General Idea

Jinan is a sub-provincial city and the capital of Shandong Province in the People's Republic of China. The area of present-day Jinan has played an important role in the history of the region from the earliest beginnings of civilization and has evolved into a major national administrative, economic, and transportation hub. The city is located in north-western Shandong about 400 kilometers south of the national capital of Beijing, it borders Liaocheng to the southwest, Dezhou to the northwest, Binzhou to the northeast, Zibo to the east, Laiwu to the southeast, and Tai'an to the south.
 
Area Code: 0531
 
Zip Code: 250000
 
Area: Total 8,177 square kilometers 

Geography and Climate

Geography: Jinan is located in the north-western part of Shandong province at 36° 40′ northern latitude and 116° 57′ east of Greenwich. In the relief of the region, the city occupies a transition zone between the northern foothills of the Taishan Massif to the south of the city and the valley of the Yellow River to the north. Karst aquifers in limestone formations sloping down from the south to the north give rise to many artesian springs in the city area.
 
Population: The population of Jinan is 6,036,500 (2010).
 
Administrative Division: The sub-provincial city of Jinan has direct jurisdiction over 6 districts, 1 county-level city, and 3 counties.

Climate & Weather Briefing
Jinan has four well-defined seasons due to lying between a humid subtropical and humid continental climate. The city is dry and nearly rainless in Spring, rainy and hot in Summer, cool and clear in Autumn and dry and cold in Winter. The best time to visit Jinan is autumn, from September till November. After the concentrated rainfall in July and August, groundwater level of the city rises tremendously, boosting the spurting of numerous natural springs in the city.
 
The average annual temperature is 14°C (57 F), with January being the coldest and driest month with an average low temperature of -5.4°C (22° F) and an average high of 4°C (39°F).
 
July is the hottest and wettest month with an average low temperature of 23°C (73°F) and an average high of 33°C (91°F). The annual precipitation is around 675 millimetres (27 inches), most of which falls in July and August.  Snow occasionally falls but rarely in heavy bouts.
 

Climate Data Table for Jinan

History

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.

Jinan is the home of Lu Cai (Shandong cuisine), a popular cuisine of China.

The unique tourist souvenirs available in Jinan include Ejiao, Black Pottery, Lu Embroidery and Wooden-Fish wares.

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.

Places of Interest

Baotu Spring

Daming Lake

Thousand-Buddha Mountain

Mount Taishan