Jinan will roll out six themed cultural and tourism programs during the 2026 Jinan International Festival of Springs, highlighting the city's celebrated spring heritage. Designed to deepen visitors' engagement with the city's famed waters, the programs blend sightseeing with performances, hands-on activities, and exhibitions.

Three signature events will take center stage. Beginning on July 25, a citywide spring-hopping challenge will invite 1,000 participants to explore the historic spring clusters through a series of check-in tasks.

From July 10 to Aug 10, weekly pop-up performances of traditional music and folk arts will animate the waterfronts of Baihuazhou Historical and Cultural Block, Wulongtan Park, and Black Tiger Spring, with the springs themselves serving as natural stages. Wulongtan Park will also host an immersive poetry series featuring verse recitals, encounters with costumed portrayals of renowned literary figures, and traditional craft workshops.

Complementing the headline events are public opera and folk-art performances being held across the city, the 18th Jinan children's theater festival, and a special exhibition at the Jinan Museum exploring the ecological and cultural legacy of the springs through artifacts, rare texts, and digital installations.

A citywide spring tour challenge invites participants to explore the historic springs of Jinan during the International Festival of Springs. [Photo by Li Feng and Chen Zhen/WeChat account: visitjinan]

Visitors enjoy poetry readings and cultural experiences amid the summer scenery of Wulongtan Park. [Photo by Li Feng/WeChat account: visitjinan]