The Second Conference of International City Alliance of Springs Cultural Landscape opens in Jinan, capital of Shandong province on Sept 7. [Photo/ijntv.cn]

More than 20 delegations from spring cities around the world gathered in Jinan, capital of Shandong province on Sept 7 to discuss the protection of urban spring culture and related issues during the Second Conference of International City Alliance of Springs Cultural Landscape.

As the source of life, water has always been the indispensable and irreplaceable natural resource and environmental element for human survival and economic and social development. Cities around the world that are famous for springs including Joondalup of Australia, Marianske Lazne of Czech, Arba Minch of Ethiopia, Suwon of South Korea, Ekurhuleni of South Africa, Bath of UK and the American city Sacramento gathered to discuss plans on water ecology conservation.

Plans on water ecology conservation are discussed during the Second Conference of International City Alliance of Springs Cultural Landscape in Jinan, capital of Shandong province, Sept 7. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Jinan has long been known as "the city of springs" for its numerous springs. Statistics show that there are more than 733 springs in Jinan and its surrounding areas, 136 of them in the city proper. In recent years the local government has been working hard to apply for "UN World Cultural Heritage" status, in a bid to raise the city's international profile and better protect the city's unique spring cultural landscape.

The conference participants experience local culture during the Second Conference of International City Alliance of Springs Cultural Landscape in Jinan, capital of Shandong province, Sept 7. [Photo provided to China Daily]