Jinan is the capital of Shandong province in eastern China, known as the Spring City for the more than 70 springs that rise in its old town. About 9.2 million people live in the wider municipality, and the city centres on Baotu Spring, Daming Lake and Thousand Buddha Mountain, with the Shandong Museum, Lingyan Temple and the Yellow River nearby.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Shandong tea and spring-water teaware
Price: CNY 50-300 (~$7-$45)
Where: Baihuazhou and Furong Street shops
Lu cuisine seasonings and snacks
Price: CNY 20-100 (~$3-$15)
Where: Furong Street and supermarkets
Jinan paper-cut and folk crafts
Price: CNY 20-150 (~$3-$22)
Where: Daguanyuan and Furong Street shops
Shandong pastry gift boxes
Price: CNY 40-120 (~$6-$18)
Where: Old-brand pastry shops on Quancheng Road
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Quancheng Road Golden Street (泉城路)
1.5 km commercial street linking Quancheng Square with department stores and brand shops
Where: Lixia
Hours: 10:00-22:00
Furong Street (芙蓉街)
Old lane of snack stalls, tea and souvenir shops near Baotu Spring
Where: Lixia
Hours: About 09:00-22:00
Daguanyuan Commercial Area (大观园)
Long-established downtown market district of shops, snack lanes and a teahouse
Where: Shizhong
Hours: About 09:30-21:30
Yinzuo Shopping Plaza (银座商城)
Department-store mall on Luoyuan Street with fashion, food and entertainment
Where: Lixia
Hours: 10:00-22:00
Shimao Plaza, Quancheng Road (世茂广场)
Mall on Quancheng Road with brand shops and restaurants
Where: Lixia
Hours: 10:00-22:00
Jinan Wanda Plaza (济南万达广场)
Mall with chain fashion, cinema and restaurants
Where: Lixia
Hours: 10:00-22:00
Hisense Plaza (海信广场)
Upscale mall in the Jingshi Road corridor of eastern Jinan
Where: Lixia
Hours: 10:00-22:00
Baihuazhou Historic Street (百花洲)
Spring-fed canal district with gift, tea and craft shops
Where: Lixia
Hours: About 09:00-21:00
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
Yinzuo Shopping Plaza
Hours: 10:00-22:00
Shimao Plaza
Hours: 10:00-22:00
Hisense Plaza
Hours: 10:00-22:00
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Bargain at street stalls on Furong Street and in Daguanyuan; malls use fixed prices.
Start near half the first price on crafts and settle around 60-70 percent.
Pay with Alipay or WeChat Pay; carry small cash for stalls.
Type the price on a phone calculator when there is no shared language.