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Ningbo

Written by Matteo Updated Apr. 8, 2025

Located in the south of the fertile Yangtze Delta, Ningbo is a city of affluence. the city has a long history dating back to 4800 B.C. Ningbo became a major port in the Tang dynasty. it began to flourish in the 7th and 8th centuries as a trading port when many Portuguese traders started to migrate here.

Over the years, Ningbo has developed into a key port for China's foreign trade. it also served as a center of culture and religion in the area. Ningbo offers visitors many temples and Buddhist monasteries including Putuoshan Island, Baoguo Si, and Tiantong Temple.

Ningbo Top Attractions

Ningbo is a beautiful coastal city with stunning natural sceneries and a rich cultural heritage. It is the birthplace of Hemudu Culture dating back to the Neolithic era, which has a history of over 7000 years.

Mount Putuo

Mount Putuo, located on the southern edge of Hangzhou Bay and off the coast of the eastern sea of Zhoushan Islands, belongs to the Putuoshan District of Zhoushan City.

During the Tang dynasty, along with the development of the Silk Road, Mount Putuo became the center of Chinese Buddhism, especially for Guan Yin. The major temples are Puji Chan Temple, Fayu Chan Temple, and Huiji Chan Temple, boasting the largest among the 20 preserved temples there.

They were all constructed in tranquil surroundings to worship Guan Yin. In addition to these temples, there is a large Institute of Buddhism, one of the largest Buddhist academic institutes in China.

There are three well-known festivals held there - Nan Hai Guan Yin Cultural Festival in November, Guan Yin Incense Festival, and The Spring of Mount Putuo held every March. The Guan Yin Incense Festival of Mount Putuo is the most popular. Every year on February 19, June 19, and September 19 of the lunar calendar, it welcomes millions of people for the celebration from home and abroad.

Apart from the temples, Mount Putuo is known as a haven of blue sea, golden beaches, and sun, ideal for a relaxing weekend or to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The island boasts a few excellent beaches on each of its corners, among these, the Qian Bu Beach (A-Thousand-Paces Beach) and the Bai Bu Beach (A-Hundred-Paces Beach) are the most famous and are regarded as the best beaches near Shanghai!

Not only known for its beaches but Mount Putuo has been known as the “Garden in the Ocean”. There are countless ancient trees, like the thousand-year-old ginkgo tree and the thousand-year camphor tree, standing 20 meters tall and having a gird of 8 meters. The entire tree covers an area of over 1000 square meters (close to 10,000 square feet). There are also many rare vegetation.

Tianyi Square

Tianyi Square is the most prosperous area in Ningbo City. It covers an area of approximately 350,000,000 square meters, surrounded by 22 buildings, each about 3-4 stories. Inside the square you will see the musical fountain, special water curtain film, corridor on Water Street, the Catholic Church as well there are many modern department stores

Every day thousands of people flock to the square for shopping, eating, and entertainment - fashion shows and big events are often held in Tianyi Square. It is vibrant and has a pleasant atmosphere.

Tianyi Pavilion Museum

Tianyi Pavilion lies on the west of the picturesque Moon Lake of Ningbo City in Zhejiang Province. It is the oldest surviving private library and museum in China, and also one of the three oldest family libraries in the world. It was built between 1561 and 1566, originally built as a private library for an official in the Ming Dynasty.

It now holds different kinds of ancient books with 300,000 volumes. These books cover local chronicles and imperial examination records of the Ming Dynasty.

Covering an area of 16,000 square meters, Tianyi Pavilion is divided into three functional areas book-storing culture, exhibition, and gardening leisure. Today you can visit this charming place set in a quiet and tasteful surrounding and explore the historical, educational, and economic development and culture of Ningbo City.

Ningbo Cicheng Ancient Town Site

Cicheng Town is 10 kilometers northwest of Ningbo City. Cicheng Town was named for commemorating a loving mother and her obedient son. Loving means Ci in Chinese hence the name. Locals there are very proud of the background of the story.

With its long history, the town is known far and wide as the "Most Charming Ancient Town South of the Yangtze River" for its beautiful scenery, the city walls, and abundant cultural relics and preserved traditional buildings, like that Confucius Temple, ancient wells and memorial archways. Other famous attractions are Ci Lake, Yun Lake, Mount Lion, Mount Dabao, and Mount Qingdao.

Ningbo Chenghuang Temple Market

The market is situated in the heart of the most prosperous business zone. It was first built in 1371. Over the years, the building had been destroyed by fires, and it was reconstructed in 1884 and remains as it is now.

In the temple, there are traditional Zhaobi which is a big screen wall, the first big gate, the second gate, and an ancient theater platform. There are also more than 30 tablets of inscriptions and ancient wells dating back to the Song Dynasty that can be seen in the temple.

The area around Chenghuang Temple has many local shops, selling clothes and accessories at relatively cheap prices! If you have a couple of hours on hand, it’s worth exploring and you may be able to find good bargains!

Wulong Pond

Wulong Pond is located in Longguan Town of Yin County, approximately 35 miles away from Ningbo. The area is large with many towering mountains, tranquil valleys, and crystal streams. It is also a holy place for Buddhist worshippers, with a strong emphasis on the strength and characteristics of Dragon Worship. The area is divided into four parts, including an exhibition of folklore culture, sightseeing of the dragon pond and waterfalls, a leisurely area for entertainment, and a recreational area for relaxation.

Wulong Pond has a long history and is famous for its five wells, 12 waterfalls, and sacrifice altar for the dragons. Since ancient China, local people believed firmly that Wulong Pond blessed the people’s plea. Walking into the area, visitors will pass ponds after ponds on their way up to the waterfalls, which offer a cool and comfortable place for visitors.

For the more adventurous and serious hikers, there are hiking trails that lead up to the mountains.

Xikou Town for Tomb Passage of Jiang’s Mother and Mount Xuedou

Xikou Town is one of the most famous towns in Fenghua County, Ningbo. It is located in the western part of Fenghua, 20 miles southwest of Ningbo, surrounded by Wu hills, Mount Xuedou, and Yan Stream. It is the hometown of Jiang Jieshi, the leader of the Kuomingtang Ruling Period.

Mount Xuedou is notable for its beauty and natural scenery. A lot of sightseeing spots and paths dot the area, such as the Xuedou Temple and the Xuedou Waterfall which stands 610 feet. A great get-away to enjoy the pleasant and charm of nature!

The Tomb Passage for Jiang’s Mother is the burial place of Jiang Jieshi’s mother. The area is vast with several buildings for different purposes in the forests. There is a house named Ci’an for Jiang’s family to take a rest when visiting and sweeping the tomb. This is another quiet and charming place to take a stroll and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

Weather and Climate

Ningbo is in the subtropical monsoon zone with mild weather conditions. The city has neither a frozen cold winter nor an extremely hot summer. However, summer is humid with a lot of rain. June and September are the two rainy months. Ningbo was occasionally hit by a typhoon in September.

Transportation

Airplanes: Ningbo Lishe airport is located some 13 kilometers southwest of the city. The airport has a few flights to Hong Kong weekly and flights to most of China's major cities are available. buses departing from the CAAC office(no, 91, Xingning Road) to take passengers to the airport.

Trains: Ningbo railway station, commonly known as the South railway station is at the Nanshan Xi Lu. The ticket building is in the east of the station. trains to Shanghai, and Hangzhou are very frequent.

Bus: while Ningbo has two bus stations, the south bus station to the west of the railway station filed almost all the long-distance buses. there are buses to Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Wenzhou.

Boats: travelers can take a boat from Ningbo to Shanghai and Putuoshan (an island on which many holy Buddhist temples and monasteries are) at the Ningbo Harbor passenger ferry terminal( 142 Zhongma Lu)

Local Transportation: for most visitors, the most useful routes are those that connect the bus and train stations with the ferry terminal.

Taxi: The flag-down price is CNY8 for the first 4 kilometers and CNY1.5 per additional km. from 22:00 to 6:00 am, the starting price increased to CNY8.8 for the first 4 kilometers.

Accommodations

Ningbo has many star-grade hotels to provide a comfortable stay. Standing side by side with those up-market lodgings are these street guesthouses and hotel inns which may provide accommodations for a cheap price. after all, there is a hotel to meet your needs when you are traveling Ningbo.

Food

Ningbo is famous for its seafood. Braising, roasting and stewing are the three main cooking methods. the dishes are usually tender, fresh, and tasty. Click Ningbo Food and Restaurants for more details.

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