On June 6, the groundwater level at Baotu Spring in Jinan reached 29.59 meters, with three streams of water gushing out. The pool was crowded with tourists eager to witness the spectacular sight of Baotu Spring "soaring into the sky." This famous spring, known as the "Number One Spring Under Heaven," has been continuously flowing for 23 years since it re-emerged on September 6, 2003.

Unlike in the past, Baotu Spring has maintained a remarkably stable water level for the past 12 months. Since the water level reached 29.01 meters on September 7, 2025, the groundwater level of Baotu Spring has remained high, only briefly dipping below 29 meters to 28.98 meters on June 28, 2026. However, rainfall that night caused the water level to rebound rapidly to 29.02 meters the following day. This sustained high-level gushing has set a new record since the spring's resurgence in 2003.

A seemingly "calm" water level is unusual for Baotu Spring. According to natural cycles, the spring experiences a dry season from October to June of the following year, with the water level declining seasonally until reaching its lowest point before the next flood season. Therefore, during the dry season, Baotu Spring often feels a sense of urgency as its water level dips below the warning level.

29 meters is also a crucial "golden line" for Jinan's springs. When the water level reaches this line, Crescent Moon Spring, which has the highest water level requirement among the 72 famous springs, will gush forth, presenting the "Crescent Moon Waterfall" landscape, and marking the full "celebration" of all the springs in Jinan. "Crescent Moon Waterfall," "Baotu Spring Soaring into the Sky," and "Black Tiger Roaring at the Moon" are known as the three major dynamic water features of Jinan. Currently, all three landscapes are being performed simultaneously in the city of springs.

Jinan is known as the "City of Springs," and Baotu Spring ranks first among Jinan's "Seventy-Two Famous Springs." The water level of Baotu Spring is often regarded as a benchmark for the climate and hydrological environment of northern China. Baotu Spring's continuous flow for 23 years is attributed to abundant rainfall in recent years and is also a result of Jinan's long-term efforts to protect the spring. The local government has implemented a series of measures, including strictly prohibiting and limiting groundwater extraction, promoting water source replacement, and carrying out ecological restoration of areas with high seepage, to ensure the spring's continued flow.

In recent years, Jinan has been building a comprehensive cultural and tourism experience system around its springs, encompassing all time periods and scenarios. Diverse business formats, such as spring-themed cultural and creative products and spring-water tea tasting, are developing simultaneously, transforming the springs from a natural landscape symbol into a perceptible, participatory, and consumable urban cultural IP. (Source: China News Network)