Feeling auspicious, the Hongwu Emperor of the Ming Dynasty decreed the building of Ningbo's Chenghuang Miao (Chénghuáng Miào, 城隍庙), which translates to Temple of the City God, in 1371. It was reconstructed in 1884 during the Qing Dynasty and today forms a popular shopping and eating spot in Ningbo's central Haishu district.

To the north side, visitors are welcomed by a large, traditional style gate that hovers over Kaiming Jie (Kāimíng Jiē, 开明街) and faces modern shopping center Tianyi Square (Tiānyī Guǎngchǎng, 天广场). Two streets, Kaiming Jie and Xianxue Jie (Xiànxué Jiē, 县学街), cut Chenghuang Miao into fourths.

The northwest building houses a modern department store and indoor food market providing a smorgasbord of Chinese snacks and street meals (enter via Xianxue Jie to the west of McDonald's).

The building facing the indoor food market from across the street is filled with tea shops, a KTV, and a number of restaurants (not limited to the immediately obvious KFC, Pizza Hut, and Kung Fu-brand fast food joints).

On the other side of Kaiming Jie, a cluster of small restaurants just next to Tianfeng Pagoda stand adjacent to a building housing a large collection of shops and stalls selling clothing, jewelry, shoes and more.

Be wary of fake brands and expect to do some bargaining.

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