With several hundred fresh water springs dotting the landscape of Jinan, capital of Shandong province, a local saying notes "each family in Jinan has spring water and weeping willows".

In the old city alone there are more than 140 springs, including the colorfully named Baotu, Black Tiger and Pearl springs, as well as the Five-Dragon Pool.

As early as the Song Dynasty (420-479), famed writer Zeng Gong commented that the Kingdom of Qi - one name for the area in ancient times - "crowned the world with springs".