Daming Lake in autumn.[Photo/icpress]

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.

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Willows and lotuses, plants symbolic of the city, are the two most common plants around and in the lake. The fish, lotus roots and seeds produced in Daming Lake are regarded as God-given gifts by Jinan residents.

From a bird's-eye view over the city, the lake looks like a large emerald embedded in ancient square city encircled by a structured moat built in the 14th century.

The west gate is the main entrance of the lake park. A children's amusement park was built on the west bank of the lake in late 1970s. The amusement park, the largest of its kind in Jinan, had been a cherished memory for local children until the late 1990s when the Internet started spreading in China.

A small boulevard meanders along the lake bank. On the north of the children's amusement park is a little park and a patch of lawn, a site for the largest temple fair in Jinan during the Spring Festival each year. Visitors can enjoy the most authentic traditional local snacks, arts and opera performances at the fair.

There are three kinds of tourist boats on the lake, double-paddle boats for three to four people, pedal boats for two people and diesel-engine sightseeing ships for 50 people.

In the center of lake is the island called Lixia, which used to be the old name of Jinan. A little garden built in the Song Dynasty (960-1279) is well-preserved on the island and was a party site for ancient artists, poets and writers, who left plenty of calligraphy and painting works inscribed on stone tablets and wooden boards.