Pearl Spring

Pearl Spring

Pearl Spring is the third most famous spring in Jinan, located in the center of the old city of Jinan, now to the north inside the Pearl Spring Auditorium on Quancheng Road. The plaque inscribed with "Pearl Spring" was personally written by Emperor Qianlong, making it a uniquely renowned scenic attraction. Around it are many smaller springs, such as Chuspring, Xiting Spring, Shun Spring, Yuhuan Spring, and Taiyi Spring, collectively known as the Pearl Spring Group.

The Pearl Spring pool is 42 meters long and 29 meters wide, surrounded by snowflake-patterned stone railings. Willow trees droop gracefully along the bank, and the spring water is crystal clear, with strings of white bubbles rising from the bottom like scattered pearls, creating a mesmerizing and enchanting scene. In the northwest corner of the spring lies Zhuoying Pool, formed by the convergence of spring water, which flows northward through Baihua Zhou before entering Daming Lake. The Pearl Spring area is an elegant garden, with lush pines and willows, and a well-arranged layout of pools, pavilions, and towers. To the west of the arched Poguo Bridge within the garden stands a thousand-year-old crabapple tree from the Song Dynasty, reaching a height of five to six meters. It is said to have been planted by Zeng Gong, the governor of Jinan. Additionally, a newly built artificial lake lies to the north of Pearl Spring, featuring rockeries and tall pines, offering a unique charm. The Qing Dynasty writer Wang Chang described Pearl Spring in his "Record of Pearl Spring": "The spring emerges from the sandy shore, gathering and dispersing, breaking and continuing, flowing fast and slow. Sunlight shining on it makes the larger bubbles look like pearls and the smaller ones like pebbles, all rising from the bottom to the surface." People describe the scenery here as "pearls leaping and snow splashing in exquisite clarity." Nearby, there are also eleven other springs, including Prose Spring, Cinnabar Spring, Soaring Dragon Spring, and Xiting Spring.

The area includes Pearl Spring, Xiting Spring, San Shui Spring, Tengjiao Spring, ? Spring, Yunlou Spring, Hui Spring, and Cinnabar Spring, forming the main distribution zone of the Pearl Spring Group in Jinan. During the Northern Wei Dynasty, this place was crisscrossed with streams and was called Liubei Pool. In the Song Dynasty, Zeng Gong, who served as governor of Qizhou, built a villa here named "Mingshi Xuan." In the late Jin and early Yuan Dynasties, Zhang Rong, the Provincial Secretary of Shandong and Commander-in-Chief of the Army, constructed his residence here. Later, his grandson, Zhang Hong, the Grand Marshal of the Yuan Dynasty, built the "Baiyun Tower." In the first year of the Ming Dynasty's Tian Shun era (1457), Zhu Jianshen, the second son of Emperor Yingzong, was granted the title of Prince of De. In the second year of the Chenghua era (1466), he built the De Wang Mansion here, incorporating Pearl Spring and Zhuoying Lake into the estate. The mansion was grand in scale, with luxurious pavilions and towers, and for centuries until the end of the Ming Dynasty, five generations of De Princes resided here, later referred to as the "De Princely Forbidden City." In the fifth year of the Qing Kangxi era (1666), the Shandong Governor’s Office was relocated here. After the Republic of China, it served as the office of the provincial military governor, the governing office, and the provincial government. In December 1937, as Japanese forces approached Jinan, Han Fuju, the chairman of the Shandong Provincial Government, abandoned the city with his troops, and most buildings were burned down, leaving only the Qing-era Governor’s Office Hall. Starting in 1951, the government undertook renovations, constructing the People’s Auditorium and the Pearl Spring Guesthouse, which became venues for political gatherings and meetings of representatives from various sectors in Shandong. At the end of 1979, the Standing Committee of the Shandong Provincial People’s Congress was established here.

After multiple renovations since the founding of the People’s Republic, the scenic area has taken on a completely new look. On the north bank of Pearl Spring, rockeries stand tall and willows provide ample shade. At the foot of the hill, ponds encircle the area, with babbling streams, blooming lotuses, and small bridges. The spring water flows into Zhuoying Lake in the northern part of the scenic area via the Yudai River. The southern shore of the lake is home to the Crabapple Garden. To the east of the garden lies a pool of clear water with natural stone embankments, mixed with locust and willow trees, and a variety of blooming flowers. There is an island in the water, connected to the shore by a winding bridge, with a pavilion atop it. On the south side, across the stream from the pavilion, stands the Qing-era Governor’s Office Hall. The entire garden is shaded by dense foliage, with flowing streams, birdsong, and fragrant flowers, offering a serene and pleasant atmosphere.

The Qing-era Governor’s Office Hall is located to the east of Pearl Spring. Originally the Chengyun Hall of the De Princely Forbidden City during the Ming Dynasty, it was renovated during the Qing Dynasty and converted into the Governor’s Office Hall, serving as the administrative and judicial center for the governors of Shandong and military-political officials during the Republic of China. The hall is five bays wide and 16 meters deep, featuring a hip-and-gable roof with nine ridges and upturned eaves. The front section has a rolled shed design, supported by six large red pillars holding layered cloud-head brackets. Between the red pillars are floor-length lattice windows. The eaves and ridge ends are adorned with decorative animal figures. The front terrace is spacious, surrounded by dense pines and cypresses. The entire structure is resplendent and majestic. In 1979, it was listed as a key cultural relic protection unit of Jinan City.

The Crabapple Garden · Osmanthus-Scented Willow Crabapple Garden is located in the northwest corner of the Qing-era Governor’s Office Hall, north of Pearl Spring. This site was originally the location of the "Mingshi Xuan" built by Zeng Gong during the Song Dynasty. Today, only one crabapple tree remains, said to have been planted by the great Song Dynasty literary figure Zeng Gong. In 1954, this crabapple tree was moved 50 meters westward. Its main trunk had withered, but several new shoots emerged from the stump. Now, the new trunks have grown to a diameter of 35 centimeters, and the old and new trunks together form a lush canopy with a diameter of 8 meters. During the Republican era, this area was called "Pearl Seclusion," serving as the western reception hall of the provincial government, where distinguished guests were hosted. Later, it was named "Crabapple Garden" after the Song Dynasty crabapple tree. The garden follows a classical two-courtyard layout. The northern courtyard faces Zhuoying Lake, with halls on both the north and south sides, featuring brown-red pillars, blue bricks, white walls, front eaves, and ridge animal decorations, all in a simple and elegant style. The southern courtyard is primarily planted with flowers and trees, including a tree pool at its center where the Song Dynasty crabapple tree thrives, lush and fragrant during its peak blooming season. The surroundings are shaded by green bamboo and tall tung trees, adding to the garden’s tranquility.

South of the Crabapple Garden, across the stream and at either end of the rockery, stand two peculiar trees that seem to gaze at each other. Their trunks are sturdy, with gnarled roots and branching limbs. These trees, scientifically known as Elaeagnus angustifolia, are also called silver willow or fragrant willow. They have flat leaves growing opposite each other, resembling willow leaves in shape, and their fragrance is reminiscent of osmanthus. In early summer, their branches are densely covered with small white flowers, emitting an intoxicating scent. In May 1960, Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, visited Jinan. One day, during a break at a meeting held in the Pearl Spring Auditorium, he strolled to the edge of Pearl Spring, leaned on the railing to admire the scenery, and was greeted by a gentle breeze carrying a sweet fragrance. He walked toward the source of the scent and, upon seeing young trees with small blooms, reached out to smell them and asked, "What are these trees called?" An accompanying gardener informed him, "These are osmanthus-scented willows, a rare variety in the Jinan area, planted in 1954." Upon hearing this, Chairman Mao smiled warmly and instructed, "Take good care of them." Since then, they have been carefully tended to and have grown into the large, embracing trees seen today.

Scenic Area Address: North side of the Pearl Spring Auditorium on Quancheng Road, in the center of the old city of Jinan.

Transportation: Within the city, you can take bus routes 1, 3, 11, 41, K50, K54, or K59 to get there.

Admission Fee

No admission fee required

Opening Hours

Generally open for free daytime visits.

Location of the Attraction

No. 1 Yuianqian Street, Lixia District, Jinan City, Shandong Province, within the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress