Jinan Wulongtan Park

Jinan Wulongtan Park

Jinan Wulongtan Park is located outside the west gate of old Jinan City in Shandong Province, north of Luoyuan Bridge, and is named after the five-dragon pool within it. Covering an area of 5.44 hectares, including 0.8 hectares of water surface, it is a garden-style waterscape park characterized by its rustic and natural charm.

The Wulongtan spring system is the one with the best water quality among Jinan’s four most famous spring clusters. Some springs gush from the bottom of the pool, forming strings of ancient hot springs, Dongliu Spring, Huima Spring, and Lian Spring that look like cascading pearls; others spout forcefully from spring eyes as wide as bowls, splashing water droplets like the famed Baotu Spring—such as Yu Spring, Qing Spring, and Tanxi Spring; some overflow gently from crevices along the pool edge, dropping into clear streams like waterfalls, such as Gongjia Pool and Qiu Stream Spring; there's also Tianjing Spring, described as “a thousand pearls bursting from the earth, a single mirror-like lake reflecting the sky,” and Mizhi Spring, known for its taste “as sweet as maltose, drinking it feels like heavenly nectar.” Other notable springs include Xianqing Spring, Binxibo Spring, Jingming Spring, and Qishisan Spring. Wulongtan Park is situated outside the west gate of old Jinan City, north of Luoyuan Bridge, and is named after the five-dragon pool within it. Wulongtan, one of the “Seventy-Two Famous Springs of Jinan” recorded in the Jin Dynasty’s “Famous Springs Stele,” was then called “Huwan Spring.” Historical records indicate that during the Six Dynasties period, this pool was called “Jingchi” (as noted by Li Daoyuan of the Northern Wei Dynasty in his “Commentary on the Water Classic”), and during the Song Dynasty, it was referred to as “Siwang Lake,” being part of the ancient Daming Lake. According to the “Commentary on the Water Classic,” this body of water existed before the Northern Wei Dynasty and was called Jingchi, a corner of Daming Lake. Legend has it that Wulongtan was once unfathomably deep, and prayers for rain were answered during severe droughts, leading to the construction of a Five Dragons Temple by local devotees during the Yuan Dynasty. The temple featured statues of the five dragon deities, and since then, the pool has been called Wulongtan.

Within Wulongtan and nearby are 28 renowned springs, including Tianjing Spring (Jiangjia Pool), Qishisan Spring, Tanxi Spring, Guwenquan (Hot Spring), Xuanqing Spring (Xianqing Spring), Jing Spring, Li Spring, Xixin Spring, Huima Spring, Jingshui Spring, Lian Spring, Ximi Zhi Spring, Dongmi Zhi Spring, Yueya Spring, Jing Spring, Luoxi Spring, Qiu Stream Spring, Jin Spring, Yuhong Spring, Dongliu Spring, Beixibo Spring, Xianming Spring, Jingming Spring, Congming Spring, collectively forming the Wulongtan Spring Group.

Guwenquan is located southeast of Wulongtan and is named for its relatively high water temperature and long history. Even in the depths of winter, when snow blankets the ground, steam rises visibly from the spring.

Xuanqing Spring, also known as Xianqing Spring, is situated north of Wulongtan. The spring pool is 2.4 meters deep, irregularly shaped, and edged with natural stones. The water is crystal clear, shaded by weeping willows, offering a pleasant view. Qing Dynasty scholar Shen Tingfang wrote in “A Brief Record of Xianqing Garden”: “Jinan’s famous springs are the finest under heaven. Traditionally, there are seventy-two, the most celebrated being Baotu and Pearl Springs, but Xianqing embodies the essence of both, albeit more subtly.” During the Qing Dynasty, a charming waterscape garden called Langyuan was built by Xuanqing Spring, which later fell into disrepair. In its place, the LanHong Pavilion was constructed, also offering lovely scenery.

Tianjing Spring, also called Jiangjia Pool, is located at the southern end of Wulongtan. It earned its name because the water is so clear and bright that the sun, moon, stars, and clouds are reflected on its surface like a mirror hung in the sky. The Qing Dynasty’s “Jinan Prefecture Records” state: “Tianjing Spring is Jiangjia Pool, spanning one mu in area, clear enough to reflect even fine facial hair.” It is the second-largest spring in the Wulongtan group, with a strong flow. The pool teems with green algae and colorful fish, creating a delightful sight.

Qishisan Spring is located beneath a grape trellis on the southwestern side of Wulongtan. The spring pool is edged with natural stones, delicate and unique. Water flows from crevices in the rocks and converges into Wulongtan. The emergence of Qishisan Spring has an interesting backstory: In the 56th year of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty, the renowned scholar Gui Fu commissioned the construction of Tanxi Jingshe on the western side of Wulongtan. Unexpectedly, during foundation excavation, a spring eye was discovered, gushing out with remarkable vigor. Delighted, Gui Fu hosted a grand banquet and asked his guests to suggest a name for the spring. The proposed names were all unsatisfactory until Gui Fu, struck by inspiration, named it “Qishisan Spring.” Everyone agreed it was a brilliant choice, and Gui Fu even composed a poem: “Of the seventy-two famed springs, Wulongtan is not counted. But for the hardworking mathematician, let us add a seventy-third.” The Wulongtan pool is 70 meters long, 5 meters wide, over 4 meters deep, with an overflow elevation of 25.80 meters, and a daily water discharge between 8,600 and 43,000 cubic meters, ranking third among the “Four Major Spring Groups.” The pool water is fed by five spring sources that converge into a main stream, flowing through the northern moat before eventually entering the Xiaoqing River.

The scenery around Wulongtan is stunning. In 1985, it was developed into Wulongtan Park, which has now become one of Jinan’s premier attractions.

Address: Jiangjia Pool, Lixia District, Jinan City (opposite the north gate of Baotu Spring)

Opening Hours: 7:00–18:00

Visiting Time: Approximately 2 hours

Admission: 5 RMB per person, 2.5 RMB for students

Free admission for tourists, military personnel, and seniors with valid ID; “Jinan Park Annual Pass” accepted

Price Description: No seasonal pricing; the ticket price remains the same year-round.

Featured Attractions: The “Eight Scenic Spots” of Wulongtan Park: Dragon Pool Fish Viewing, Five Dragons Greeting Guests, Crescent Waterfall, Clear Springs Flowing Over Rocks, Qin Shrine Prayers, Tanxi Jingshe, Cherry Rain Dreams, and Tianjing Moon Reflection.

Guide Fee: Free

Public Transport:

Take bus routes 1, 3, 5, 41, K51, 66, 85, or K91 in downtown Jinan and get off at Gongqingtuan Road.

Self-Driving Directions:

G3 Expressway — exit at Jinan West or Jinan South — head east along Shizheng Road — go north on Yuhan Elevated Road — Qingnian West Road — Baotu Spring Road — Gongqingtuan Road. Approximately 30 minutes’ drive after exiting the expressway.

Parking Information:

Parking areas are available in front of the south and east gates of the park.