Daming Lake (大明湖)

Daming Lake (Daminghu) is a large urban lake at Daming Lake Road in the Tianqiao District of Jinan, Shandong, China, right in the centre of the city. Fed by the springs that give Jinan its nickname, City of Springs, it has been a scenic spot for well over a thousand years and features in classical Chinese poetry. The lake is ringed by willows and connected by causeways, arched bridges and pavilions. Visitors can stroll the shoreline paths, hire rowing boats or take pleasure boats across the water. Notable sites around the lake include the Xiayu Pavilion, the Beiji Pavilion and memorial halls for poets and officials, some of which charge a small extra fee. In summer the lake's lotus beds bloom in large numbers, and a lotus display draws visitors in July and August. Entry to the park is free, so the lake is popular with locals for morning exercise, tai chi, kite flying and evening strolls. A full loop takes about two hours at a relaxed pace. The quietest time is weekday morning, while weekends and holidays draw families. Late afternoon into evening is the favoured time for photography, when the lights come on around the shore and reflect in the water. The lake is easy to reach by Metro Line 2 to Daming Lake Station, or by a walk of about fifteen minutes from Baotu Spring, so many visitors combine the two in one half-day route through Jinan's spring district.