Jinanisasub-provincialcityandthecapitalofShandongProvinceinthePeople'sRepublicofChina.Theareaofpresent-dayJinanhasplayedanimportantroleinthehistoryoftheregionfromtheearliestbeginningsofcivilizationandhasevolvedintoamajornationaladministrative,economic,andtransportationhub.Thecityislocatedinnorth-westernShandongabout400kilometres(250mi)southofthenationalcapitalofBeijing,itbordersLiaochengtothesouthwest,Dezhoutothenorthwest,Binzhoutothenortheast,Zibototheeast,Laiwutothesoutheast,andTai'antothesouth.