In the enchanting autumn colors, the City of Springs is thriving; with countless springs gushing, Jinan has been renowned for its beauty since ancient times. This “Spring Water Extravaganza” is a key part of the 2024 Jinan Spring Water Festival and one of the summer activities in Jinan’s “Spring” series. We welcome friends from home and abroad to visit Jinan during the summer vacation, to immerse themselves in a “Spring Water Feast”!

　　Zhang Yunfeng, Deputy Director of the Jinan Spring Water Protection Technology Research Center and Captain of the 801 Team of the Shandong Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources; Dragan Malesevic, Founder of Yingli Mite International English and Co-Judge of the Shandong Star of Hope; Geng Jia, Deputy Dean of the College of Tourism Culture and Creativity at Jinan University; and Alinaline Cichocki, Spring City Advocate and Comparative Literature and World Literature graduate student at Shandong Normal University, participated in the exchange interviews. Blaise Thierrée, Director of the Confucius Institute in Brittany in France, and Ma Zheng, director of Oriental Culture and Education Association in Norway, joined the event as special guests.

　　The event kicked off with a vibrant performance of the musical drama "Rain Lotus Book." Numerous domestic and international enthusiasts of spring water culture, researchers, and scholars participated as ambassadors for Jinan's city image. In the process of experiencing spring water culture, they offered suggestions on how to help spring water reach a global audience, comprehensively and objectively introducing Jinan and promoting the City of Springs, allowing the world to hear Jinan’s voice, see Jinan’s efforts, and sense Jinan’s charm.

　　During the exchange, Zhang Yunfeng shared insights on spring water protection. Over the years, he and his team have used their expertise and experience to systematically reveal the causes of Jinan’s spring water for the first time, estimate the “age” of the spring water, and conduct environmental impact assessments for Jinan's rail transit construction on spring water. They have made significant contributions to the continuous flow of Baotu Spring and the harmonious coexistence of spring water and the subway. Zhang Yunfeng stated that he will continue to pursue the protection of spring water with relentless dedication, allowing the world to see the spring water gush and feel Jinan’s charm.

　　Dragan Malesevic, an American “son-in-law” of Jinan, is participating in the Jinan Spring Water Festival for the second year. He mentioned that after spending 11 years in China and visiting Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, and other places, he chose to settle in Jinan nine years ago. While he is most familiar with Baotu Spring, his favorite is Hujiao Spring, due to its beautiful environment, clear water, and wonderful memories with his wife. Besides spring water, Dragan Malesevic also enjoys Jinan’s food, including his favorites like pork ribs, sweet porridge, and beef pie. “If you like beautiful scenery and delicious food, come to Jinan; it will not disappoint you,” Dragan Malesevic said, expressing his honor to participate in the event and his eagerness to contribute to promoting Jinan’s spring water culture.

　　The “City of Springs” reputation is not only due to its unparalleled beauty of “water gushing like a wheel” but also because of the enriching cultural content. Cultural enrichment has shaped Jinan as a millennium-old city. The cultural stories, language, artifacts, and features are present in every corner of the city, especially concentrated around the spring water. Geng Jia stated that the lively life by the springs is the best expression of the city’s soft power. The continuous flow of spring water gives the city endless development potential and space, converting “cultural tourism flow” into “economic growth,” effectively boosting Jinan’s cultural tourism consumption market and driving the development of Jinan’s cultural tourism industry. Jinan integrates the character of its spring water with city development, demonstrating both its ambition to “sprinkle pearls all over and create a world-renowned City of Springs” and its commitment to “leading and building a strong provincial capital,” showcasing the city’s relentless pursuit and ceaseless efforts.

　　”International student Alinaline Cichocki shared that this is her fifth year in China. Thanks to the “Belt and Road” cultural exchange cooperation, Kenya has sent several batches of young people to study in China, and Alinaline Cichocki is one of them. Now a graduate and pursuing a master’s degree at Shandong Normal University, Alinaline Cichocki has traveled to numerous nearby attractions like Thousand Buddha Mountain, Daming Lake, Baotu Spring, Nine Pinnacles Tower, Wohu Mountain Reservoir, Red Leaf Valley, and Baimai Spring, saying she has new experiences each time she visits these spots. Although she is not Chinese, eating mooncakes from her school during the Mid-Autumn Festival gives her a sense of home while abroad. “No matter where I go in the future, China will always be my second home,” Alinaline Cichocki said.

　　At the event, Blaise Thierrée from the Confucius Institute in Brittany in France, delivered online blessings, expressing his deep interest in Chinese language and culture, having self-studied Chinese in France, and working to promote cooperation between Jinan and French cities in education and art. Jinan, a historical and cultural city and the City of Springs, uses its spring water as a key asset in spreading its stories, demonstrating the city’s inclusive, confident character, and providing endless surprises and emotions. He looks forward to having more time to explore Jinan.

Ma Zheng from the Oriental Culture and Education Association in Norway, in a video message, expressed that as a Jinan native living abroad, he used to show friends images of Thousand Buddha Mountain, Daming Lake, and Baotu Spring to describe his hometown. Since the establishment of the Jinan International Communication Center, he now has more materials to “show off” his hometown, with timely, comprehensive, and multi-dimensional content, including text, images, and videos that reflect both the city’s historical and cultural depth and its contemporary vibrancy. Ma Zheng said he will continue to work hard to help more people understand and fall in love with Jinan.

(Kuang Qiongqiong, Liang Ruxiao, Tan Ruoyao)