Ningbo is a modern city with a rich history dating back to 7000 years. Ningbo is well known for its port in Beilun which is one of the biggest in China, and also as a business center with different trade fairs happening every year and attracting investors and businessmen. Yet few also know that Ningbo is a great hiking destination and is encircled by beautiful mountains.

Here in this article I want to share some of the best hiking trails there is. I have personally hiked all of them; some even several times. And if you happen to be in Ningbo and love outdoors and nature, I can definitely recommend these to start with. If you want to explore not only the cultural part of Ningbo but also nature surrounding it, then this will be a perfect choice to make. It was quite difficult to rank those trails as each of them has its pros and cons. But in general all of these hiking trails are great and worth trying out.

1. Jiulonghu or Nine dragon lake fitness trail 

Nine dragon lake

Jiulonghu or Nine Dragon Lake scenic spot is located in Zhenhai district of Ningbo city. It is quite easy to access as there are buses going to the lake, or even more convenient is to take taxi or Didi. Unlike many other scenic areas, Jiulonghu is free of charge, except the boats and electric cars that take tourists around the lake. However, if you want to walk you can freely enter the area. If you don’t want to walk around the lake, there is a fitness trail up in the mountain, which is my favorite one! I have been hiking it countless times and each time feels different. The entrance of fitness trail starts right before entrance gate. There is a big map (see my post about Nine Dragon Lake here) of the trail and small stairs leading up the mountain. This entrance is easy to spot.

There are trail blazes and signs after couple of hundreds of meters all over trail, so to keep track on your hiking distance and altitude. At the beginning of the trail there are couple of viewing platforms where you can oversee the lake. Views are great and you forget that you are still in Ningbo city. And if you want to go down to the lake so not to take the same route back, there are several paths leading down. Hiking path is also divided in side trails which you can choose, but it might make the journey a lot longer.

For me this is a perfect trail, because

1. You can be very close to nature, walk long distances in the forest

2. The views and location (you don’t need to go too far from the city center).

3. It is peaceful and never crowded

4. For those who like to hike in a group of people and want to have barbeque after hike, there are specially designated places for it by the lake

5. You can visit also a Buddhist temple nearby

6. You can even go to another scenic area (Dapeng mountain scenic spot. There are signs though that you are entering different scenic area and Dapeng mountain has an entrance fee)

7. You can hike it every season

There is also a motorbike track in the mountains which crosses a hiking trail.

Way is it the best trail? Location, views and natural path in mountains gives you a chance to be close to nature and feeling that you are far away from everything but at the same time it is so close to the city that is hard to believe.

Important thing to mention is that like in any other nature areas, you need to be aware of snakes. Good environment, mountains, forests are home to many creatures. And there are plenty of snakes in mountains. They are usually very careful and slithers away before you can notice them, especially if you go in a bigger group. But lone hikers might experience a surprise. And I need to mention that there are several venomous snakes including Asian cobras. You always have to stay cautious. As for other dangerous animals, there are probably some more insects but not that I have seen any big animal.

2. Tiantong temple forest park and Taibai mountain hiking trail

The forest park is located in the foothills of Taibai Mountain in the east of Yinzhou District, next to the ancient Tiantong Temple. Taibai Mountain Forest Park is also called Tiantong Forest Park. This place is more popular among tourists because of the Buddhist temple there, and most of the people visit it and don’t go up the mountain for a hike. The temple area has a beautiful big park which is free of entrance, but if you want to hike till the top of Taibai Mountain, there is a fee of 20RMB. When I first visited this park, I didn’t even notice entrance to the trail and had no idea I can hike up. Only after I saw from far away a viewing platform in the mountains, I asked locals how to get there and they happily showed me entrance to the trail.

It starts with stairs and feels like typical scenic area in China where there is an entrance fee. But when you hike to the top, there is trail going up the mountain which is wild and perfect for hiking lovers. At the very top of the mountain there is a military base. You will see a huge building at the top, and there you can’t trespass. There is a sign which has written on it that you need to turn back and choose another path.

I love this trail because it includes temple, a park and pretty challenging trail where you can see the scenic are from the top. Also having some caves on the way.

It is famous for forests, beautiful stones and caves. This is a good place to view clouds and sunsets. Fresh air, pine trees and good mood  sometimes is all you need for a perfect hike.

On the way down the mountain you can visit Tingting Pavilion, Linglong Cave, Pantuo Stone, Feilai Peak, and prayer platform.

If you want to go there by bus, you need to take bus No. 55. It will take around 2hours from train station, so I would recommend taking taxi.

3. Xuedou Mountain

Xuedou Mountain is another “full package” hiking trail. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Ningbo. The big Buddha statue is the most famous spot there is. You will see it in all tourism videos about Ningbo. Located at Fenghua district, it is not very convenient to go there by public transport, as it takes too much time. The best option is to drive or take taxi. Entrance fee for Xuedou Mountain is 150RMB. You can see more details about the scenic area here in my post about it. Trails here are marked and well established. But if you expect wild hiking in the forest , this will be a bit disappointing, as most of the road is paved with stairs etc. but the views are wonderful and this “civilized” hike never made me bored even though I am not a fan of these perfectly nice man-made walking path. If you want more natural paths, Siming Mountain forest park has a lot of hiking options. Xuedou Mountain is on the way to Simingshan forest park.

4. DongkaoLao mountain

DongkaoLao Mountain is a popular destination among hikers in Ningbo. It is located at the southern head of Shanglin Lake in Cixi. This is another area with a lot of hiking options there.

DongkaoLao Mountain is divided into two peaks- east and west, namely East Mountain and West Mountain. There is a valley between the two peaks, and rushing stream at the bottom of the valley. There are some stairs at the beginning, but most of the time trail is completely natural and wild. I love the way up the mountain to the peak, where you can see the whole picture of Shanglin Lake. The peak rises 424 meters above sea level. This path leads you in a jungle, but this makes the hike even more fun and exciting.

There are some waterfalls on the way, if you hike further down the road, you will see marks showing directions and at one point you can even reach part of Beishan Leisure trail.

This trail is great for enjoying idyllic views, ancient roads, waterfalls, streams and canyons.

5. Jin’E mountain

Jin’e Mountain Scenic Area is located about 20 kilometers away from Ningbo City in Hengxi Town, Yinzhou District. It belongs to the Yinnan Mountain District, which is close to Dongqian Lake Scenic Area, adjacent to Fenghua City. Jin’E mountain scenic terrain is composed of Jin’e Mountain, Damei Mountain, Hengxi Reservoir (Hengxi Lake) and Jin’e Basin. The area is surrounded by mountains, high peaks and big rocks. The highest peak, Jin’E mountain rises 633 meters above sea level and is part of Tiantai Mountains. One of the core landscapes is Hengxi Reservoir with a capacity of 3975 cubic meters and a water area of 1.68 square kilometers.

It happened that there are two villages named Jin’E village, because people from both sides, east and west of the mountain liked the name Jin’E, so they named their villages identically. So now there are two Jin’E villages. No matter which side you choose, you can hike up the mountain both ways and reach the top.

There is a temple located at the foot of Jin’e Mountain. It was founded in the first year of Tang Dynasty (766) and has a long history. The hiking path starts right next to the temple. I had to ask for directions, but it was quite visible actually.

There is a statue of Buddha at the top, and the best season to hike is April, and May because it is time when azalea flowers are blooming. And nothing is more beautiful than an azalea shrub in bloom. Hiking path is both paved and natural too. This is a place I would love to come back again.

6. Zhedong Da Xiagu (East Zhejiang Grand Canyon)

East Zhejiang Grand Canyon is located in Ninghai County, Ningbo City, with a total planned area of about 160 square kilometers and a core scenic area of more than 30 square kilometers; 114 kilometers away from Ningbo. There is an entrance fee in this scenic area, which is 100RMB. The canyon and views are pretty impressive, but this is also a very popular tourist destination. So during holidays this area can get a bit crowded. However, it is still worth visiting, because there are plenty of hiking options. You can have a day hike within an area or take a longer route for couple of days camping with tents. However, most popular and less challenging route will take you around 3 hours, and you can go home the same day. The walking distance is about 6 kilometers. This is a great place to hike and also spend some time with family and friends.

7. Jiufeng mountain

Jiufeng Mountain is located in Beilun area of Ningbo city. Ningbo Jiufeng Mountain area is roughly divided into 2 scenic spots. One is Wangao Scenic Spot and one is Ruiyan Temple Scenic Spot.

It is another scenic area with an entrance fee of 30RMB. Every time I visit Jiufengshan (Jiufeng Mountain) there are quite a lot of people. The best time is to come during weekdays and mornings, right after opening. The area has a big park, with a lot of stairs and steps leading up and down.

The trail to Jiufeng mountain peak is well marked and mostly paved. Climbing up the mountain doesn’t take much time, maybe around 15-20min. Challenging the top of the Nine Peaks is a must-have for many visitors here. Although the Jiufeng Mountai only rises 489 meters above sea level, the main peak is relatively steep and will make you sweat a bit. There are a lot of waterfalls on the way to the peak. And you can keep walking further and take a route down to another scenic area of Ruiyan temple. If you walk from Jiufeng mountain scenic area you won’t have to pay additional fee. If you go straight to the Ruiyan temple area from other side without entering Jiufengshan, then there will be also 30RMB fee.

How to get there?

Coming from the city of Ningbo, there is no direct bus.

If you take Didi it will cost about 80RMB, or you can take the subway to Beilunxin, and then take a taxi to the scenic area.

8. Ningbo “Shangrila”, Putiling forest trail

The Putiling Mountain Trail is located in Yan Village, Tongxia Town, which is known as “Shangri-La of Ningbo”. It has a name also of Ningbo’s most beautiful windmill road. You can drive up the mountain straight to windmills or choose the ancient road and walk up to them. The reason why Yancun is so famous is also due to this ancient Putiling Road with a history of several hundred years.

The total length of Putiling Ancient Road next to Baiyan Mountain is about 12 kilometers. It connects the two places of Yinzhou and Fenghua. The ancient road is built of cobblestones and the village of Yan (Yancun) is built along the stream. The stream and dwellings complement each other, forming a peaceful and natural rural picture.

It was bit difficult to find the start of the trail at the beginning, so I had to ask for directions again. With a help of local people I found it at the end and had a wonderful day and lovely walk. It took around 2 hours to walk up the windmills.

How to get there?

Take bus 665 from Ningbo to Tongxiajiacun (Yancun); or take bus 620 and 668 and get off at Tangxi bus station, then transfer to shuttle bus 602 to Tongxiajiacun (Yancun).

9. Dongpan mountain

Dongpanshan or Dongpan Mountain Forest Trail is located in Chunxiao Town, Beilun. The elevation is 540 meters. It runs to the mountain road in Shangchemen village. Ancient road is covered with dense bamboo forest and tea plantations. Along the road you will see little streams and water reservoirs.  The easiest way to find the beginning of the trail is to search for a Buddhist temple nearby. There is a small path right behind the temple, leading up the mountain. When you see stairs, you can be sure this is the right way, and you won’t get lost. Scenery along the road is beautiful and it is worth repeating the climb. It is suitable for climbing in all seasons, as long as weather is good. The total distance is about 10 kilometers and hiking takes around 4 to 5 hours.

10. Beishan Leisure trail

Beishan leisure trail is a 62-kilometre-long walking trail that runs through mountains. It starts in Lingshan Village of Zhuangqiao Street and ends in Wuxing Village of Cicheng Town, commonly known as “Baili Leisure Greenway”. The trail passes through Baoguo Temple, Cicheng Ancient County, Green Leaf Mountain Villa and other national 4A-level tourist attractions and multiple reservoirs. It is covering an area of 50 square kilometers. The 50,000 mu mountain forest has become the largest “natural oxygen bar” which is nearest to the urban area.

I have hiked this trail almost as many times as Jiulonghu trail. My favorite route starts at Sunhu Lake and then I walk till Baoguo temple (beware of snakes in this area, I have seen plenty there).

The road is paved in this segment, but you can choose to walk less civilized paths and take another route from Sunhu Lake, but the entrance is different, and even though there are signs at the beginning, in some parts it can get confusing where to walk next. With the paved route there is guarantee that you won’t go the wrong way.

I love this trail for several reasons:

1. It is very convenient to get there- great location,

2. Scenery is very diverse, including bamboo forests, tea plantations, indigenous forests, temples, villages and so on.

3. There are never-ending routes, and you can always find a new path to try out

Sunhu and Baoguo temple route is paved and has a temple on the way. There are a lot of stairs to climb up and down, so it gets tiring but totally worth it.

How to get there?

Baoguo Temple (Lingshan Village) bus station: take bus No. 332 and No.338;

Sunhu Village Station: You can take No.338 bus to get there.

These are only few of the great destinations to start with. More and more trails are being discovered and made accessible for people.

Please comment below which trail you want to hike or ask any questions for more information. Let me know if there is another trail in Ningbo that I haven’t mentioned that you love the most!