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| Baotuquan (Baotu Spring) |
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Featured as a gushing springs garden, Baotuquan Spring Park of 27.7
acres in land area is located in the downtown area at South Baotuquan
street and the middle of Luoyuan Avenue, with Mt. Thousand Buddha
to the south, Quancheng Square to the east, and Daming Lake to the
north. With another name as Jianquan Spring, Baotuquan springs have
been the source of the Le River for 2700 years. The three major springs
gush simultaneously with thundering sound, which are described as
fountains constantly pumping water.
The spring water keeps its temperature around 18 degree centigrade
all year round. In cold winter, the steam forms a curtain of thin
fog over the surface. With clear deep water in the spring pool on
one side and pavilions of color painting and rich ornaments on the
other, visitors feel as if they were on a fairyland on earth. Many
writers, philosophers and poets left poems and verses in praise
of the wonderful scene.The Billow Observation Pavilion, which extends
into the water on the left side of the pool, was built in the fifth
year of Tianshun emperor, Ming Dynasty. There are stone tables and
benches in it so that visitors can enjoy the scene while relaxing.
Embedded on the west wall of the pavilion is the writing of billow
observation by a calligrapher of Ming Dynasty.
The stone inscription of No.1 Spring was written by Wang Zhonglin,
a famous calligrapher of Qing Dynasty. Baotuquan Spring carved on
a monument to the west of the pavilion was left by Hu Zanzhong,
governor of Shandong during Ming Dynasty. On the north bank of the
east pool at waterside is the renowned Penglai Society, a construction
with bright windows and tidy tables. Also called Tea House for Viewing
Cranes, the place were visited respectively by Emperor Kangxi and
Qianlong, who sat here by the window and enjoyed the colorful charms
of the springs over a cup of fragrant tea. At the pleasing taste
of water from Baotuquan springs, they even threw out the water they
brought all the way with them from Beijing on their inspection to
the south. It is said that water from springs further reinforces
the taste of good tea and that one would not be visiting a real
Jinan without drinking the spring water. |
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