Were it not for Daming Lake, Jinan's springwater would lose its charm.

One of the few springwater lakes in a Chinese city, the lake has been a nationally famous scenic spot since the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) for its picturesque view with a ring of lakeside ancient pavilions, residences and temples.

The area of Daming Lake has shrunk from 80 hectares 100 years ago to only 57 hectares today because of the reduction of springwater flow. The average water depth is about 2 meters and the deepest part of the lake is 4 meters.