REGIONAL> Culture Tourism
Spring city route ready for visitors
By Ju Chuanjiang and Ji Yuan (China Daily Shandong Bureau)
Updated: 2009-07-20 14:27

The passage known as "The Finest Spring under Heaven Beauty Spot" opened July 18 in Jinan, welcoming tourists to enjoy the well-known springs and Daming Lake by boat.

According to Han Xiaoguang, director of the Jinan Landscape Bureau, the Spring travel route is 5.5 kilometers long. The 40 minute boat tour stops at Liberation Pavilion, Spring City Square, Five Dragons' Pool, the southwest Gate of Daming Lake and west of Daming Lake (Jiaxuan temple). A bus service taking tourists to the boat operates every 30 minutes.

The Spring travel route has become Jinan's main symbol, bringing it the titles "Spring City" and "State-list Famous Historical and Culture City". It connects waterways from Black Tiger Spring, Baotu Spring, and Five Dragons' Pool to Daming Lake. The famous route also offers easy access to all major attractions in Jinan by boat.

Jinan first launched a program for the Spring travel route for the Eleventh National Games in November, 2007. After one year of labor, the program was completed.

It has been reported that relative departments are considering integrating tourist resources and further developing "The Finest Spring Under Heaven Beauty Spot". According to Wang Jianguo, director of the Jinan Travel Bureau, it will be a classic travel route and a 5A first-class scenic spot.

The new tourist attraction has been introduced abroad by travel agencies, touting the famous springs, local customs, snacks and shopping along the tour. Chen Guozhong, president of Jinan Travel Design & Research Institute said the Finest Spring under Heaven Beauty Spot would make Jinan tourism more distinctive and competitive.