"Please close your eyes and think: An old city with mountains and water, all basking in the sun, sleeping warm and comfortable, just waiting for the spring breeze to wake them up. Is this an ideal state?" More than 90 years
ago , the famous writer Lao She wrote "Winter in Jinan", which made the charm of this city vivid on the page and attracted countless people's yearning for it.
How beautiful is Jinan in winter?
In the Year of the Dragon, I trace Mr. Lao She’s footsteps,
Come here to find out!
Aerial photography of Jinan’s landmark Quancheng Square. Photo taken by Qu Yuzhi in January 2024
01
Come to Jinan
Listen to the sound of spring water
"Look at those three big springs, all year round, non-stop day and night, always so pure... always so pure, always so lively, always so bright, rising, rising, rising, never tired, never shrinking, it's just natural. The power of Baotu Spring!" Mr. Lao She praised Baotu Spring.
Baotu Spring Park attracts citizens and tourists. Photo taken by Qu Yuzhi in January 2024
Baotu Spring in winter is "moistened by clouds and mist". Photo provided by Jinan Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, taken by Wang Qin in December 2023
Jinan enjoys the reputation of "Spring City" with thousands of springs gushing in the city, among which 72 springs including Baotu Spring, Black Tiger Spring, and Pearl Spring are the most famous. For thousands of years, the spring water has moistened the streets and alleys of the old city, creating Jinan's unique style of "spring water in every house and poplar trees in every house".
Quanshui performing arts, Quanshui Old Street, fetching water from the spring, making tea with spring water, spring water delicacies... Come to Jinan to celebrate the Year of the Dragon, and a trip to find, explore, appreciate and enjoy the springs is here!
Draw water from the spring. Photo courtesy of Jinan Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism. Photo by Wang Xiao
A spring ceremony was held in Baotu Spring Park. Photo courtesy of Jinan Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism. Photo by Wang Ping
During the day, you can enjoy the wonders such as "Baotu soaring into the sky" and "clouds and mist steaming". At night, you can cruise, admire the lanterns, and watch the lights of the transcendental building, which is so beautiful.
Data map: Chaoran Building lights up. Photo courtesy of Jinan Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism. Photo by Shao Kai
The Baotu Spring Spring Festival Lantern Festival, which arouses public expectations every year, is scheduled to be lit up on February 10, 2024 (the first day of the Lunar New Year). Since the Spring Festival of 1979, Baotu Spring Park has successfully held 42 Lantern Festivals. Viewing lanterns has become an essential ritual for Jinan people during the Chinese New Year.
The 43rd Baotu Spring Spring Festival Lantern Festival has arranged more than 40 groups of large-scale lanterns, and various "dragon lanterns" have been stationed in the park, "blooming" brightly.
On January 31, 2024, the Baotu Spring Spring Festival lanterns were trial-lit. Photo by Wang Caiyi
The Jinan moat cruise will open a special line for lantern viewing. The boat will depart from 17:30 to 20:00 from February 10th to February 25th (the first day of the Lunar New Year to the sixteenth day of the first lunar month). Tourists are invited to go boating and enjoy the lanterns, check in to the Quancheng night banquet, and watch all the way. It shows the charm of Jinan Prefecture in ancient times.
Jinan moat. Photo courtesy of Jinan Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism. Photo by Chen Yan
Aerial photography of Jinan night scene. Photo taken by Qu Yuzhi in January 2024
02
Come to Jinan
Take in the beauty of the city and mountains
"Spring City" not only has springs, but also has "a city with beautiful mountains". Data shows that Jinan has a total of 872 mountains covering an area of approximately 3,561 square kilometers. The rich mountain resources conserve spring water ecology.
Qianfo Mountain, Fohui Mountain, Huashan Mountain, Jiuru Mountain... are rolling and densely forested, and many fascinating historical sites are scattered like pearls.
Jinan Qianfo Mountain. Photo courtesy of Jinan Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism. Photo by Shao Kai
Jinan Jiuru Mountain Icefall Landscape. Photo courtesy of Jinan Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism. Photo by Jiao Ziqiang
“The New Year is getting better and better every step of the way.” Jinan has a tradition of climbing high to pray for blessings to welcome the New Year since ancient times. This Spring Festival, Jinan will carry out a series of activities called "Mountain Colors in One City·Climbing Check-in" to recommend mountain routes suitable for mountain climbing to citizens and tourists. Various activities and interactive links will be set up in different areas of the mountain climbing routes to allow visitors from all over the world to enjoy mountain climbing. In the process, you can appreciate the charm of the "City of Thousand Gardens".
Data map: Standing on Qianfo Mountain overlooking Jinan. Photo courtesy of Jinan Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism. Photo by Li Surui
At the same time, Jinan Qianfo Mountain Scenic Area will hold the 2024 New Year Garden Party from February 10 to February 25, 2024 (the first to the sixteenth day of the first lunar month), gathering together the three "standards" of watching a drama, tasting snacks, and appreciating folk customs during the New Year. "Pairing" invites citizens and tourists to "immerse" Jinan's customs and culture in the climbing range.
2023 Qianfoshan New Year Garden Party. Photo courtesy of Jinan Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism. Photo by Wang Ping
In January 2023, tourists visited the Qianfo Mountain New Year Garden Party in Jinan. Photo by Zhang Yong
03
Come to Jinan
Interview celebrities, listen to folk arts, and watch exhibitions
In the past year of 2023, as the lights of the Chaoran Building on the shore of Daming Lake "ignited" the Internet, the Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu's lament that "Jinan has so many famous scholars" more than a thousand years ago was widely spread. Chaoran Building was built by celebrities. In ancient times, it was a place for celebrities to gather and gather, and it was the carrier of Jinan celebrity culture.
As a "City of Celebrities", Jinan has produced numerous outstanding figures, including Dashun, Bian Que, Qin Qiong and many other famous figures in Chinese history. Poets Li Bai and Du Fu, poets Li Qingzhao and Xin Qiji, and novelist Liu E of the Qing Dynasty all worked in the city. Live or travel here.
Data map: The couplet "This pavilion on the right side of the sea is ancient, and there are many celebrities in Jinan" hangs in the Lixia Pavilion of Daming Lake. Photo courtesy of Jinan Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism. Photo by He Yanhai
Data map: Jinan Li Qingzhao Memorial Hall. Photo courtesy of Jinan Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism. Photo by Wang Qin
In order to make celebrity culture visible, felt and experienced, Jinan has planned and organized various cultural activities in conjunction with the popular Hanfu show, cultural and creative markets, garden parties and other forms.
2022 China "Er'an" Cultural Tourism Festival·Song Style Garden Party. Photo courtesy of Jinan Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism. Photo by Feng Hui
In April 2023, a feast of gorgeous costumes will be staged in front of the Chaoran Building on Daming Lake. Photo by Liang Ben
During the Spring Festival this year, Jinan launched the "Study Tour of Famous Writers and Famous Works", inviting parents from all over the country to bring their "little mythical beasts" to search for famous celebrities, visit their former residences, review classic literary masterpieces, touch the character of literati from generation to generation, and have a parent-child study trip. journey of.
At the same time, as an important "Hometown of Quyi" in northern China, Jinan also enjoys the reputation of "Qushan Yihai". Listening to music and watching operas is a "repertoire" for Jinan people to welcome the New Year.
On the occasion of the Year of the Dragon, Jinan has integrated the Qushan Arts Festival section to celebrate the New Year, organizing city-wide theaters, night cultural tourism consumption gathering areas, and tourist attractions to launch various performing arts activities such as music, dance, opera, folk arts, acrobatics, etc., inviting citizens Visitors can enjoy the unique charm of Jinan’s “Qushan Art Sea”.
Jinan Grand View Garden Mingqu Pavilion. Photo provided by Jinan Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, taken by Wei Hua in May 2023
Jinan also has a rich variety of cultural and museum venues, including Shandong Museum, Shandong Art Museum, Shandong Provincial Cultural Center, Jinan Museum, Jinan Art Museum, Longshan Cultural Museum, etc.
Various venues seized the "Super Golden Week" of the Spring Festival and launched a number of cultural relics exhibitions, calligraphy and painting exhibitions, reading clubs, etc. The New Year's cultural "banquet" has been served, and it's just waiting for guests from far away to "dine".
On January 31, 2024, intangible cultural heritage inheritors taught the audience skills step by step at the Shandong Provincial Cultural Center. Photo by Zhao Xiao
On January 31, 2024, the Shandong Provincial Cultural Center’s “Dragon Yue Qilu Celebrates the New Year” intangible cultural heritage immersive experience exhibition will include a dragon lottery praying session. Photo by Zhao Xiao
04
Come to Jinan
Catch a big fair, do New Year shopping, and appreciate folk customs
If you want to ask where in Jinan has the best Chinese New Year atmosphere, the country fair must be on the list.
Original fruits and vegetables, "all-in-one" meat, poultry and seafood, steaming hand-held snacks... There are so many delicious, beautiful and interesting things in the market that you can't even move your feet. The sounds of shouting, bargaining, and laughter intertwined, exuding a strong sense of nostalgia. Although supermarkets and online shopping are now very convenient, they cannot replace the fun of shopping in large stores.
Photo courtesy of Jinan Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism
According to incomplete statistics, there are nearly 50 popular markets in Jinan, many of which have a long history. For example, Zhonggong Daji, which originated in the Han Dynasty and flourished in the Tang Dynasty, has a history of more than 2,000 years and is known as the "Millennium Daji"; another example is the Xiying Daji, which has a history of more than 600 years. The market opens on the fourth and ninth days of the lunar calendar. , despite being relocated several times, its popularity remains unabated.
Jinan Zhonggong Market opens. Photo by Qiu Jiangbo
On January 28, 2024, the Jinan Beach Fair attracted citizens to purchase new year goods. Photo by Zhao Xiao
Every Spring Festival, the large market hidden in the streets and lanes of Jinan villages not only attracts local citizens to make large purchases, but also many people from surrounding cities and foreign tourists come to buy New Year's goods and catch up with the excitement and the thick market atmosphere. Favor.
The fair not only has New Year’s goods, but also performances, folk customs, and culture. Folk performances, drum and yangko, land boat lion dance, intangible cultural heritage performances, village opera and village evenings, etc. are so lively and full of human fireworks, allowing people to regain the fun of celebrating the New Year as a child.
Data map: People watch the performance of Jinan Xiguan Stilt Team in Jinan Shiziyuan Village, enjoy folk customs and celebrate the Spring Festival. Photo by Liang Ben
05
Come to Jinan
Eat Shandong cuisine, taste youxuan, and "worship the boss"
What to eat during Chinese New Year in Jinan? The classic Shandong cuisine is the signature, "Youxun + Sweet Foam" is the king of deep-fried combinations. Pork meat with rice, fried rolls and fried eggs, it is called "the best".
In the morning, start with a bowl of the sweet soup that is the best among Jinan people. It is not sweet, but is a salty soup made with millet noodles as the main ingredient. When eating sweet foam, you must pair it with a few freshly baked oil spinels. Ji Xianlin, the master of Chinese traditional culture at that time, was full of praise after eating Jinan fried spinach and wrote the inscription "soft and crispy, fragrant and oily spinach."
One salty and one crispy, anyone who eats it will be "stomached".
Data map: The aroma of freshly baked oil is wafting from the pan. Photo courtesy of Jinan Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism. Photo by Shao Kai
Data map: A child tastes Jinan sweet foam. Photo by Shao Kai
"Teacher, here's a piece of meat, something fat!" When having lunch in Jinan, happiness comes from fat meat and carbohydrates.
Customers who know how to eat specially choose the meat with fat head, which melts in the mouth, is fragrant but not greasy, and is served with a bowl of rice with soup. Take a bite of meat and take a bite of rice soaked in broth. As the saying goes, "the rice is dry and the rice is full of meat, and you have enough to eat and drink without any worries."
Data map: Jinan Bazirou. Photo courtesy of Jinan Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism. Photo by Shao Kai
Now that we are in Jinan, the "Chinese Shandong Cuisine Capital", we must have a few "hard dishes" for dinner.
The sweet and sour carp, the tender and smooth stir-fried kidneys, the fragrant and delicious milk soup...all of them are well-known in classic Shandong cuisine, and they are the "C position" on the Jinan people's New Year's Eve dinner table. The taste of New Year is on the tip of the tongue.
Data map: Sweet and sour carp. Photo courtesy of Jinan Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism. Photo by Zhang Xing
Data map: Stir-fried kidneys. Photo courtesy of Jinan Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism. Photo by Shao Kai
In addition, the strong and delicious braised chicken, the thin-skinned straw buns with large fillings, and the "spring water banquet" that is full of color, flavor and flavor are all among the "top ten must-eat delicacies" during the Chinese New Year in Laiji.
Jinan Braised Chicken. Photo courtesy of Jinan Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism. Photo by Wang Guangfu
Data map: Jinan Spring Water Banquet. Photo courtesy of Jinan Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism. Photo by Wang Xiao
Listen to the tinkling sound of the spring water,
Look at the beautiful scenery of the city and mountains,
Visit famous people and historical sites,
Catch the New Year market,
Taste the taste of Jinan,
…
New Year’s Eve guide has been provided
what are you waiting for?
Come to Jinan to start the Year of the Dragon!
Author: Zhao Xiao
(Source: China News Service WeChat official account)