Baotu Spring

In the center of the city Jinan, Baotu Spring is located south of the Ximen Bridge within Baotuquan Park. It is the biggest of the 72 famous springs. Baotu used to be the source of the Luo River. The water gushes out round the clock from three mouths. During high water season, it is half a meter high. it is pure and tastes sweet. The Baotu is known as the "First Spring under Heaven." To the north is the Luoyuan(Origin of Luo) Hall which was built in the Song Dynasty. In front of the spring is the Bao (Embracing) Mansion. It is a pleasure to watch the scenes from here. Inside the Baotu Spring Park there are 16 other famous springs. Among them is the Shuyu Spring. It is near the home of Li Qingzhao, a woman poet of the Song Dynasty. She is supposed to have lived by the Shuyu Spring, which is also in Baotuquan Park. The memorial was built in 1956 and restored in 1980. A portrait of the artist as well as several of her works are here on display. A collection of her works has been entitled "After the spring."