Construction of Jinan’s landmark Qianfoshan Station Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) project is gaining momentum, with crews working at full speed to transform the north foothills of the scenic Qianfoshan area into a modern hub of commerce, ecology, and urban mobility. The development is poised to become the city’s first underground metro-based commercial complex, serving as a model for the “mountain–city integration” vision that is reshaping Jinan’s urban landscape.
Located north of Qianfoshan Scenic Area, the project covers 82,800 square meters with a foundation pit stretching 298 meters east to west, 205 meters north to south, and reaching a depth of 19 meters. Once complete, the site will feature a vast ecological plaza on the surface, directly linked to Qianfoshan Park via a landscaped pedestrian bridge across Jing 11th Road, creating a seamless connection between urban space and natural scenery.
Below ground, the project will span four levels—including a mezzanine and three underground floors—covering a total construction area of approximately 93,000 square meters. It will provide more than 50,000 square meters of commercial space, along with a 14,000-square-meter supporting garage and a 27,000-square-meter public parking facility, expected to significantly ease parking shortages in the surrounding area.
The Qianfoshan TOD project is being built in tandem with Line 4 of Jinan Rail Transit, a metro line known for overcoming world-class engineering challenges. Protecting Jinan’s famed springs while tunneling through a karst terrain riddled with nearly 300 caves required pioneering techniques, including the development of new eco-friendly construction materials and advanced shield tunneling modifications. The section between Quancheng Park Station and Qianfoshan Station marked China’s first successful metro shield tunneling through a spring-fed karst zone.
Line 4 has also delivered several engineering firsts, such as Jinan’s shallowest half-underground station at Quancheng Park, and Shandong’s first ultra-shallow fully underground station at Olympic Sports Center. Together, these feats highlight Jinan’s growing reputation as a national benchmark for integrating ecological preservation with urban infrastructure.
When completed in 2026, the Qianfoshan Station TOD will not only provide shopping, parking, and leisure amenities but also embody Jinan’s broader strategy of blending mountains, springs, lakes, rivers, and the city into a unique urban identity. For residents and visitors alike, it promises to make “mountain scenery entering the city” a lived reality—turning the former site of the once-iconic Qilu Hotel into a new landmark for modern Jinan.