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Jinan’s calendar is built around its springs, with a lantern fair in winter, a month-long spring festival in summer, and a chrysanthemum show in autumn. Here are the annual events with dates and what to expect.
The city’s headline event runs from July 10 to August 10 each year, opening with a ceremony at Chaoran Tower Square beside Daming Lake. The 2026 edition staged 25 events, including poetry gatherings honoring Song Dynasty poets Li Qingzhao and Xin Qiji, water-splashing sessions, nighttime visits to Baotu Spring, and performances on boats on Daming Lake. Expect weekend crowds and book hotels in Lixia District well ahead if you plan to attend. Read the best time to visit Jinan for more detail. See the Jinan neighborhoods guide before you book.
Held during the Chinese New Year period, this lantern fair is the oldest winter event in Jinan. The 2026 edition, the 45th, ran from February 14 to March 8 and strung 35 large lantern installations across Baotu Spring Park, Wulongtan Park, Daming Lake, and the city moat. Baotu Spring’s displays closed March 8 while Daming Lake and Wulongtan ran to March 22. Dates shift with the lunar calendar, so check the year you travel. Cross-check with the where to stay in Jinan guide. For specifics, see the Jinan travel tips and FAQ.
Every year from late October to late November, Baotu Spring Park fills with thousands of chrysanthemums arranged in sculptures and cascading displays. The 33rd edition ran into late November. It is included in the regular 40 CNY park ticket and is at its best in the first two weeks of November.
Held for about ten days in late September, this festival celebrates the spring culture with folk performances, calligraphy and painting exhibitions, and traditional opera staged around the spring parks. It is a smaller, less crowded alternative to the summer festival.
The Qingming holiday (early April) and Mid-Autumn Festival (September or October) both bring families to the parks. Thousand Buddha Mountain is especially busy on Qingming, while Daming Lake is the traditional spot for moon-viewing during Mid-Autumn. These are national holidays, so expect domestic crowds and higher hotel rates.
To time your trip around any of these, cross-check the weather with the Jinan weather by month guide and plan your days with the things to do in Jinan list.
