Jinan

Situated at 36°40'N and 117°00'E, Jinan is near Mount Tai to the south and neighbors the Yellow River on the north, and the terrain of Jinan slopes down from south to north. There are two major water systems in Jinan: the Yellow River and the Xiaoqing River. Jinan is influenced by the warm temperate zone with a continental monsoon climate. It has four distinct seasons and sufficient sunlight.

Jinan has been honored as the "City of Springs". With springs being its soul, Jinan is entitled as one of the earliest excellent touring cities in China. There are as many as 733 springs within Jinan city. In the old area of the city of 2.6 km2, there are Baotu Spring, Heihu Spring (black tiger), Zhenzhu Spring(pearl), Wulong Tan Spring (five dragons), as well as nearly 100 springs, which are a feast to the eyes and minds.

East China, Jinan is the political, economic, cultural, science and technology, educational and financial center, and a nation-authorized city of deputy provincial level and a coastal opening city. The whole city has an area of 8,177 km2, and the urban area 3,257 km2. Jinan governs 6 districts: Lixia, Shizhong, Huaiyin, Tianqiao, Licheng, and Changqing, and 3 counties: Pingyin, Shanghe, and Jiyang. By the end of 2008, Jinan had a population of 6,039,900 of 48 nationalities.

Jinan Economy
In 2008, the economy in Jinan developed steadily and fast. The total output value reached as much as 301.74 billion Yuan, 13.0% higher than last year. Economic structure was further adjusted, and the first, second and tertiary are 5.8:44.1:50.1 in proportion. High and new technology has been rapidly developed and its annual output value reached 146 billion yuan, increasing by 25.2%. The results of energy-saving and emission-reduction have been good. Energy consumption per 10,000 yuan of domestic gross product and discharge of major pollutant are decreasing faster. The livelihood of people has been improved. The average spendable income of urban citizens is 20,802 yuan, increasing by 15.5%; the average net income of suburban residents is 7,180 yuan, increasing by 14.0%. Agricultural industry has been growing steadily. Grain acreage reached 6.779 million mus (1mu=666.6m2), rising by 2.3%. Total grain output was 2.815 million tons, rising by 5.0%. Jinan is one of the nine financial zones in China, with a full range of specialties and sound operations. The general financial revenue of the city and the general budgetary revenue of local governments reach respectively 92.26 billion yuan and 18.60 billion yuan, and respectively 20.4% and 18.5% higher.

History and Culture
Jinan is an essential birthplace of the civilization in China. Shun, a chieftain of the pristine tribe was born and lived around Jinan. Chengzi Cliff in eastern Jinan is the place where Longshan Civilization (4600-4000 years ago) of the late Neolithic Age was found with the basalt as its symbol. At this site, about 200,000 square meters of China's oldest city relics was discovered. Jinan has a history of more than 2600 years. When the Shire and County System was established by the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty, Jinan belonged to Jibei Shire. At the beginning of the Han Dynasty, Jinan Shire was founded. Consequently, Jinan got its name. Since the Ming and the Qing dynasties, Jinan has been the capital of Shandong Province. The city of Jinan was set up in July, 1929.

There are many historic sites in Jinan such as Shungeng Mountain which is the ruin of the Shun Civilization (22nd century B.C.); the Qi Great Wall (built in the 3rd century B.C) which is even older than the Qin Great Wall; China's oldest ground structure--the stone ancestral temple of Xiaotangshan Guoshi of the Han Dynasty (built in the 1st century B.C); China's oldest stone pagoda-Liubu Four-Door Pagoda of Sui Dynasty (built in the 7th century); the colorful sculptures at Lingyan Temple of the Song Dynasty ( built in the 11th century) which are praised as the ¡°Best Sculptures in China¡±.

Jinan is also the home to many celebrities such as Bianque, founder of the Chinese traditional medicine science; Fang Xuanling and Qin Qiong, men of great merit in founding the Tang Dynasty (618-907); well--known litterateurs such as Li Qingzhao and Xin Qiji. In addition, outstanding scholars such as Li Bai, Du Fu, Su Shi, Zeng Gong also lived in or visited Jinan in the past. As a result, it comes to an agreement that "there are many celebrities in Jinan".

Besides, Jinan Annual International Tourism Fair is the one that has an early start in Shandong province as well as in north China. With a large scale and influential power, JAITF is approved and supported by the National Tourism Administration.

Tourism Industry
Having been reputed as the "City of Springs", Jinan, with spring water as its soul, is one of the first excellent tourism cities in China. Jinan embraces 733 spring mouths within its administrative district. Within the old city area of 2.6km2, almost a hundred of springs are situated besides the four spring clusters including Baotu Spring, Heihu (Black Tiger) Spring, Zhenzhu (Pearl) Spring, Wulong (Five Dragon) Spring. The beautiful sceneries of the gushing springs of such a great number are really a feast to the eye.

Due to the unceasing water-gush, the spring clusters in Jinan revitalize this famous cultural and historic city to be vigorous and refreshing. What's more, Jinan has strengthened up its investment and development to tourism industry in recent years. Consequently, it has softly transferred from a sightseeing city to a leisurely vacation city, and has formed a tourism pattern characterized by beautiful landscape in southern area, great spectacle in eastern area and religion attractions in southwestern area and hot spring resorts in northern area, integrating the five elements including "mountains, springs, lakes, rivers and the city".

As the capital city of Shandong province, and as a famous historical and cultural city, Jinan holds in its arms many high-grade museums, science and technology halls as well as the memorial halls, etc.. Shandong Museum, a collection center of cultural relics and natural specimen for the whole province, is New China's first comprehensive topological museum at provincial level (New China: PRC after its foundation in 1949), which is an optimum site for fully learning the history, cultureand the natural scenery of Shandong province. Shandong Provincial Science and Technology Hall, thanks to its advanced facilities and equipments and various participatory programs, is in response for promoting science spirit and popularizing scientific knowledge as well as spreading scientific thought and scientific methods. Jinan Battle Memorial Hall is one of the six largest panorama halls in China where the scene of Jinan Battle is displayed through paintings, sculptures, sound, light, etc.. It is regarded by panorama experts in and out of China as the most splendid one in China. In addition, visitors can get profound mental enjoyment from such places as Li Qingzhao Memorial Hall (Li Qingzhao, 1084-1155, famous female poet of South Song Dynasty), Xin Qiji Memorial Hall (Xin Qiji, 1140-1207), famous poet of South Song Dynasty), Li Kuchan Memorial Hall (Li Kuchan, 1899-1983, painter, calligrapher and educator) and Wang Xuetao Memorial Hall (Wang Xuetao, 1903-1982, painter) as well as Shandong University with the history of over 100 years, Qilu Software Park, etc which endows Jinan with profoundness and deep cultural foundation.

Besides, Jinan Annual International Tourism Fair is the one that has an early start in Shandong province as well as in north China. With a large scale and influential power, JAITF is approved and supported by the National Tourism Administration.