Jinan 3 Days 2 Nights Travel Guide

📍 Highlights: Strolling in the Spring City, Old Town Atmosphere, Shandong Cuisine Feast, Landscape Painting
👫 Suitable for: Culture lovers, foodies, families with children, photography enthusiasts
💰 Budget Reference: 800-1500 RMB per person (including round-trip transportation from Beijing/Shanghai/Qingdao)

📅 Itinerary
Day 1: Spring City Stroll & Old Town Atmosphere
🚄 Morning: Arrive in Jinan

High-speed train from Beijing 1.5 hours / Shanghai 3 hours / Qingdao 1 hour to Jinan Station (near city center)
Accommodation options:

Around Spring City Square (recommended "Spring City Hotel," walk to explore the old town)
By Daming Lake (recommended "Lakeside Youth Hostel," favorite of artsy youth)

💧 Morning: Spring Water Tour

Baotu Spring (ticket 40 RMB, free entry before 7:00 for morning mist photos)

Hidden tip: Bring an empty bottle to collect drinkable spring water (Shu Yu Spring is drinkable)

Wulongtan (ticket 5 RMB, feed koi for good luck)

🍜 Noon: First Taste of Shandong Cuisine

Old brand "Caobao Baozi Shop" (pork soup dumplings + sweet porridge)
or "Chao Yixing" (braised pork + four happiness meatballs, about 15 RMB per person)

🏮 Afternoon: Old Street Walkthrough

Qushuiting Street (free, small bridges and flowing water):

Drink big bowl tea, listen to Jinan traditional crosstalk ("Minghuju" afternoon show)

Furong Street (high risk of disappointing snacks, recommended to just stroll, not buy)

🌃 Evening: Spring City Night View

Spring City Square Music Fountain (best show at 20:00)
Kuanhouli Night Market (recommended "Guozu Stinky Tofu" and "Huang’s Xu" desserts)

Day 2: Famous Figures & Landscape Painting
⛰️ Early Morning: Cultural Pilgrimage

Thousand Buddha Mountain (ticket 30 RMB, free entry before 6:00):

Hike for panoramic city views, visit Sui Dynasty stone grotto statues
Lazy route: enter from north gate → cable car (20 RMB) → Mile Shengyuan

📜 Morning: Famous Figures Tour

Shandong Museum (free, treasure: murals from Dongping Han Tomb)

Must-see: Hall 10 "King Lu’s Nine-Phoenix Crown"

or Li Qingzhao Memorial Hall (ticket 20 RMB, admire "Shu Yu Ci" stone inscription)

🍲 Noon: Shandong Cuisine Feast

"Chengnan Stories" (nine-turn large intestine + sweet and sour carp)
Hidden menu: milk soup with cattail (summer only)

🚣 Afternoon: Boating on Daming Lake

Daming Lake (free, avoid the "Summer Rain Lotus" statue):

Take a painted boat tour (50 RMB/person), autumn reed flowers like flying snow
Off-the-beaten-path: afternoon tea at Nanfeng Opera House

🌙 Evening: Artsy Nightlife

"Jianghu Art Society" (listen to Shandong storytelling + watch traditional colorful magic)
or "Banjo Music Bar" (local Jinan band performances)

Day 3: Majestic Yellow River & Return
🌅 Early Morning: Yellow River Sunrise

Hundred-Mile Yellow River Scenic Area (free, aerial view of the "Suspended River" wonder)

Check in at "Yellow River Tower" (climb to see the big river bend)

🛍️ Morning: Souvenir Shopping

Must-buy list:

Pingyin rose products (flower cakes, essential oils, look for "Fanglei")
Spring water tea soup ("Qinji" old brand, intangible cultural heritage recipe)
Shandong embroidery crafts (Jinan Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center)

🍜 Noon: Final Bowl of "Old Flavor"

"Liangliang Noodle Shop" (pork knuckle soup noodles + spicy pickled radish)
or "Old Zhou’s Beef Pancake" (legendary shop opens at 4 AM)

🚄 Return:

Recommend buying afternoon train tickets (can bring "Yida Pastry" walnut crisps as snacks)

💡 Local Insider Tips
✔ Transportation:

Old town attractions are dense, recommend walking + shared bikes
To Zhangqiu (Baimai Spring) take Metro Line 2 (1 hour)

✔ Accommodation Tips:

Book hotels on "Quancheng Road" early on weekends, vibrant nightlife
Peak season (April-October) lodging in Lixia District is 30% more expensive than Shizhong District

✔ Pitfall Guide:

For Furong Street "Youxuan" snacks, look for the old shop "Youxuan Zhang"
Water from Heihu Spring must be boiled before drinking (to prevent stones)

✔ Seasonal Specials:

July-August: Daming Lake Lotus Festival
September: Baotu Spring Chrysanthemum Exhibition
December: Thousand Buddha Mountain Spring Festival Temple Fair

💦 Jinan is a city nurtured by spring water! Three days and two nights, from the spring eyes in Lao She’s writings to the lotus flowers in Li Qingzhao’s poems, finally locking memories with the savory sauce of braised pork~