Jinan History & Culture

In the early Neolithic period, early inhabitants lived and thrived in the Jinan area. Jinan Prefecture was established during the Western Han Dynasty. During the Sui Dynasty, the prefecture was abolished and counties merged, but Qizhou (Qi Prefecture) remained under its jurisdiction in Jinan, governing 10 counties including Licheng. During the Tianbao era of the mid-Tang Dynasty, Qizhou was briefly renamed Linzi Prefecture and then Jinan Prefecture. In the early Ming Dynasty, it reverted to Jinan Prefecture, and in the early Qing Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty's administrative structure was maintained. In the early Republic of China, Jinan Prefecture was abolished, and Daibei Circuit was established, governing 27 counties. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, in 1958, Licheng County was incorporated into Jinan City. In February 1994, it became a sub-provincial city. Jinan City is a key central city in the Yellow River Basin, a national historical and cultural city, a national comprehensive transportation hub, a northern advanced manufacturing base, a northern commercial and logistics center, and a regional science and technology innovation hub, as approved by the State Council. Jinan City is the birthplace of Lu cuisine, and the Longshan culture, the Da Shun culture, and the Qilu culture originated, were inherited, and integrated here.