Situated at 36º40'N and 117º00'E,Jinan is near Mount Tai to the south and neighbors the Yellow River on the north,and the terrain of Jinan slopes down from south to north.There are two major water systems in Jinan:the Yellow River and the Xiaoqing River.Jinan is influenced by the warm temperate zone with a continental monsoon climate.It has four distinct seasons and sufficient sunlight.
Jinan has been honored as the ‘City of Springs’.With springs being its soul,Jinan is entitled as one of the earliest excellent touring cities in China.There are as many as 733 springs within Jinan city.In the old area of the city of 2.6 km2,there are Baotu Spring,Heihu Spring (black tiger),Zhenzhu Spring(pearl),Wulong Tan Spring (five dragons),as well as nearly 100 springs,which are a feast to the eyes and minds.
East China,Jinan is the political,economic,cultural,science and technology,educational and financial center,and a nation-authorized city of deputy provincial level and a coastal opening city.The whole city has an area of 8,177 km2,and the urban area 3,257 km2.Jinan governs 6 districts:Lixia,Shizhong,Huaiyin,Tianqiao,Licheng,and Changqing,and 3 counties:Pingyin,Shanghe,and Jiyang.By the end of 2008,Jinan had a population of 6,039,900 of 48 nationalities.