Jinan Liberation Pavilion

Jinan Liberation Pavilion

The Jinan Liberation Pavilion is a Shandong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit and a patriotic education base.

The Liberation Pavilion is a famous attraction in Jinan, known as the "City of Springs." It is located at the southeastern corner of the old city wall of Jinan, east of Black Tiger Spring, and faces the spring across the moat. The site of the pavilion was where the People's Liberation Army breached the city wall during the Battle of Jinan in 1948 (September 24, 1948). When the old city wall was demolished for urban development, the people of Jinan specially built the magnificent Liberation Pavilion on the original site to commemorate the liberation of Jinan. In 1965, a 10-meter-high stone base was constructed, but construction was halted due to the Cultural Revolution. The pavilion was built on the base in 1985 and completed on September 24, 1986.

The Liberation Pavilion is a key provincial cultural relics protection unit in Shandong Province and one of Jinan's patriotic education bases. From the pavilion, visitors can pay tribute to the heroic deeds of martyrs while enjoying the scenery of Black Tiger Spring and the panoramic views of the City of Springs.

On September 24, 2008, the Liberation Pavilion, which had charged admission since its completion on September 24, 1986, became free to the public. The original "Jinan Liberation Memorial Pavilion" was upgraded and renamed the "Jinan Liberation Memorial Hall," with the plaque inscribed by a former minister. After nearly six months of renovation, the new exhibition layout of the Jinan Liberation Memorial Hall has been fully completed. The floor, walls, doors and windows, display cases, lighting, and other facilities have all been updated. The exhibition format has been completely transformed, enriching and improving the displayed content, including photos, texts, and artifacts. New hardware facilities such as an electronic book-flipping system, matrix projection playback system, and multimedia technology model system have been added, significantly enhancing the overall quality and level of the memorial hall. The surrounding environment of the Liberation Pavilion has also been improved, with nearly 200 square meters of commercial stalls removed. The entire project cost nearly one million yuan, and a new reception room was built under the pavilion to provide visitors with a place to rest. The Liberation Pavilion is situated at the southeastern corner of the old city wall of Jinan, facing Black Tiger Spring across the moat. The site marks where the People's Liberation Army breached the city wall during the Battle of Jinan. Built to commemorate the liberation of Jinan, the stone base was completed in 1965, and the pavilion was constructed in 1985. It serves not only as a sacred site commemorating the liberation of Jinan but also as an important patriotic education base in Shandong Province. As part of the 60th-anniversary celebrations of the liberation of Jinan, it was transformed into a premium exhibition hall, education base, and tourist destination that integrates displays, education, and sightseeing. Due to the steep and narrow stairs and limited indoor space, to effectively manage visitor flow and ensure safety, the Jinan Liberation Memorial Hall will adopt a free-but-ticketed management approach after opening. Opening hours are 8:00–18:00 in spring and summer, and 9:00–17:00 in autumn and winter, fully meeting the visiting needs of citizens and tourists. Group visits by primary and secondary school students require reservations.

Travel Thematic Section

Red Revolution

Scenic Area Introduction

The Liberation Pavilion is 24.1 meters tall, with the base bringing its total height to 34.1 meters. It covers an area of 1,637.2 square meters and has a floor area of 617.2 square meters. Designed in traditional Chinese architectural style, it features golden glazed tiles and granite cladding. The pavilion has two floors and is square-shaped on all sides. The lower level is surrounded by a corridor, connected to the pavilion via a porch. The corridor and pavilion are adorned with small paintings of landscapes, flowers, fish, birds, and animals. Outside the corridor is a platform surrounded by stone railings. The upper level has a pyramidal roof with upturned eaves, supported by brackets and decorated with mythical beasts and wind chimes. The entire structure is majestic and resplendent. The pavilion's name was inscribed in 1965 by Marshal Chen Yi, former commander of the East China Field Army. The gilded stone engraving of the characters "Liberation Pavilion" and the plaque are embedded on the western and southern sides of the base and hung above the second-floor entrance, respectively. On the eastern side of the base stands the "Monument to Revolutionary Martyrs of the Jinan Liberation Campaign," engraved with the names of 3,764 martyrs who sacrificed their lives during the battle, calligraphed in regular script by Jinan calligrapher Zhu Xueda. On the western side of the base is the "Inscription for the Construction of the Liberation Pavilion," embedded in 1986 and calligraphed by Wu Zhongqi. In 1998, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Jinan, the municipal government renovated the pavilion and installed lighting, making it shine brilliantly at night.

Ascending from the western base of the pavilion, visitors climb 61 steps, turn five times, and enter the ground floor hall. At the center of the hall stands a group sculpture of the Liberation Pavilion—architecture.

A tall statue—the Heroic Group Sculpture of the Jinan Campaign—surrounds exhibits of revolutionary relics from the battle. The outer walls of the hall feature eight gray marble reliefs depicting scenes from the Jinan Campaign. The images are vivid, the brushwork bold and powerful, and the content rich and profound. Climbing 44 steps from the northern side of the base and turning six times leads to the second floor. The area is surrounded by white marble railings, offering views of the surroundings: to the west, shimmering water and picturesque stone forests with pavilions tucked among them; to the north, the seasonal gardens of spring, summer, autumn, and winter along the moat, like pearls embedded in a green ribbon; and to the south, the distant green mountains of Qianfo, Fohui, and Huixian, forming a magnificent vista. Climbing to the top of the Liberation Pavilion, visitors are greeted by the lush greenery of the southern hills, refreshing the spirit. Looking down, the Black Tiger Spring group, nestled in the shade of trees, is particularly enchanting, with its murmuring springs singing like a beautiful melody. Ming Dynasty poet Hu Zuozong wrote in "Passing the Springs": "Golden fortresses stretch across thousands of miles of fertile land, spring fills Qi Prefecture, flowers blanket the rivers and fields." This is the very scene today.

The ground floor serves as a memorial hall, with granite exterior walls and hardwood paneling on the interior walls up to the ceiling. The hall's color scheme is dominated by red, with the Liberation Pavilion—architecture featuring a dark red granite floor. At the center is a sturdy base covered in blue-and-white marble, supporting a 3-meter-tall sculpture of liberating soldiers, emphasizing the solemn and respectful atmosphere of the hall. The exterior walls of the memorial hall feature 35-meter-long white marble reliefs depicting the grand scenes of people supporting the liberation war and achieving victory, reinforcing the building's revolutionary historical commemorative character. The second floor is an observation hall, with a light yellow color scheme and yellow marble flooring. The walls are waist-high, with upper sections featuring traditional lantern-style windows with large glass panes, allowing visitors to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the City of Springs. Within the limited space, an open and expansive feel is created. The ceiling is decorated with plaster floral designs and caisson ceilings, complemented by large, basket-style chandeliers that brighten the space. Outside the observation hall, the architectural feature of a "pavilion" is preserved, with a 1.8-meter-wide viewing corridor surrounded by white marble railings. The main structure is encircled by a 108-meter transparent corridor, connecting the base walls with the central structure seamlessly. The building's design, based on a "triangular" composition, embodies the eternal, stable, majestic, and solemn nature of memorial architecture. The roof is covered with yellow glazed tiles, with three tiers of intricately designed flying eaves. The building's proportions are balanced, standing tall and graceful. It is one of the prime examples of combining modern Jinan architectural technology with traditional architectural forms.

Address: No. 22 Xiheya Street, Lixia District, Jinan (near Heihuquan West Road)

Business Hours: 8:00–18:00 in spring and summer, 9:00–17:00 in autumn and winter

Visiting Time: Approximately 1 hour

Price Description: Free Admission

Featured Attraction: Heroic Group Sculpture of the Jinan Campaign

Tour Guide Fee: Free Guided Tours Available

Visitor Service Center: Located at the entrance of the Liberation Pavilion

Travel Tips

In downtown Jinan, take luxury buses K54, K55, K59, K91, or K95 (2 RMB fare), or buses 1, 3, 5, 14, 36, or 63 (1 RMB fare), or trolleybus 101 (1 RMB fare), and get off at Qinglongqiao Station or Liberation Pavilion Station.

In downtown Jinan, take luxury buses K54, K55, K59, K91, or K95 (2 RMB fare), or buses 1, 3, 5, 14, 36, or 63 (1 RMB fare), or trolleybus 101 (1 RMB fare), and get off at Qinglongqiao Station or Liberation Pavilion Station.

Self-Driving Guide:

G20 Highway—Exit at Jinan North—Jinan North Ring Expressway—Shunhe Elevated Road—Exit at Jingsi Road—Gongqingtuan Road—Quancheng Square—Liberation Pavilion

Parking Information:

Parking area at the Circular City Park under the Liberation Pavilion

Further Reading:

· First Batch of Shandong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units