As the capital city of Shandong Province, Jinan is a vibrant and charming city. However, if you are tired of the hustle and bustle of the city, then a short self-driving tour around Jinan is a good choice. In this article, we will introduce some places worth visiting to make your road trip more interesting and unforgettable.

1. Mount Tai

Mount Tai is located about 60 kilometers south of Jinan City. It is one of the Five Mountains in China and a world cultural and natural heritage. Mount Tai is a sacred mountain, known as the "First of the Five Mountains" and one of the symbols of Chinese culture. Climbing Mount Tai, you can enjoy the magnificent mountain scenery and ancient cultural heritage, such as Yuhuangding, Nantianmen, Tianjie, Shibapan, etc.

There are two hiking entrances to Mount Tai, one is Tianzhu Mountain and the other is Wangxian Mountain. The Tianzhu Mountain trailhead is in Tai'an City, about 70 kilometers away from Jinan City. The Wangxian Mountain trailhead is about 20 kilometers south of Tai'an City and about 80 kilometers away from Jinan City. No matter which trailhead you start from, it takes several hours of walking to reach the top. Therefore, it is recommended to set out in the morning and bring enough water and food.

2. Qianfo Mountain

Qianfo Mountain is located in the center of Jinan and is one of the iconic attractions of Jinan City. Qianfo Mountain is named after the thousands of Buddhas on the mountain. It is one of the important temples of Chinese Buddhism. In Qianfo Mountain, you can enjoy the magnificent mountain scenery and ancient cultural heritage, such as the Great Buddha Hall, Thousand Buddha Cave, Five Dragon Pond, etc.

Qianfo Mountain has two main entrances, one is the east gate and the other is the west gate. The east gate is the main entrance to Qianfo Mountain, about 5 kilometers away from the center of Jinan. The west gate is the secondary entrance to Qianfo Mountain, about 8 kilometers away from the center of Jinan. No matter which trailhead you start from, it takes several hours of walking to reach the top. Therefore, it is recommended to set out in the morning and bring enough water and food.

3. Baotu Spring

Baotu Spring is located in the center of Jinan and is another spring in Jinan City. Iconic attraction. Baotu Spring is one of the scenic spots and historic sites in Jinan City and one of the four famous springs in China. The water of Baotu Spring is crystal clear and sweet. It is known as "the best spring in the world".

Baotu Spring has two main entrances, one is the east gate and the other is the west gate. The east gate is the main entrance to Baotu Spring, about 3 kilometers away from the center of Jinan. The west gate is the secondary entrance to Baotu Spring, about 5 kilometers away from the center of Jinan. No matter which entrance you enter from, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery and ancient cultural heritage.

4. Laoshan

Laoshan is located about 80 kilometers east of Qingdao City and is one of the holy places of Taoism in China. Laoshan is a mysterious and sacred mountain, known as "the first mountain in the East China Sea". In Laoshan, you can enjoy the magnificent mountain scenery and ancient cultural heritage, such as Tianhou Palace, Taiqing Palace, Xianren Cave, etc.

There are two main climbing entrances in Laoshan Mountain, one is Tianhou Palace and the other is Taiqing Palace. The Tianhou Temple trailhead is about 70 kilometers away from the center of Qingdao, and the Taiqinggong trailhead is about 70 kilometers away from Qingdao city center.The island city center is about 80 kilometers away. No matter which trailhead you start from, it takes several hours of walking to reach the top. Therefore, it is recommended to set out in the morning and bring enough water and food.

Summary

The above are some scenic spots worth visiting during a short self-driving trip around Jinan. Before traveling, be sure to make full preparations, including vehicle, driver's license, route, accommodation, etc. At the same time, obey traffic rules and drive safely. I hope this article is helpful to you and I wish you a pleasant journey!