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The courtyard of the Tianyi Pavilion library in Ningbo, Zhejiang
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Ningbo Travel Guide — the Tianyi Pavilion, Moon Lake, the Old Bund, Fenghua Xikou and the East Qian Lake

Ningbo - the 'small Shanghai' that opened its own treaty port - pairs the oldest private library in China (the Tianyi Pavilion, RMB 30) with the free Moon Lake, the Old Bund of the treaty era, the Fenghua Xikou hometown of Chiang Kai-shek, the East Qian Lake and the 7,000-year Hemudu site. The six urban districts spread to Fenghua, Cixi and Yuyao, and the sea towns of Ninghai and Xiangshan wait beyond. The field guide carries the tickets, the restaurants with their phones and average bills, the hotels, the ferry to Zhoushan and the practical numbers, so you can plan it yourself or have our team arrange it end to end.

NingboTianyi PavilionMoon LakeOld BundFenghua XikouEast Qian LakeHemuduZhejiang
1-2 DaysOne day covers the old city; a second adds Fenghua Xikou or the East Qian Lake
From RMB 15Tianyi Pavilion RMB 30 (students RMB 15); Moon Lake and the Old Bund are free
Spring & AutumnMild and clear from April to June and September to November
Free Booking HelpHotels, tickets & tours by our team
What's inside this guide Bucket List · Highlights · Q&A · Itineraries · Attractions · Activities · Where to Stay · Food · Getting Around · Shopping · Practical Info · Day Trips · Tips · Background · Plan Your Trip

Ningbo Bucket Listthe library, the lake and the hometown of the Generalissimo

01

Browse the Tianyi Pavilion

The oldest private library in China, at 10 Tianyi Street - RMB 30 (students RMB 15), the Ming garden with the stone lions, the stelae and the classic reading halls.

02

Walk the free Moon Lake

The free lake of the old town on Yanyue Street - the bridges, the pagodas and the tea houses of the gentry quarter.

03

Stroll the Old Bund

The treaty-port waterfront of 1844 - the warehouses, the bars and the riverside promenade of the 'small Shanghai'.

04

Follow the Xikou story

Fenghua Xikou, 50 minutes away, holds the Chiang Kai-shek hometown - the Wuling Gate, the Chiang ancestral hall, the Fenggao House and the Yutai Salt Shop.

05

Ride the East Qian Lake

The great lake east of the city by bus 901 - the five scenic areas, the water sports and the cycling circuit.

06

Dig the Hemudu roots

The free 7,000-year-old Hemudu site at Yuyao - the rice paddies and the dugout canoes of the earliest farmers of the Yangtze delta.

Top Highlightsthe library, the lake and the port

No.1The Tianyi Pavilion garden

The Tianyi Pavilion garden

The Ming library and its stelae garden.

No.2The Zunjing Pavilion

The Zunjing Pavilion

The classic reading hall of the library.

No.3The Tianyi gate

The Tianyi gate

The stone lions of the oldest library.

Questions & Answerswhat travellers always ask about Ningbo

How many days do I need in Ningbo?

One day covers the Tianyi Pavilion, Moon Lake and the Old Bund; a second adds Fenghua Xikou or the East Qian Lake; a third can reach the Siming Mountains or take the ferry to Zhoushan.

Where is the Tianyi Pavilion?

At 10 Tianyi Street in the old city - RMB 30 (students RMB 15), about two hours with the garden and the stelae.

Is Moon Lake really free?

Yes - the lake, the bridges and the pavilions are free all day; the tea houses around the shore are the local way to rest.

How do I reach Fenghua Xikou?

Buses and coaches run from the city to Fenghua (about 50 minutes); the old town of Wuling Gate, the Chiang ancestral hall and the Xuedou Mountain sit together at the end of the line.

What is the Hemudu site?

The 7,000-year-old Neolithic settlement at Yuyao - free to visit, with the rice, the pottery and the canoe remains of the earliest Yangtze farmers.

How do I get to Zhoushan?

The ferries leave from the Beilun Bai Feng ferry terminal - the crossing to the Zhoushan island (Yadan Shan) takes about 50 minutes at RMB 15 per person.

Can ToursChinaTravel arrange my Ningbo trip?

Yes - email [email protected] or message us on WhatsApp. Our team books the Xikou tickets, the lake boats, the hotels and the Zhoushan ferries, free of charge and without obligation.

Sample Itinerariesthe old-city day and the Xikou extension

Ningbo Old City - One Day

The Tianyi Pavilion, the Drum Tower, Moon Lake and the Old Bund - the treaty-port city in a day. View the plan →

Day 1

09:00 the Tianyi Pavilion (RMB 30); 11:30 the Drum Tower and the snacks; 13:00 Moon Lake walk; 15:00 the Old Bund waterfront; 18:00 the Gangyagou tangyuan for dinner.

Xikou & East Qian Lake - Two Days

The hometown of Chiang Kai-shek and the great lake of the east. View the plan →

Day 1

Morning coaches to Fenghua Xikou - the Wuling Gate, the Chiang ancestral hall, the Fenggao House and the Yutai Salt Shop; afternoon the Xuedou Mountain and the San Yin Pool; night back in the city.

Day 2

Morning bus 901 to the East Qian Lake - the five scenic areas and the water sports; afternoon the free Hemudu site at Yuyao; evening the Old Bund bars.

All plans are bookable end-to-end by our team — see the full day-by-day Ningbo itineraries hub, or the day-trip pages for single-day options.

Top Attractionstickets, hours, transport & insider tips

Tianyi Pavilion

Tianyi Pavilion

The oldest private library in China, built in 1561 - RMB 30 (students RMB 15); the Ming garden, the stelae hall and the classic reading rooms at 10 Tianyi Street.

RMB 30 · 08:00-17:00 · Library · Ming Dynasty
View details →
Moon Lake

Moon Lake

The free lake of the old town on Yanyue Street - the bridges, the pavilions and the tea houses where the Ningbo gentry spent their evenings.

Free · All day · Lake · Old Town
View details →
The Old Bund

The Old Bund

The 1844 treaty-port waterfront - the warehouses, the bars and the river promenade that gave Ningbo its 'small Shanghai' name; free.

Free · All day · Waterfront · History
View details →
Fenghua Xikou

Fenghua Xikou

The hometown of Chiang Kai-shek, 50 minutes from the city - the Wuling Gate, the Chiang ancestral hall, the Fenggao House and the Yutai Salt Shop; the Xuedou Mountain and the San Yin Pool sit above the town.

Not published · 08:00-17:00 · Historic Town · Scenic Area
View details →
East Qian Lake

East Qian Lake

The great lake east of the city by bus 901 - the five scenic areas, the cycling circuit and the water sports; the Hanling and the stone pagodas of the shore.

Not published · Daylight hours · Lake · Cycling
View details →
Hemudu Site

Hemudu Site

The 7,000-year-old Neolithic settlement at Yuyao - free; the rice, the pottery and the dugout canoes of the earliest Yangtze farmers in the museum halls.

Free · 08:00-17:00 · Archaeology · Museum
View details →
Siming Lake

Siming Lake

The mountain lake of the Siming range - RMB 38; the boat rides and the lakeside walks; +86 574 6288 3368.

RMB 38 · 08:00-17:00 · Lake · Mountains
View details →
Dan Shan Chi Shui

Dan Shan Chi Shui

The red-cliff scenic area of the Siming Mountains - RMB 50; the waterfalls, the gorges and the hanging paths.

RMB 50 · 08:00-17:00 · Gorge · Scenic Area
View details →

More in the region on the Zhejiang attractions page.

Activities & Festivalsfestivals of the coast and the mountains

Xiangshan Seafood Festival

The May seafood festival at the Xiangshan coast - the nets, the catches and the beach banquets of the East China Sea.

Cixi Yangmei Festival

The June festival at Henghe town - the red bayberries of Cixi and the orchards open to the pickers.

Changjie Razor Clam Festival

The April festival at Ninghai - the razor clams of the bay and the local cooking contests.

Sangzhou Tea Festival

The April tea festival of the Wanghai tea country - the terraces, the picking and the tastings.

Where to Stayfrom the hostels to the riverfront hotels

Every hotel below is bookable by our team; browse the full Zhejiang hotels directory.

Juzi Hotel

The smart budget hotel at 447 Mayuan Road, Haishu district - from RMB 188; +86 574 8389 8888.

Phone: +86 574 8389 8888 · Book: Zhejiang hotels · or email [email protected]

Jingang Grand Hotel

The riverside hotel at 51 Yangshan Road, Jiangbei district - from RMB 400; +86 574 8766 8888.

Phone: +86 574 8766 8888 · Book: Zhejiang hotels · or email [email protected]

Guanzhi 22 Motel

The design motel at 22 Xinhui Road, high-tech zone - from RMB 350; +86 574 8790 2222.

Phone: +86 574 8790 2222 · Book: Zhejiang hotels · or email [email protected]

Lizi Hotel

The comfortable hotel at 436 Jinshan Middle Road, Yinzhou district - from RMB 300; +86 574 8308 8888.

Phone: +86 574 8308 8888 · Book: Zhejiang hotels · or email [email protected]

Lizhai International Youth Hostel

The budget hostel of the old city - from RMB 50; +86 574 8728 0666.

Phone: +86 574 8728 0666 · Book: Zhejiang hotels · or email [email protected]

Food & Restaurantstangyuan, crabs and the sea harvest

Gangyagou Tangyuan Shop

The famous rice-dumpling shop at 188 Zhongshan East Road and 68 Crystal Street, Tianyi Square - from RMB 43 per head; +86 574 8908 1926.

Phone: +86 574 8908 1926

Tiegebi

The homestyle kitchen of the city - the seafood and the local dishes at about RMB 79 per head; +86 574 5668 1666.

Phone: +86 574 5668 1666

Dongfuyuan Restaurant

The classic Ningbo dining hall at 7 Gongyuan Road, Drum Tower - from RMB 115 per head; +86 574 8717 5777.

Phone: +86 574 8717 5777

Ningbo Trio of Odours

The famous 'smelly trio' of the city - the fermented tofu, the vegetables and the fish of the Ningbo kitchens, best with the local yellow wine.

Xuedou Layer Cake

The thousand-layer cake of Xikou - the sweet flaky specialty sold across the old town.

Shopping & Souvenirsthe commercial streets and the port specialties

Tianyi Square

The great commercial square of the city - the malls, the cinema and the restaurants of the downtown.

Drum Tower Street

The pedestrian street of the old city - the snacks, the crafts and the old shops of the Ming town.

Ningbo Dried Goods

The dried seafood and the 'Ningbo gonggan' (dried scallops) of the port - the classic gifts of the coast.

Huanggulin Straw Mats

The woven straw mats of the Huanggulin craft - the traditional Ningbo summer ware.

Cixi Yangmei

The red bayberries of Cixi, in season June-July - the orchards open to the pickers.

Full local-product guides live on the Zhejiang specialties page.

Getting There & Aroundby air, rail, coach and the Zhoushan ferry

By airBy air

By air

Lishe International Airport, 12 km from the city - the airport bus at RMB 12; a taxi to the centre is about RMB 30-40.

By trainThe Ningbo East Station (+86 574 8784 5615) and the South Station serve the high-speed rail - the metro links both to the centre.

The Ningbo East Station (+86 574 8784 5615) and the South Station serve the high-speed rail - the metro links both to the centre.

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By coachBy coach

By coach

The long-distance terminals - the centre (+86 574 8714 2846), the east (+86 574 8792 4570), the north (+86 574 8735 5321), the south (+86 574 8713 1834) and the south minibus (+86 574 8715 7771).

By taxi & busBy taxi & bus

By taxi & bus

Taxis start at RMB 10 for 3.5 km, then RMB 2 per km plus RMB 2 fuel; city buses cost RMB 1-2.

By ferryBy ferry

By ferry

The Beilun Bai Feng ferry runs to Yadan Shan (Zhoushan island) - about 50 minutes at RMB 15 per person, the gateway to Putuoshan.

Day Trips From Ningbothe lake, the mountains and the island ferry

Fenghua Xikou Day Trip

Fenghua Xikou Day Trip

The hometown of Chiang Kai-shek and the Xuedou Mountain.

East Qian Lake Day Trip

East Qian Lake Day Trip

The five scenic areas and the cycling circuit by bus 901.

Hemudu & Yuyao Day Trip

Hemudu & Yuyao Day Trip

The 7,000-year-old site and the Siming lake country.

Travel Tipsthings to remember

Keep the Tianyi ticket

The RMB 30 Tianyi ticket covers the garden and the halls - the stelae hall is the highlight, so do not rush past it.

Eat the tangyuan

The Gangyagou rice dumplings are the taste of Ningbo - order the soup version at the Tianyi Square shop.

Seafood rules

The locals eat the sea harvest with white spirits or rice vinegar - and avoid cold drinks and swimming for an hour after the meal.

Ferry to Zhoushan

The Bai Feng-Yadan Shan ferry runs through the day - check the times the night before if you plan the Putuoshan crossing.

The old city is walkable

The Tianyi Pavilion, the Drum Tower, Moon Lake and the Old Bund sit within a 30-minute walk - leave the taxi for Xikou.

Practical Informationbanks, hospitals, emergencies and local help

Ningbo No.1 Hospital

The hospital at 59 Liuting Street.

Phone: +86 574 8708 5588

Ningbo East Railway Station

The station information line.

Phone: +86 574 8784 5615

Ningbo Port

The port authority of the old treaty harbour.

Phone: Not published

Ningbo tourism complaint

The official complaints line of the city.

Phone: Not published

Background & Historythe port that opened the delta

The Hemudu cradle

The Hemudu site, 7,000 years old, holds the earliest rice of the Yangtze delta - the dugout canoes and the stilt houses of the first farmers.

The treaty port

Ningbo was one of the five ports opened by the 1842 Treaty of Nanking - the Old Bund and the warehouses of the foreign firms still line the river.

The Generalissimo’s hometown

Fenghua Xikou is the birthplace of Chiang Kai-shek - the old streets and the family houses draw the visitors of the modern era.

The small Shanghai

The Ningbo dialect sounds like the Shanghai tongue, and the city shares the delta's commercial energy - the bankers and the traders of old Ningbo built the Shanghai of the 20th century.

Plan Your Ningbo Tripattractions, hotels, flights and specialties — all in one place

Everything on ToursChinaTravel is bookable through our team by email or WhatsApp. Here's where each part of your Ningbo trip lives on the site.

Zhejiang Attractions

Zhejiang Attractions

Star-rated sight details — hours, tickets, phones and tips for every Zhejiang attraction.

Browse Zhejiang sights
Ningbo Hotels

Ningbo Hotels

Star-rated hotels across Zhejiang — sorted by rating, all bookable by our team.

Book a Zhejiang hotel
Flights & Trains

Flights & Trains

Routes, airlines and schedules for flights and rail to Ningbo.

See China flights
Zhejiang Specialties

Zhejiang Specialties

Local products, crafts and foods of Zhejiang — where to find each one.

Browse Zhejiang specialties
Zhejiang Travel Agencies

Zhejiang Travel Agencies

Licensed agencies with addresses, phones and booking contacts.

Find a Zhejiang agency
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