Black Tiger Spring 黑虎泉

About Black Tiger Spring

Water then spills toward Jinan’s old city moat, making the spring easy to understand as part of the city’s wider water system. The surrounding moat-side paths reveal other small pools, while Liberation Pavilion rises across the water. Pause close to the outlets for the sound, then step back to see the spring within the old defensive landscape.

The name Black Tiger Spring first appears in the Jin dynasty 'Stele of Famous Springs' (名泉碑). According to local tradition, it comes from a dark, moss-covered rock lying in a hollow beneath the cliff, shaped like a crouching tiger, from beneath which the water surged with a sound like a tiger's roar. A temple was built above the cave in the Ming dynasty's Jiajing era (嘉靖) but later fell into ruin; in the Qing dynasty the pool was rebuilt in stone, the water channelled through a carved tiger head.

The pool was enlarged in August 1931, when it was deepened, walled in stone, and fitted with three tiger-head spouts instead of one. Water rises through a cave opening 2 metres high, 1.5 metres wide and 3 metres deep into a stone pool 13 metres long and 9 metres wide, then drains through a sluice into the moat. A viewing pavilion was added beside the pool during a 1985 renovation of Huancheng Park.

Black Tiger Spring heads the Black Tiger Spring cluster (黑虎泉泉群), fourteen pools along about 700 metres of the moat's south bank and Jinan's second-largest spring cluster; it was named the group's lead spring when the New Seventy-two Famous Springs (新七十二名泉) were selected in 2004. Its discharge is second only to Baotu Spring among Jinan's springs.

What to look for

• Three carved tiger-head outlets feeding the square stone pool.
• The connection between the spring pool, its outflow and the old city moat.

The surrounding area

Provincial capital base for springs, old lanes and museums; Qushuiting, Baihuazhou and Kuanhouli have different walking and dining roles.

Location & getting there

Getting to Black Tiger Spring

Follow the south side of the old moat east from Quancheng Square toward the southeastern corner. The spring lies opposite the Liberation Pavilion area, with access from the waterside park paths.