Pingyin Shuyuan Spring

Pingyin Shuyuan Spring

Pingyin Shuyuan Spring is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

Shuyuan Spring, also known as Dongliu Spring, is located in Shuyuan Village at the foot of Tianchi Mountain in Hongfanchi Town. The village was named Shuyuan because during the Ming Dynasty, the imperial censor Liu Yu built an academy near the spring. Surrounded by mountains and water, the area boasts lush vegetation, an elegant and tranquil atmosphere, and a climate that is warm in winter and cool in summer, resembling the picturesque scenery of small bridges and flowing streams in the south of the Yangtze River.

The spring water overflows from the crevices in the rocks at the foot of Tianchi Mountain east of the academy, converging into a square stone pool with sides about 8 meters long. Algae sway in the pool while fish and shrimp play, with the water being so clear that you can see the bottom. This spring flows year-round with an exceptionally strong current, making it the most abundant spring among the Hongfanchi group of springs. During peak flow periods, its daily discharge exceeds 8,000 cubic meters. The water cascades from the dragon-mouth spout on the southern wall of the pool into a smaller square pool, then flows into a semi-circular basin, gushing forth like pearls and jades. It meanders through the village along a stream, winding past homes and through woods to nourish trees, eventually gathering in Huiquan Lake west of Shuyuan Village. The spring water is rich in over 20 types of minerals including selenium and arsenic, and is of excellent quality. Local residents do not dig wells or use water tanks, as the spring flows day and night, and drinking it is said to promote longevity. "Winding streams for floating wine cups, to delight honored guests" is a source of pride for the villagers of Shuyuan.

In the past, there was the "Hongfu Temple" to the north of Dongliu Spring. Legend has it that it was founded by four eminent monks from the White Horse Temple in Luoyang during the Tang Dynasty: Qingzhen, Wuming, Huisan, and Yuanseng. Today, only the ruins remain, along with two Ming Dynasty Wanli-era "Dongliu Spring" poetry steles. The steles face south and are both identical in shape—square bases with aligned heads, standing 240 cm tall and 80 cm wide, possessing significant literary and calligraphic value. The right stele features a five-character poem by the Ming Dynasty’s Zhu Weijing, which reads: “Beside the academy, three households form a market; a screen of ten miles of medicinal herbs unfolds.”

After admiring the stone-carved Great Buddha, you can walk south along the mountain path to rest at the Immortal Cave. This cave is a waterfall cave, with water flowing down the upper wall of the cave entrance and hanging upside down in front of the door. Standing by the cave, you’ll feel a cool breeze and hear the sound of rushing water, as if you’ve entered a fairyland.

The academy is nestled against mountains and embraces water, with picturesque scenery, warm in winter and cool in summer. It has always been regarded as a wonderful place that literati and scholars love to visit and linger in.

Address: Shuyuan Village, Hongfanchi Town, Pingyin County, Jinan City

Business Hours: 8:00–19:00

Visiting Time: Approximately 3 hours

Featured Attractions: Tianchi Lake, Fishing Area, Fruit Picking Area, "Dujiangyan," Shuyuan Spring, Stone Inscriptions, Stone-carved Great Buddha

Tourist Route: Hongfanchi → Shuyuan Spring → Yuncai Mountain → Dazhai Mountain → Hu Spring

Tour Guide Fee: None

Supporting Facilities:

Dining: Shuyuan Spring Leisure Home

Public Transport:

Tourist shuttle bus currently unavailable

Self-driving Directions:

Exit Pingyin on the Jining–Heze Expressway → National Highway 220 (Zhenxing Street) → Meigui Town → Dong’e Town → Hongfanchi Town

Parking Information:

Street parking available.