Baotu Spring is the most famous of Jinan's 72 historically named springs, and the park surrounding it is one of the best urban parks in northern China. The spring itself erupts from the limestone bedrock in three main jets that historically leap a metre above the surface of the pool; the surrounding willows, stone bridges, and pavilions have been tended since the Song Dynasty, and the whole complex has the quality of a classical Chinese painting made three-dimensional.
The park contains several smaller named springs and a series of connected pools and channels, along with the Li Qingzhao Memorial Hall — dedicated to the Song Dynasty poet who grew up here and whose work is among the most admired in the Chinese literary tradition. The park entrance on the south bank of Quancheng Road is the main access point; spring is the most photogenic season, with willows in new leaf and the water at its clearest, but the park is worth visiting year-round. Entry fee is ¥40.