Yeh, Jinan is outshone in Shandong province by Qingdao which is a major Chinese port, has a few beaches, is famous for Tsingdao beer the- brewery was established by the Germans when controlled Qingdao. With some colonial architecture and a striking Catholic cathedral in the old commercial area of the city there is something about Qingdao with its preserved heritage that many cities in China don't have. It also has an LED light show to rival HK harbour. Not that you've heard of it....

Yantai isn't too bad either.

I can't remember anything that is worth looking at although it was a few a few years since I was there. A good day trip from Jinan would be to see the confucius temples at Qufu which are considerably closer to Jinan than Qingdao. Taishan mountain which is on the way to Qufu is also worth a look.