Ningbo Travel Guide

Chinese Name: 宁波 (níng bō)
Population: 8,542,000
Area: 9,816 square kilometers (3,790 square miles)
Location: in the east of Zhejiang, east China
Administrative Division: 6 districts (Haishu, Jiangbei, Beilun, Zhenhai, Yinzhou, Fenghua); 2 counties (Xiangshan, Ninghai); 2 county-level cities (Yuyao, Cixi)
Area Code: 0574
Zip Code: 315000
GDP (2019): CNY119.85 billion (USD 17.37 billion)

Lying in the east of Zhejiang, Ningbo sits at the mid-point of the Chinese coastline, towards the south of the Yangtze Delta. It is adjacent to Shaoxing to the west and Taizhou to the south. The annual cargo throughput of Ningbo Zhoushan Port ranks first in the world, and the container volume ranks the top three. For tourists, what is worth visiting is the cultural heritage deposited in the city. First, pay a visit to Tianyi Pavilion, the oldest library in Asia. The Old Bund of Ningbo, a former foreign concession, has made an indelible mark on Ningbo. Many old European-style buildings have been transformed into bars and restaurants. Charming lakes in the North of the city are also ideal places for outdoor relaxation and cycling. Visitors can also take a visit to Mt.Putuo, one of the four famous Buddhist mountains in China. It takes 1 hour and 40 minutes to there by car.

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Ningbo is a city with strong Buddhist connections boasting a number of visually-impressive, historical temples.

 Ashoka Temple: The 1700 year-old Asoka Temple houses the rare Buddhist relics of Sakyamuni, who is the founder of  Buddhism.
 Tiantong Temple: With a history of over 1600 years, it is renowned for its fantastic scenery and subtle architectural style.
 Baoguo Temple: It boasts one of the best-preserved wooden structures of its type in the country.

 Other Buddhist temples in the city include the Qita Temple, the Tianfeng Pagoda and the Xiantong Pagoda.

Ashoka Temple

Tianyi Pavilion

 Season-specific resorts such as the Tianhe Scenic Area in Tiantai Mountain and Xuedou Mountain Scenic Area in Xikou-Tengtou Tourist Area cater for the summer season, while resorts such as the Nanxi Hot Springs are suited more to winter visits. However, to the north of the city run a series of beautiful lakes, including the Dongqian Lake, the West Lake and the Tai Lake, which are perfect for year-round visits. There are other attractions such as Tianyi Pavilion and Yandang Mountain worth your visit.

Top 10 Things to Do in Ningbo

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How to Get to Ningbo

Located at the southwest of Ningbo City, Lishe International Airport (NGB) began serving the public in 1990 and has developed into an important air hub in east China. It is about 11 kilometers (6.8 kilometers) away from the urban area. Presently, many flights operate here, connecting the city with destinations both at home and abroad including Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai, Beijing, Kunming and Shenzhen. There is one railway station in the city for passenger transport: Ningbo Railway Station. Besides, there are convenient coaches, ferries, city-buses, metros and taxis to get around the city.

 See also Ningbo Train Schedule, Ningbo Metro

Due to its location in the coastal region, an area with a subtropical monsoon climate, the region is subject to temperate and humid weather. The mean annual temperature is 16.2C (61.16F). The region has four distinct seasons which guarantee visitors a different holidaying experience depending on the time of year they visit.  

 History: As one of China's oldest cities, the city has witnessed the rise and fall of numerous dynasties. It also represents the birthplace of Hemudu Culture, which itself has a history of over 7000 years. These early civilizations lived and thrived in the area, and have contributed greatly to make the city what it is today; an economically-developed, modern city with a profound cultural foundation. It has been an important port city for foreign trade since the Song Dynasty (960-1279). After the Opium War (1840-1842), it became one of the top-five ports in China, successfully utilizing its favorable location for water transport. Today, despite its well-developed economy and infrastructure, it remains surrounded by charming natural scenery.

 Handicrafts: Although the city is striving towards modernization, the passion of the local people for producing traditional handicrafts remains undiminished. Hand-plaited bamboo vases, screens and animal figurines are particularly popular. The ancient Gu Mu Xiangqian, bamboo root carving and bamboo sculpture all reveal the local characters of craft.