Daming Lake, whose name literarily means “Lake of the Great Splendor”, is regarded as one of the three must-see tourist attractions in Jinan (the other two are Baotu Spring and Qianfo Mountain). The entire Daming Lake tourist site covers 81 hectares, with the lake alone covering 46 hectares fed by many artesian karst springs. Therefore the lake retains a constant water level throughout the year and becomes a natural and cultural symbol of Jinan city.
Willows and lotuses, plants symbolic of the city, are the two most common plants around and in the lake. When summer arrives, lotuses bloom and half of the Daming Lake Park is filled with their fragrant scent. Willows circle the lake and swing in the breeze. The fishes, lotus roots and seeds grown in Daming Lake are considered as God given gifts by Jinan residents.
There are many buildings around the lake. In fact, there’s an ancient expression about them which is “one attic, three gardens, three buildings, four ancestral hall, six isles, seven bridges, ten pavilions”, among them the most well-known are these below.
Lixia Pavilion
Built on the largest isle in the lake, Lixia Pavilion was surrounded by water and willows. It is a time-honored wooden building which was built back to Tang Dynasty and has been rebuilt in Song and Qing Dynasty. The calligraphic plaque in Lixia Pavilion today was written by Emperor Qianlong.
Beiji Attic
Located at the northern side of Daming Lake, Beiji Attic, also known as Beiji temple, was built in the early Ming Dynasty. It has been used as a Taoist temple which served the Water God of the North - Zhenwu. The sculpture and murals of Zhenwu is precious and time-honored.
Huibo Building
“Huibo” in Chinese literally means "Joining of the Waves". It stands on the site of the watergate that controls the outflow of the Daming Lake into the Xiaoqing River. Since its completion, Huibo Building had been not only a favorite place for people to go sightseeing, feasting and writing poems and songs, but also a perfect spot to enjoy the splendid sunset scenery.
Ancestral Hall of Lord Tie
Built on the northwest shore of the Lake, Ancestral Hall of Lord Tie was erected in memory of Tie Xuan in 1792 under the reign of Emperor Qianlong in Qing Dynasty. Tie Xuan, a Ming-Dynasty official during the reign of the Jianwen Emperor, was renowned for his heroism and loyalty in the defense of the city against the rebels.
Location: NO.271, Minghu Road, Lixia District
Transportation: Bus 11, 42, 507, K109, K170, K54, K95, K96. Daminghu Station.
Ticket: Free
Opening hours: 05:00-22:00
Recommended visit time: August-October