Tianhe Scenic Area, (Nínghǎi Tiānhé Jǐngqū, 宁海天河景区) and to the south of Ningbo, abounds in natural beauty. Over 200 sq km (62 sq mi) of green valleys, cragged peaks, volcanic caves, emerald rivers and waterfalls. The scenic area's main geographical feature is Dasongxi Gorge (Dàsōngxī Xiágǔ, 大松溪峡谷), a gorge cut through the volcanic rock by Báixī (白溪), or the White River, that proves a popular spot for tourists to enjoy a lazy boat ride. There are currently three areas developed for tourism, the Dasongxi Gorge area being one, where you can wander the forested paths or take a hike. At the Water Sports Area, take the boat to float down Baixi or take in the clean air and green flora of Twin Peaks Forest Park. This is probably the best kept and largest nature reserve so close to the crowded Zhejiang coastline. It makes a great escape from the ever inc... more >>

The Nanxi Hot Springs (Nánxī Wēnquán, 南溪温泉) are located between Ningbo and Nínghǎi (宁海). The geothermic waters bubbling up from deep beneath the earth's crust are sure to sooth away aches and pains. The warm water is clear and pure and rich in minerals and trace elements. It is said that the hot springs also have curative properties and can ease the symptoms of arthritis and cardiovascular ailments. Employees of the hot spings scenic area recommend spending 15 to 20 minutes soaking and claim that afterwards bathers will feel refreshed and their skin will be fully moisturized. For those wanting to spend a little more time unwinding in the hot springs, hotels, such as the Ninghai Spring Hotel, are available in the area. Also not far away is the Tianhe Scenic Area. Zhejiang guide | Ningbo guide | Ningbo attractions | Ningbo flights Ningbo hotels | Ninghai hote... more >>

Ningbo's fisherman have earned themselves a pretty sturdy reputation as being some of the best in the land—some even say that they've turned it into an art form. While they may or may not have made fishing into art, they certainly have made it into an amusement park. Located some 100 km (62 mi) from downtown Ningbo in Xiang Shan (Xiàng Shān, 象山), are the Shipu Fishing Harbor (Shípǔ Yúgǎng Gǔchéng, 石浦渔港古城) and the accompanying China Fishing Village theme park. Although fishing is probably not everyone's cup of Earl Grey, China Fishing Village manages to capture a fair bit of the region's culture and customs and frames into a sort of pseudo-American style maritime village. It creates an unusual experience, which alone make it almost worth going, but it's probably best for the avid fisherman or those with an interest in maritime culture. Shipu is als... more >>

The man-made crescent-shaped Moon Lake (Yuè Hú, 月湖) was dug during the 7th century in the Tang Dynasty in what is now Ningbo's central Haishu District. Today, Moon Lake provides a serene break from the bustle of the growing city. Bridges and pathways wind around the lake, over islands and through traditional Chinese gardens and buildings. Small restaurants cluster on streets on the northwest side of the lake near the Shipu Restaurant (Xīn Shípú Dàjiǔdiàn, 新石蒲大酒店), while the Ningbo Tea Culture Museum (Níngbō Chá Wénhuà Bówùguǎn, 宁波茶文化博物馆) welcomes visitors to explore tea history or sip a bit on an islet near the center of the lake. Nearby are a number of other sites of interest. The Ningbo Mosque lies just down a few small streets from the lake. A short walk north along Zhenming Lu (Zhènm&ia... more >>

At the base of Mount Taibai, the 20 buildings of Tiantong Temple (Tiāntóng Sì, 天童寺) sprawl out between forested hills some 25 km (16 mi) east of Ningbo proper. The buildings, containing 730 rooms, are all connected to one another, giving visitors shelter from the sun and rain. Around 300 A.D., the monk Yixing sought to build a temple and, according to legend, the Heavenly King sent the god Taibai to earth to be reborn as a child to help him, giving the temple its name, which means "heavenly child." Later, the temple figured in to Chan (Zen) Buddhist history when Japanese monk Dogen Zenji arrived in the early 13th century. Having left his studies in Japan disillusioned, Dogen continued seeking enlightenment from monasteries throughout Zhejiang province until meeting Caodong Chan Master Rujing who taught him to "cast off body and mind." Upon re... more >>

Located at the end of Ningbo's Old Bund, the Jiangbei Cathedral (Jiāngběi Jiàotáng, 江北教堂), or Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (Yēsūsūshènxīn Zhjiàozuòtáng, 耶稣圣心主教座堂), was built by French missionaries in 1878 in what was then the French settlement. During the Cultural Revolution, the cathedral was used as a storage building during which time the windows and floor were damaged. After 1980, the cathedral reopened as a worship hall. The area immediately surrounding the cathedral, now gardens and park space, were once the site of church housing before the area was sold to the government. On sunny days, expect to see fashion photographers and newlyweds putting together wedding photography books making use of the beautiful scenery. The cathedral's front door is usually open on weekends, but on weekdays try the back door. Zhejiang guide | Ningbo ... more >>

The Ningbo Museum (Níngbō Bówùguǎn, 宁波博物馆) is one of the best places in Ningbo to discover the city's past. Exhibits chronical the region's history as far back as the Neolithic period and into the early 20th century. Permanent cultural exhibits are also on display as well as a gallery that features rotating exhibits on loan from other museums that have included paintings, pottery, sculpture and more. On permanent display, the Ningbo History Gallery is bookended by exhibits on the Neolithic Hemudu culture and a walk-through recreation of Ningbo's waterside during the early 20th century with artifacts, paintings, pictures and replicas in between detailing the lengthy history covered by the museum. It also has artifacts on display discovered during the excavation of the underground portion of Tianfeng Pagoda in 1984. Providing insight into the lives of Ningb... more >>

Once the tallest structure in Ningbo, Tianfeng Pagoda (Tiānfēng Tǎ, 天封塔) towers above a small park beside Chenghuan Miao, offering seven-story high views of the central Haishu district and the abandoned traditional Chinese homes in the lot on the opposite side of the street, which are currently being turned into a new development. Expect a walk up the ever-narrowing stairs to reach the top of the pagoda. First built during the Tang Dynasty in the 7th century, Tianfeng Pagoda was rebuilt during the Song Dynasty in 1144. Later, in 1798, the eaves were destroyed in a fire and weren't rebuilt until the 1930s. A collection of artifacts discovered during an archeological excavation of underground chambers beneath the pagoda in 1984 are now on display at the Ningbo Museum. Zhejiang guide | Ningbo guide | Ningbo attractions | Ningbo flights Ningbo hotels | Haishu district hotels | ... more >>

The King Asoka Temple, or Ayuwang Temple (Ayù Wáng Sì, 阿育王寺) takes its name from a 3rd century B.C. Indian emperor who, after conquering most of what is India today, renounced violence and embraced Buddhism. For believers, the temple is important for its stupa housing the sarira of the historical Buddha. It is said after his body was cremated, colorful beads, called sarira, were found among the ashes, and were later placed in stupas by King Asoka. According to legend, one of these siriras was found by Chinese monk Liu Sahe when a small stupa miraculously appeared before him with a sirira from Buddha's head inside. The temple was originally built in 282 A.D. during the Western Jin Dynasty and contains 600 rooms covering about 80,000 sq m (95,679 sq yd), about 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Ningbo proper. The famous sariras are stored in the seven story stone pagod... more >>

During the First Opium War, the British captured Zhenhai (now an outlying district of Ningbo) three days before taking Ningbo itself. In the terms of the Treaty of Nanjing that ended the war, Ningbo was opened to trade as one of five treaty ports also including Shanghai, Fuzhou, Guangzhou and Xiamen. The resulting foreign settlement along the Old Bund (Lǎo Wàitān, 老外滩) preceded Shanghai’s better-known Bund by 20 years. This "other" Bund is a fascinating attraction in its own right, featuring a range of restaurants, cafés and bars occupying restored historic structures along with newer buildings designed to fit into the look of the area (with mixed success). Historically, the Old Bund occupied the southernmost point of Ningbo’s Jiangbei district, where the Fenghua River and Yao River join to form the Yong River. Originally facing the old Ningbo... more >>