A comprehensive conservation plan was released by Jinan government to establish a long-term mechanism for the conservation of the 10 major springs in the city on Jan 24.

The conservation plan will be used to guide the restoration, protection and water supplies of the major spring area and protect the whole process of the spring ecological cycle. It is a long-term plan without any specific time limits. 

The comprehensive conservation area covers around 3,533.2 square kilometers including the spring areas of Baotu Spring, Baiquan Spring, Baimai Spring and Hongfan Spring. 

According to the plan, its short-term plan refers to the protection, restoration and water supplies of the springs to keep flowing and the protection for the 72 springs in Jinan until 2020. 

Its long-term target aims to maintain the underground water level of Baotu Spring group above 28.15 meters in normal rainfall. It is expected that the underground water level will be above this level for more than 200 days in a year.

The plan also puts forward technological measures to build and complete an underground water real-time dynamic monitoring system. The government will in addition increase financial support for spring protection. 

Jinan, dubbed as the city of springs, boasts numerous springs which are known as "the soul of Jinan". Besides the four big spring groups the Baotu Spring, the Black Tiger Spring, the Pearl Spring and the Five Dragon Pool, nearly one hundred springs are concentrated in the old town. These big and beautiful springs are a sight to behold and attract visitors from near and far.