Jinan is the capital of a large coastal province (present-day Shandong Province) that is situated on the southern shores of the Gulf of Bohai in northeastern China, into which gulf the Huang He ("Yellow River") empties – is inarguably one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization. It is called the “the City of Spring”, which is popular among tourists for its many springs.

Jinan is a historical city with a history of some 2000 years and is famed for its numerous relics. It is the cradle of the Longshan Relics Culture, the reputed prehistoric culture of China and is found in Longshan Town of Jinan, hence the name. In the area of Jinan, you will find far more than you would expect, the ancient Great Wall of the Qi State (a state of the Zhou Dynasty (770B.C. – 221B.C.), the colored sculptures of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) in the Lingyan Temple and so on.

Since ancient times, Jinan has rightfully been called "the city of springs", owing to its many naturally-occurring springs, of which Baotu Spring, Pearl Spring, Black Tiger Spring, and Five-Dragon Pool Spring are the most renowned, but the city is also renowned for its many willow trees which impart a quintessentially Chinese atmosphere. In addition to its many springs, Jinan is also surrounded by mountains such as Five Peak Mountain and Qianfo Mountain, and is home to the very large, very famous lake, Daming Lake. It is said of Jinan that "half the beauty of the city is represented by its wonderful lake landscapes". It is no wonder then, that Jinan has attracted generations of scholars who were either famous before their arrival, or who established their reputations while residing in Jinan.

Jinan is the home of Lu Cai (Shandong cuisine), a popular cuisine of China. Jinan is the right place to see some very typical festivals including The Lantern Festival in the Baotu Spring Park, the Lotus Festival in the Daming Lake Park and the Double-Nine Festival on the Thousand-Buddha Mountain. Jinan is a hospitable city and receives tourists from all over the world. Marco Polo once visited Jinan and left words of praise to this city. The Baotu Spring, Daming Lake and the Thousand Buddha Mountain decorate Jinan as a Garden City.