Tianyi Pavilion (Tiānyī Gé, 天一阁), located by the tranquil shores of Moon Lake in Haishu district, is thought to be China's oldest library and is probably Ningbo's best known tourist attraction.

Construction of the pavilion, which now features exhibits chronicling the history of Tianyi Pavilion and Chinese art exhibits, began in 1561 under the instruction of Ming Dynasty official Fan Qin.

By the time construction was completed, Fan Qin had amassed an enormous collection of literature, documents and records which included some handwritten Confucius originals. Today's remaining collection is only about one fifth of its former size, many volumes having been pilfered by thieves or decimated by age.

Tianyi Pavilion also features exhibits on the history of mahjong including a variety of antique mahjong sets.

The buildings within the grounds of Tianyi Pavilion are dotted amongst intricate, manicured gardens, which feature quiet bamboo groves, ponds and rockeries. These are some of the largest such gardens in Ningbo and worth spending several hours exploring.

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