在缺水的中国北方城市，济南是幸运的，由于特殊的地理位置和地质构造，它有着相对丰富的地下水资源。这些地下水在旧城的南部喷涌而出，形成一个个泉群，流入城市中的河道，向北汇集成湖泊，并最终流入黄河。城市、护城河、大明湖和众多的泉群融为一体，形成了济南最为珍贵的城市结构。

 Most cities in North China are water-scarce, however, Jinan is lucky. Owning to its special geographical location and geological structure, Jinan has relatively abundant groundwater resources. The groundwater spews out in the Old City, forms a series of springs, flows through the moat, into the Daming Lake, and finally into the Yellow River. Old City, Moat, Daming Lake and the numerous springs altogether form the precious urban structure of Jinan city.

然而，随着济南城市不断发展和扩张，城市水系在城市面积中所占的比例越来越低，历史上城、河、湖、泉相融的城市中心结构被侵蚀和破坏，河道和湖泊离市民的生活也越来越远。原本开阔的大明湖被城市建筑、公园围墙、地形和植被围合封闭，若非进入大明湖公园，市民几乎察觉不到大明湖的存在。全长6900m环绕济南旧城的护城河，将黑虎泉、趵突泉、五龙泉等泉群连为一体，还串起了泉城广场等一些城市中最重要的公共空间。由于护城河水位和城市道路之间有很大的高差，水岸也没有形成连贯的步行系统，因此，在城市中，甚至就在河边的城市道路上，人们都不易感觉到护城河的存在。对于有着如此优越的泉水和地表水资源的城市来说，这是一个不小的缺憾。

However, with the speedy urban growth of Jinan City, the percentage of water area in the city was becoming smaller and smaller. The City-Moat-Lake-Springs structure was being destroyed and ruined gradually, and Daming Lake and the Moat were far away from people’s daily life. Daming Lake, enclosed by buildings, fences, landforms and vegetation, was almost impossible to be perceived in the urban streets. The Moat, surrounding the Old City and approximately 6,900 meters in length, links some famous springs, such as Heihu Spring, Baotu Spring, Wulong Spring, with other important urban open spaces, such as Quancheng Square. But, because of the huge height difference between the urban streets and water level of the Moat, and the discontinuous waterfront pedestrian pathway, it was very difficult for people to feel the Moat’s existence in the street, even when you were very close to it. How disappointing it was for such a city with excellent springs and water resources.

市政府决心整治大明湖和护城河周边环境，将大明湖南岸及小东湖周边众多的居民和单位搬迁，拓展湖面和绿地，将大明湖重新还给市民，拉近湖与城市的距离，同时贯穿护城河与大明湖，使两者成为统一的整体。2007年初，受济南市园林局的委托，多义景观对大明湖和护城河进行了整体的研究和规划。

The government decided to enhance the city’s image by improving the surrounding environment of Daming Lake and the Moat. The main objectives are as follows, removing inhabitants and institutions on the south bank of Daming Lake and around Small East Lake, expanding water area and green area, returning Daming Lake to citizen, linking the Moat with Daming Lake, and making Daming Lake and city united as a whole. In early 2007, commissioned by the Jinan Urban Landscaping Bureau, Atelier DYJG conducted an overall research and planning on Daming Lake and the Moat.

改造后的大明湖成为景观类型多样、空间层次丰富、与市民生活息息相关的城市公共开放空间，同时它也是环境优美、生物多样性丰富的“城市绿心”，发挥调节气候、涵养水源、净化空气的生态效应。水面的拓展使大明湖的景观空间向城市开放，并通过调整大明湖南侧的百花洲水系，一直延伸到城市的中心。

In our planning, Daming Lake expands eastward and links up with Small East Lake. This greatly extends the view line and builds a visual connection in the East/West direction over the lake. Southward Expansion of Daming Lake is not simply enlarging the water area, but a process of reorganizing land-water space which features retaining the original valuable folk houses, streets and urban fabric. An archipelagic structure is created in this area, and different water spaces are shaped with the building of islands, bridges, boardwalk and wetlands.After renovation, Daming Lake becomes a popular urban open space, which features various landscape types and has good relationships with civil life. It also functions as a beautiful and biodiversity-rich "urban green heart" with ecological effects of climate regulating, water conservation and air cleaning. The project of Daming Lake Expansion, together with the adjustment of Baihuazhou water system, makes the lake space open to the city and forms good spatial connection with the city center.

新的大明湖体现了历史、自然和城市生活的良好结合。改造后，大明湖水面的面积由48ha扩大到71 ha。大明湖的景观层次、游览方式和休闲功能都得到了极大地丰富。大明湖由一个“园中之湖”成为“城中之湖”，它融入了城市，融入市民的生活之中。

In this project, water area is enlarged from 48 hectares to 71 hectares, and the landscape aesthetics value, ways of sight-seeing and recreational functions of Daming Lake have been greatly improved. The new Daming Lake is transformed from “A Lake in a Park” to “A Lake in the City” and embodies the integration of history, nature and city life. 

规划重新调整了护城河的水岸空间，将护城河很好地融入到城市之中。完善的滨河步行系统在水平方向和垂直方向与城市完美地结合在一起，但又与城市的机动车交通分离。护城河有了更强的亲水性，在滨水的城市道路上，市民都可以感受到护城河的景致。人们还可以在护城河中乘船游览，既可浏览两岸熙熙攘攘的城市风光，又可观赏滨水露天茶座上闲坐聊天的市民，还可以听到栈道上老人和孩子的欢声笑语。行船至水穷之处，却豁然开朗，眼前已是碧波荡漾的大明湖。这样，大明湖、环城公园、城市三者能够紧密地联系在一起，充分体现泉城“泉、河、湖、城”一体的独有魅力。

For the Moat, we redesign its waterfront space, improve its pedestrian system, and optimize its visual connection with the city. Thus, the citizen in urban streets can easily enjoy the moat scenery, and visitors can also enjoy the bustling city life and urban scenery when taking the boat trip that will end in the rippling Daming Lake. In this way, Springs, Moat, Daming Lake, and City are linked together, showing the unique charm of the "City of Springs".

2010年，济南大明湖及护城河沿岸的景观改造顺利完成。水系重新回归了城市，济南真正成为一个美丽的泉城，居住在此的市民重新体会到“有山有水”的城市魅力，而每一个来济南游玩的游客也会感到不虚此行。

In 2010, the landscape renovation of Daming Lake and the Moat was successfully completed. The precious water system comes back to the city and Jinan becomes a genuine beautiful "City of Springs" again. Citizen can re-experience the city’s charm, and each tourist coming here will feel their trip has not been made in vain.