Daming Lake

Daming Lake is the largest lake in Jinan, fed by artesian karst springs that keep its water level steady year-round. It sits north of the historic city center and is surrounded by a park with traditional gardens and historic buildings, making it a key natural and cultural landmark.

Don't miss

• Nine small islands dot the lake, including Cuiliuping Island (Four-Willow Island) and Guting Island, which holds the Lixia Pavilion.
• Lixia Pavilion marks a meeting between Tang poet Du Fu and calligrapher Li Yong; it was rebuilt in 1693 and bears inscriptions by He Shaoji and the Kangxi Emperor.
• Beiji Temple, a Taoist temple dedicated to Xuan Wu, stands on a seven-meter base and covers 1,078 square meters, with halls, a bell tower, and a drum tower.
• The Moon-lit Pavilion on the northeastern shore connects to a hall via a bridge; beneath it lies an escape tunnel used by general Wang Yaowu during the Battle of Jinan.
• Six traditional gardens surround the lake, including the Xia Garden, a courtyard garden from 1909 that was once part of the Shandong Provincial Library.
• The Ancestral Hall of Lord Tie on the northwest shore honors Ming official Tie Xuan, famed for defending the city against Prince Zhu Di.

Know before you go

• The lake is fed by artesian karst springs, so its water level stays fairly constant all year.
• Daming Lake has been celebrated in Chinese literature for about 1,500 years, including works by Li Daoyuan and Lao She.
• The park has four gates: north, east, main south, and southwest.

A bit of history

The lake has been a setting for historical events: in 1262, governor Li Tan tried to drown himself here during a rebellion against Kublai Khan. During the Chinese Civil War, Kuomintang general Wang Yaowu had his command post near the shore. The park was renovated and expanded from 2006 to 2007, adding 29.4 hectares to reach a total of 103.4 hectares.