Qianfo Mountain Scenic Area is located in the southern part of the central city of Jinan and is one of the three famous scenic spots in Jinan. Before the Zhou Dynasty, it was called Lishan. It is said that Yu Shun once reclaimed wasteland and farmed at the foot of the mountain, so it is also known as Shungeng Mountain. During the Kaihuang period of the Sui Dynasty, many Buddha statues were carved along the mountain's terrain, and the "Qianfo Temple" was built. Since then, it has been called Qianfo Mountain. In 1959, it was developed into a park. In 1995, it was listed as a provincial - level scenic spot. In 2005, it was rated as a national AAAA - level tourist scenic area. In 2017, it was listed as a national - level scenic spot.

The Qianfo Mountain Scenic Area covers an area of 151.8 hectares, with the highest point at an altitude of 285 meters. The peaks rise and fall, presenting a beautiful and magnificent view. Liu E, a famous writer in the Qing Dynasty, once described it in "The Travels of Lao Can": "It is like a large painting by Zhao Qianli in the Song Dynasty, made into a screen dozens of miles long."

Qianfo Mountain has a long history and rich culture. With the culture of Yu Shun, Buddhist culture, and natural ecology as its core content, it is a famous mountain where world Buddhist culture and imperial culture co - exist. Qianfo Mountain is one of the birthplaces of the Yu Shun culture. Shun once cultivated the land at the foot of Qianfo Mountain, and his name spread far and wide. In the scenic area, there are cultural scenic spots related to Shun, such as Lishan Academy, Shun Temple, Sansheng Hall, Dashun Stone Picture Garden, and Lishan Tracing the Origin. The origin of Buddhist culture in Qianfo Mountain can be traced back to the Sui and Tang dynasties, leaving behind rich Buddhist cultural scenic spots such as Xingguo Chan Temple and the Thousand - Buddha Cliff Carvings. Qianfo Mountain has a superior natural environment with numerous ancient and famous trees. There are many natural scenic spots such as Appreciating Chrysanthemums on Foshan Mountain, Enjoying the Scenery of Lishan Mountain, Reminiscing about the Past at the Tang Dynasty Pagoda Tree, Danxia Landform at the Southern Foot, and Exploring the Secludedness of Ciyun. The traditional folk culture of Qianfo Mountain is distinctive, with intangible cultural heritages such as the "Third Day of the Third Lunar Month" Folk Culture Temple Fair and the "Ninth Day of the Ninth Lunar Month" Chongyang Mountain Fair. The Qianfo Mountain Scenic Area has a profound cultural heritage, rich natural resources, and significant regional value. It is a rare natural mountain landscape located in the city. It is also a popular place for Jinan citizens to relax and exercise, and is praised as the "urban balcony", "natural oxygen bar", and "ecological paradise" of Jinan.

In recent years, the Qianfo Mountain Scenic Area has witnessed remarkable development. Since 2011, the environment has been renovated and improved year by year. The ecological greening landscape effect has been enhanced, and the historical and cultural theme has been emphasized, comprehensively improving the overall landscape and cultural taste of the scenic area. In 2013, Qilu Stele Culture Garden, a theme park of Jinan's stele culture that integrates the essence of Shandong stele culture, was built at the southern foot of the mountain. Since 2014, in order to vigorously promote the Yu Shun culture, Shun - related cultural scenic spots such as Nanfeng Pavilion, Siqin Pavilion, Qingyun Pavilion, and Lishan Tracing the Origin have been successively built. A Shun - culture tourist route composed of ten Shun - culture scenic spots with the cultural characteristics of the City of Springs has been formed. It has become a popular tourist destination that integrates history, culture, and scenery, with complete functions and a large scale, and is deeply loved by tourists.