7 (45) | 13 (55) | 21 (70) | 27 (81) | 31 (88) | 32 (90) | 31 (88) | 27 (81) | 21 (70) | 13 (55) | 6 (43) | |
| Avg low °C (°F) | -4 (25) | -1 (30) | 4 (39) | 12 (54) | 17 (63) | 22 (72) | 24 (75) | 22 (72) | 18 (64) | 12 (54) | 5 (41) | -2 (28) | |
| Rain cm (inches) | 0.5 (0.2) | 0.74 (0.3) | 1.14 (0.4) | 2.08 (0.8) | 4.71 (1.9) | 6.97 (2.7) | 15.04 (5.9) | 11.68 (4.6) | 4.59 (1.8) | 2.59 (1) | 1.41 (0.6) | 0.46 (0.2) | |
| Source: per MSN 2008 | |||||||||||||
[edit] Getting in & Getting out
[edit] By Air
Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport (济南遥墙国际机场) is located at Yaoqiang town, 28.5 kilometers to the north-east of the city center. There are daily flights to Beijing, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Guangzhou, Guiyang, Haikou, Hangzhou, Harbin, Kunming, Nanchang, Nanjing, Shanghai, Shantou, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Yantai, Zhangjiajie, etc.
Airport shuttle bus runs to downtown 24 hours as soon as any flight arrives. However, the shuttle to the airport from downtown stops running at 6 pm. If you have to go to the airport after 6 pm, taxi is the only choice, and costs about 100 RMB including the special bridge fee.
The local Shandong Airlines is the major carrier here. But your ticket may say Air China, because Shandong Airlines code-shares with Air China.
[edit] By Train
Jinan is served by Jinan Railway Station and also the smaller Jinan East Railway Station. Jinan Railway Station is located to the north of town, and is the largest railway station in Shandong Province. The station can be reached through public bus line #3, #21, and #83. Jinghu (Beijing-Shanghai) Railway and Jiaoji (Qingdao-Jinan) Railway intersects here. Jinan is about 3.5 hours (490 km) to Beijing and 5 hours (968 km) to Shanghai, and 2.5 hours (393km) to Qingdao.
As always, train tickets can be purchased directly from the station, and can also be purchased at many authorized location inside the city for a nominal fee (about 5 RMB).
Many trains stop at the smaller Jinan East Station, which can be reached through public bus lines #14, #30, #37, #83, and #112.
[edit] By Bus
It is very easy to get to Jinan with lots of buses running all day and some at night. Be sure to ask which station the bus will arrive in as there are two main ones, the long distance bus station (长途汽车站) and the train station bus station (客运汽车站).
--from wikitravel.org
[edit] By Ship
[edit] Getting Around
[edit] By Public Bus
There are more than 100 public bus lines in Jinan. The fare for regular bus line is 1 RMB, and for air-conditioned buses is 2 RMB. The fare for tourist buses is also 2 yuan.
[edit] By Tour Bus
[edit] By Taxi & Rental Car
There are about 9000 taxis in Jinan with Volkswagen Jetta as the most common. There are also Fukang, Shanghai Santana, Hongqi, and Qiya cars. The fare (including fuel surcharge) for low-end cars is 7 RMB for the first 3 km, and 1.5 RMB for each additional km. And for high-end cars the fare (including fuel surcharge) is 9 RMB for the first 3 km. The first 5 minutes of the waiting time is free of charge.
[edit] Attractions
Baotu Spring Park is located in the center of Jinan with an area of 105 hectares. Baotu Spring Park, Daming Lake and the Thousand-Buddha Mountain are known as the Three Key Points of Interest in Jinan. Jinan is famous as the Spring City and Baotu Spring Park ranks the first and is praised as the best.
Daming Lake is one of the three most famous scenic spots in Jinan. It is located in the northeast part in the central area of the city. The lake covers an area of 46 hectares and the park covers an area of 86 hectars. Famous scenic spots include Lixia Gloriette, Beijing Temple and Huibo Building and so on.
The Thousand-Buddha Mountain is one of the three most famous scenic spots in Jinan with an altitude of 285 meters. During the Kaihuang period of the Sui Dynasty, a number of Buddhas were carved in the cliffs and the Thousand-Buddha Temple was built. Famous scenic spots include Xingguochan Temple, Thousand-Buddha Cliff, Lishan Garden, Myriad-Buddha Cave and so on.
Wulong Pond Park covers an area of 5.44 hectares with 0.8 hectare of water area. It is surrounded by a number of springs including Tianjing, Huima, Guwen, Yueya, Xibo, Xianqing and so on.
Lingyan Temple is located in the north range of Mount Tai. There are tens of important historic sites including the Thousand-Buddha Temple, Pizhi Tower, Huisuo Tower and so on. Dozens of springs such as Ganlu Spring, Zhuoxi Spring, Baihe Spring, Jiasha Spring in the park keep on running all year round.
The Four-Door Pagoda is located in the mountainous area in south Jinan. It is surrounded by mountains with a number of historic sites. The major scenic spots include the Four-Door Pagoda, a pine tree named Jiuding, Shentong Temple, the Dragon and Tiger Tower and so on.
Baimai Spring Park covers an area of 200,000 square meters with more than 100,000 square meters of water area. The whole park is divided into three parts according to the course of water: Water Scenery Area of Famous Springs, Longquan Temple and Qingzhao Garden.
The Qi Great Wall is located in the Dafeng Mountain Scenic Area. The Qi Great Wall was constructed in 685 B.C. It is the earliest Great Wall in our country ( 490 years earlier than the Great Wall in Beijing which was constructed in the Qin Dynasty). Mountains and nice scenery make this place very attractive.
Jinan Wild Animal World covers an area of more than 30,000 mu. As the biggest research and exhibit center of wild animals in China, it has more than 10,000 animals of 150 kinds. In 1992, Jinan Wild Animal World is graded as a National Forest Park by the Forestry Ministry of China.
Built in September, 1989 and open to the public free in September, 1997, Quancheng Park is located in the central area of Jinan. It is originally called Jinan Plant Park and renamed Quancheng Park on September 22, 2006. It covers an area of 46.7 hectares and is a comprehensive park with such functions as scientific research on plants, scientific education and entertainment.
The Ecological and Cultural Tourism Area of Red Leaves Valley is located in Licheng District with a planned area is 4000 mu. Rosebush Garden, Xuanqiu Lake are among the major scenic spots.
Quancheng Square is the central square of Jinan .It is about 780 meters long and 230 meters wide with an area of 16.96 hectares. Surrounded by mountains, springs, rivers and the city, Qucheng Square is an ideal place for rest and entertainment.
[edit] Hotels
Search hotels in Jinan.
[edit] Budget
[edit] Video
| Jinan |
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| Jinan became the capital of Shandong Province since the Ming Dynasty. |
[edit] Special local food
- Steamed Stuffed Bun of Caobao
It is said that in the past, a restaurant near the Yellow River hired a young man who looked stupid, so, people called him Caobao which, in Jinan dialect, means dumpish. In fact, he was quite clever and able-minded He only made steamed stuffed buns which became well-known soon. Later, he came to Jinan and made steamed stuffed bun which were called Caobao.
- Milked Pucai Soup
It is made of milk and Pucai, a kind of vegetable available in Daming Lake which is crisp and delicious. This dish is praised as the No. 1 soup in Jinan.
- Yellow River Carp with Sugar and Vinegar
The carp is delicious and nutrient. Jinan is located in the lower reaches of the Yellow River. It has its own way of cooking carps. This dish named the Yellow River Carp with Sugar and Vinegar has been praised as the most famous dish in Shandong.
- You Xuan
It is a traditional nosh in Jinan. As early as in the Daoguang Period of the Qing Dynasty, You Xuan was sold in the city. It is crisp outside and tender inside with a nice spricery of green Chinese onion. You Xuan is still warmly welcome today in Jinan
[edit] Restaurants
Shandong cuisine is known as Lu cai (named after the ancient Lu State) and is one of the eight culinary traditions of China and a major influence on the present day food in northeastern China. Jinan cuisine represents a branch of Shandong cuisine famous for its soups.
There are the usual mediocre international fast food chains, plenty of street food, scores of little restaurants, etc. The easiest is either street food or one of the many buffets where you can see the food and order that way. Or if you want expensive and exotic (eg Japanese, go to the 4-5 star hotels). There are some nice local restaurants, but if you can't read Chinese it is not worth the hassle and the free entertainment you provide to onlookers. Each restaurant seems to specialise in a style of cooking and a special dish or two. However, finding what you might like can be quite a challenge, as many restaurants don't have menus with pictures, and next to none have English menus. Some of the smaller places have a part of their menu printed into a large poster on the wall, with photos, and provides an easy way to get something you want.
- Quanjude, (Down Heping Lu near Shan Da Lu). A good roast duck restaurant
- Dingy-looking restaurant street [name], (Just off of Quancheng Lu). Snakes for about 2 blocks. Despite the narrow and pitted road, there are some nice restaurants here.
- Bbq places and beer, (Behind the big mosque at Yongchang Lu). The muslim quarter of town. The food is fresh, as earlier in the day sheep where standing where you are now eating (look for the red stain on the ground). You can't get fresher than that. However, the smell is off putting in the summer with no refridgeration and swarms of flies laying eggs in your about to be eaten lamb (cat meat according to local news sources has been used in these places to boost profits and keep the cat population down).
- Pakistani restaurant, (In the Muslim quarter). Great restaurant, which foreigners seem to frequent.
- Night market, Jing Er Lu (In the NW of the city). Sidestreets full of food.
--from wikitravel.org
[edit] Shopping
Jinan does not have much to offer in terms of shopping. Souvenirs found here include ejiao, black pottery, local embroidery and wood wares. [edit] Daily suppies
For daily supplies, food, clothing, and stuff like that try one of the following. There is little in the way of western food (eg cheese) but you may be pleasantly surprised.
- Wal-Mart Supercenter, (Just east of the bookshop next to the Pizza Hut on Quancheng Rd).
- Carrefour, (North of Jiefan Lu on Lishan Lu).
- A number of RT Marts.
- Unimart. Caters for the culturally deprived expat who wants his cornflakes.
[edit] Markets
- Markets, (Next to Jenny's Cafe). There are markets in several locations, but you're likely only to find plastic tubs, brooms, hair products, bed sheets, clothing, etc., that's pretty much the same as what you find in the shops or just on the street at about the same prices. However, if you are of European decent, be prepared to be charged ridiculous prices due to the belief that you are white and therefore rich. Which comparatively we may well be, of course.
- Culture market, (In the SE of the city). Mostly paintings with little culture.
- Technology Market, (Take bus #1 or any bus up Jiefang Lu, from the main square east and get off at the giant building that looks like it's pregnant, cnr Jiefang Lu and Shanda Rd). A couple of blocks and five stories of high tech stuff. MP3 players, computers, accessories, cameras, stuff you've never seen before, etc. Few people seem to speak English there, but it can be fun to look around. Haggle, Haggle, Haggle, and then haggle some more. Even if you pay half of what you might pay in your own country, you will still end up paying twice what a local will pay!
--from wikitravel.org
[edit] Night Life & Entertainment
Jinan does not have much to offer in terms in Western style drinking places. However, there are plenty of Chinese style outdoor drinking places with impossibly low tables and chairs, which dish up skewers of meats for a few cents along with a few other things like soybeans or such. Beer flows freely.
- English Corner, (Near the Sofitel Hotel). Offers expensive bottled beer and sullen staff in a basement. It advertises to locals that it is the place to practice English with foreigners (hence the name "English Corner")- so prepare to be annoyed and questioned repeatedly in chinglish, this is also one of many bars in Jinan that play music so loud that you'll have tinnitus for the rest of your life.
- Jenny's Cafe, (Right across the street from the Bank of China on LiShan Lu). Offers a variety of cuisines, including Mexican, and Italian. It's open all day and is a great place to relax, study, or run into other expats. To get here just tell the taxi driver Lishan Lu he Wenhua Xi Lu. (Source: JinanLive website). 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 galic beans and tofu. They also serve German imported beer (Paulaner, etc) if you want a quality beer for a change.
- 1+1. The latest club in town.
- Wei Wei. A foreigner hangout on Wednesdays and is supposedly a big beer bust in a dingy atmosphere. To find Wei Weis, go down the side street past the BaoTuQuan Restaurant, on Jing Qi Lu, and make a right when you see the most smoke. It's about 2 buildings in. A popular activity here is to do the 100 stick and beer challenge, this is good if you want to spend another week recovering in hospital replacing body fluids (Bring plenty of imodium pills).
--from wikitravel.org
[edit] Sports & Recreation
- English Corner, (Along the river). On Sunday. There's a specific location, but it doesn't really matter. If you wander along the river, grab an ice cream and sit down you'll soon be joined by people wanting to practice English... That is, if you like to be pestered by speakers of chinglish. Otherwise ignore Sunday mornings in this area like the plague.
- Huge bookshop, (Just east of Maccas on the main drag (Quancheng Road)). Includes a mediocore foreign languages section (mostly old classic novels and dictionaries). The management seem to tolerate the thousands of non-customers, using it as a reading room. It is well worth a visit - Borders could learn a thing or two!
- Quancheng Square or Spring City Square (the main square). At night you can watch kids compete in in-line skating, kung fu, or other competitions. Lots of people hang out there so prepeare to be stared at, as Jinan residents do not often see foreigners. If you are not comfortable to be the center of attention maybe it is best to avoid this spot.
- Daming Lake. Good for a stroll or you can ride the rides there. It's an oasis away from the traffic, right in the middle of the city and charges about 30 yuan to get in. Go early to avoid the crowds. Pleasure boats. Some good photography. Usually a wedding or two. And a nice dumpling restaurant outside opposite the main gate.
- Hero Mountain and the botanical gardens, (In the SE). Good for a climb and a stroll. On weekends it's overcrowded so choose a weekday.
- The campuses of Shandong University, Shandong Medical University, and Shandong Normal University. Leafy, serene, and pleasant to stroll. This is of course by Chinese standards as they are not really leafy and pleasant at all, but more grey, dirty, solemn and sparse of foliage. Of the three, the Medical University is the nicest with some mildly interesting architecture. Avoid the weekends.
--from wikitravel.org
