Ningbo is a coastal city in China, Zhejiang 浙江 province. With a population of 7-8 million, it is an important economic center in Zhejiang province, and one of the world’s busiest ports. For the past five years I call this city my home. Ningbo is not only developed modern city and a business center, but also one of the oldest cities in China with a rich cultural heritage. For example, Tianyige 天一阁– Tianyi pavilion or Tianyi chamber is China’s oldest existing library (one of the oldest in Asia too) located right in the Ningbo city center; Hemudu  Ancient Village 河姆渡site (Hemudu culture dating back to more than 7000 years, located in Yuyao 余姚25km from Ningbo downtown); The Baoguo Temple 保国寺(second oldest surviving wooden structure in southern China) and many more. 

If you hope to find a nice beach in Ningbo, I am afraid you will be dissapointed. Before I came to Ningbo I thought there should be a nice beach, because it is a coastal city. Unfortunately there are no beach resorts and the closest place to go for a swim at sea is in Zhoushan 舟山(2 hour drive by car from Ningbo), and color of water is yellowish brown. For beautiful beaches in China you should visit Hainan 海南province in South China. 

Transportation options in Ningbo

Ningbo is located 200km south from Shanghai 上海and 140km south from Hangzhou 杭州. If you are travelling from Shanghai (or Hangzhou) to Ningbo, then high-speed rail is probably the best and most comfortable way to get here. High-speed train from Shanghai to Ningbo takes around 2-2.5 hours, and costs between 100-150RMB; from Hangzhou it is around an hour by high-speed train, and prices wary between 80-100RMB. There are normal trains (cheaper and slower), and buses going daily as well; or you can fly to Ningbo Lishe International Airport 宁波栎社国际机场. There are two subway lines in operation for now. Second line is connecting airport, train station, and goes to Ningbo University 宁波大学(this is very convenient for students. When I came to Ningbo first, there was no metro yet; and had to take taxi, it was around 80RMB back then, now you can go by metro from airport to university and it is only 6RMB). In the city center you can use these two metro lines, public buses or go by taxi, or try out public bike sharing.

Attractions in Ningbo

You can pretty much find everything in Ningbo or its surroundings, and choose something according to your preference. 

Dong Qian Lake 东钱湖

Located in Yinzhou district 15km from downtown, Dongqian lake is the biggest  natural freshwater lake in Zhejiang province. You can walk around and enjoy the scenery, or rent a bicycle and drive around. There are many bike lines and plenty of rental services. Or rent a boat and have a trip on the lake. See local villages,  Xiao Putuo 小普陀 (an island at  the center of the lake with Guanyin Bodhisatta statue), King Yue’s temple岳王庙, Fuquan Hill 福泉山. Best time for visiting Dongqian Lake is between March and October. Entrance fee is 30RMB. There isn’t metro going to lake yet, so you have to take taxi or bus. Bus No.966 reaches main touristic spots.

Tea Fields in Ningbo Dongqian Lake Fuquan Mountain

From Dongqian lake go even further up the mountains and visit Fuqaun Mountain 福泉山 which offers stunning views of lake from the top and you get to see beautiful tea plantations. Take bus 960 or 966 and get off at Fuquan Mountain stop 福泉山停车场站 or 福泉山景区站. Admission fee: 40RMB 

Tianfeng Pagoda天封塔

Tianfeng Pagoda

Pagoda known also as Tang Pagoda (built in Tang Dynasty (618-907) is located in the city center. Go by buses No. 6, 9, 118, 130, 364, 507, 518, 560, 809, 812, 906 get off at Tianfeng temple 天封塔站 or choose subway line 2, go to Chenghuangmiao 城隍庙站 (exit C), and walk about 500m. Admission fee is 5RMB. 

Baoguo Temple 保国寺 

Located in Ningbo, Jiangbei district, it is second oldest surviving wooden structure in southern China. Get there by buses 332 or 338, get off at Baoguo Temple 保国寺站(it will be a minimum one hour trip, would recommend take taxi better). Entrance fee- 20RMB.

Hemudu Culture site 河姆渡遗址

Displaying Neolithic culture and Hemudu people’s lives .  This archeological site is located in Yuyao city余姚25km from Ningbo city. Ticket costs 25RMB. Opening hours 8am-5pm. You can get there by bus No.405 (first take bus No.333 and go till Gongfeng village龚冯村, then transfer to No.405 and get off at Jingpu An泾浦庵, walk to河姆渡遗址. 

Ningbo Xuedou Temple 雪窦寺 and hiking Xuedou mountain area

Xuedou mountain area and temple 雪窦寺 are located in Fenghua district 奉化区,Xikou溪口. Xuedou mountain 雪窦山has been named as one of China’s five sacred Buddhist mountains中国五大佛教名山.  Scenic area is big with a lot of hiking options. 

Tiantong National Forest Park 天童寺

Tiantong National Forest park offers a very beautiful scenery, and is one of the nicest places I have visited in Ningbo. It is located in Yinzhou distric, Taibai Mountains 25km from city center. Go see the Tiantong Temple天童禅寺and Ten Thousand Buddha pagoda 万佛塔. There is no entrance fee, opening hours 8am-6:30pm . You can go by bus No.162 till公交天童站 or No.55 to下三塘村口站 (make sure it goes in the direction of上三塘! There is another route that No.55 takes, so you have to check for the one轨道宝幢站—上三塘. (Takes around 2hours from train station, if you go by taxi then around 45-50min, and could cost ~130RMB).

Tiantong National Forest Park, Ten Thousand Buddha pagoda

ZheDong Grand Canyon 浙东大峡谷

A place for hiking enthusiasts and nature lovers. Located in Ninghai County 宁海县 ~ 25km from Ningbo downtown. You will need around 3-4 hours to walk the trail. Prepare comfortable shoes, water, and snacks.  Admission fee is 100RMB, opening hours 8pm to 5pm (latest entrance 4pm). 

Zhedong Grand canyon

Ningbo Museum 宁波博物馆

Also known as Ningbo Historic Museum or Yinzhou Museum located in Yinzhou district . Museum is designed by Wang Shu, the first Chinese citizen to win the Pritzker Architecture Prize. There is no entrance fee; it is opened from 9am to 4pm (closed on Mondays). Museum is easily accessible by plenty of buses (107, 126, 129,  160, 167, 168, 178, 182, 188, 362, 628, 635, 650, 661-1,  661,   881).  

TianYi Pavilion 天一阁

Situated right in the city center. Built in the 16^th century it is the oldest private library in China (one of the oldest in Asia). You don’t see a lot of books there, and it doesn’t really remind a library when you think of one. It is a nice museum with a Chinese style garden outside. Opening hours 8:30am-5:30. Entrance fee 30RMB. 

Tianyi Pavilion

Gu Lou Drum Tower鼓楼 

Ancient commercial street in Ningbo city center. You can find Chinese restaurants and souvenir shops there. Try some Ningbo local foods and delicacies. Check out the second floor for tea houses, you can go there and try Chinese tea (for free). Get there by metro, both lines 1 and 2. 

Tianyi square 天一广场

Biggest shopping square in Ningbo, located in city center. Good place for leisure travel; you can visit catholic church which is near the square. You will find restaurants, shopping malls, cafes (2 Starbucks), beauty salons etc. Get to Tianyi square by metro line 1. 

Tianyi Square

Ningbo Laowaitan 老外滩 The Old Bund

Laowaitan is an area of pubs, bars and restaurants. It is even older than the famous Bund of Shanghai, and was opened to foreign trade eariler too. It is one of the most popular places foreigners go when in Ningbo. While on weekends it is crowded with people enjoying Ningbo night life, day time is much more empty and calm. Then it is usually occupied by young couples taking wedding photos there. If you happen to be there at day time, you can also visit Ningbo Museum of Arts宁波美术馆 (open from Tuesday to Saturday 9am-5pm) which is right next to Old Bund. You can go to Laowaitan by foot from Tianyi square, or by bus (only one stop). 

The Old Bund

Heyi Dadao 和义大道 or Heyi Avenue Shopping Center

One more shopping area, close to Tianyi square along the Yuyao river 余姚江。There you can find restaurants, shopping malls with luxury brands, cafes, nice view with fountains at the riverside.

Moon Lake park月湖 公园

Beautiful park in the city center where you can spend a relaxing day. Rent a paddle boat, have a picnic or just stroll around and enjoy the scenery. If you go from train station, take bus No. 819 and get off at Yuehu park station 月湖 公园站 (5stops). From Tianyi Square take buses 354, 357, or 1 get off at the First Hospital station 第一医院站, and walk few hundred meters.

Heyi Avenue

In short, I have to say I am always surprised to discover more and more new sites and then I think to myself how come I have never visited this place before even though I live here for so long already. I think Ningbo is a bit underrated city in the eyes of tourists, probably because more popular Hangzhou is very close and Shanghai is also only 200km to the North. But Ningbo for sure has a lot to offer and have some very interesting and beautiful places. However, lot of sightseeing spots are pretty far from the downtown and might take at least half day to visit one, thus one day visit wouldn’t be enough. If you come to Ningbo I recommend staying at least for couple of days.