They call Jinan the "City of Springs" because 645 of them pour into a moat surrounding the capital of Shandong province.

Here you can take a boat trip to Daming Lake and on the way enjoy a number of scenic spots.

Beautiful Daming Lake, the world's largest natural reservoir within a city, in Jinan, East China's Shandong province. (Photo Source: China Daily/Luo Bo)

The springs produce 300,000 cu m of water daily, filling the 5.5 km waterway that runs along the west side of Jinan, into the lake, the world's largest natural reservoir within a city.

Black Tiger Spring, named for its deafening roar, originates from a 3-m deep and 1.7-m wide cave and spews water out of three tiger-head shaped stones. Local residents get their supply of potable water from here.

"It's so pure," says Zhao Yun, who has carried water home from the spring every day since he retired.

Close by, Fairy Spring got its name from a folk tale about nine fairies so enamored by the spring they never wanted to leave. Thousands of tiny bubbles rise from the bottom of the spring, spreading out in expansive ripples on the surface.

From the boat, shoals of fish can be seen in the clear water, fringed by willows, while the tea served on board is boiled with spring water.

"The springs add to Jinan's charm," says Kenzo Maruki, a Japanese tourist.

Construction of the waterway began in late 2007.