Daming Lake

Daming Lake occupies the northern section of Jinan's old city, a broad reed-fringed lake that has been a focal point for the city's cultural life since the Tang Dynasty. Poets from Du Fu to Li Qingzhao wrote about it; the Song emperor Zhao Gou used it as a retreat; pavilions, temples, and willows line its shores in arrangements that have evolved over more than a millennium. The lake now forms the centrepiece of a large scenic park.

The park's main attractions include the Beiji Pavilion (north pole pavilion) on a small island in the center, the Huibo Tower on the north shore, and the memorial hall for Tie Xuan, a Ming Dynasty official who died resisting the Yongle Emperor's coup. Boat trips across the lake are available. The park is large enough for a leisurely two-hour circuit; entry is ¥30. The evening light on the lake, with the city skyline reflected in the water, is particularly good.

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Daming Lake is fed entirely by Jinan's artesian springs, and the water flows north from the lake into the Yellow River. The lake's level rises and falls with the seasonal fluctuations of the groundwater table — in wet years the springs flow more strongly and the lake expands. For centuries the lake has been famous for its lotus flowers, which bloom in July and August and cover much of the surface with enormous pink and white blossoms.

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