ningbo a land of splendors

If you have entered this land， let me remind you that you should keep every impression in mind no matter where you may reach. Belonging to the subtropical monsoon climate， Ningbo is featured with mild temperatures， moderate humidity and distinct seasons， making it a particularly popular place for tourists in spring and autumn. After thousands of years， Ningbo has a unique character shaped by Buddhism. This obscure and archaic-looking religion also has produced one of the enlightened cultures here. So during your vacation， try to put Ningbo in your itinerary list. A tour in Ningbo will certainly include a wealth of historical attractions and a wide range of natural wonders.

An enlightening cultural tour

The transition of Ningbo from a Neolithic community to today’s modern city has left itself with numerous protected monuments， and Ningbo has won a place on the list of the best tourist cities in China. Certainly， the landmark attraction — Tianyi Pavilion should be high up on your schedule.

Tianyi Pavilion， also called the Building of Treasured Books， was built from the 40th to the 45th year of the reign of Emperor Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty （1368-1644）. The pavilion surrounded by an elaborate landscape garden is a magnet for visitors. Founded by Fan Qin， Secretary of Defense in the Ming Dynasty， Tianyi Pavilion was reputed as the oldest private library in China， with a collection of around 300，000 antique volumes. Most of them were block printed editions and hand copied books from the Ming Dynasty （1368-1644）. And a part of the collection was given by Fan’s friends. One of the reasons why this collection could be still preserved to today is closely related to Fan’s strict management. In early stage， no one outside Fan’s family could be admitted into the library. Nowadays， experts and scholars can access books and materials of Tianyi Pavilion. In the eyes of Ningbo’s people， education should be taken seriously. From the Tang Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty， around two thousand people passed the examination for imperial scholars and 12 of them won the first places.

Apart from the library， the thousand-year history also has left Ningbo with a number of visually impressive temples， making it a historical site to get close to traditional Chinese culture， especially Buddhism. Situated on Asoka Mountain， the 1700-year-old Asoka Temple is regarded as one of the most prominent Buddhist relics of Ningbo. All the architectures are finely designed and subtlety decorated in an original manner， combining the art of gardening， painting and engraving. It is worth mentioning that there is a pagoda which houses the relics of Sakyamuni， the founder of Buddhism.

Located at the foot of Taibai Mountain， there is another sanctuary — Tiantong Temple. It is said that during the Yongkang Period， there was a monk named Yi Xing decided to build a temple to preach to the people. With a history of more than 1，660 years， it has exerted an influence on the cultural exchanges between Japan and China. Therefore， Japanese treat it as a major destination for pilgrimage in China. Also， it is renowned for picturesque surroundings and subtle architectural styles， displaying the unique ingenuity of its constructors.

On the slope of Lingshan Mountain， Baoguo Temple was initially established during the Eastern Han Dynasty （25-220） and rebuilt in later dynasties. Under the protection of government， it boasts one of the best-preserved wooden-structured buildings throughout the country.

A taste of natural wonders

The flow of the Yuzhaojiang River is running slowly as many years ago， creating a variety of fantastic landscapes on this land. Since arriving in Ningbo， entertainment should not be limited to those temples. Enjoying a series of beautiful natural wonders including the Dongqian Lake and Xikou Tourist Area is inevitable.

Dongqian Lake， four times larger than the West Lake， was formed as a result of geological movements in ancient times. What has really brought fame to this lake is its blend of intoxicating mountains， clear waters and abundant cultural heritages. Surrounded by green mountains， Dongqian Lake seems like a magnet， attracting hordes of tourists fascinated with its treasure trove. In addition， Dongqian Lake has always guaranteed good harvest under all weather conditions， transforming this area into a fertile land of fish and rice.

Since the lake is large， riding along lakeside can be the most popular activities for you can take leisure time to enjoy its natural beauty. Around the lake， there are different bike lanes recommended for different people. Spring and autumn are best seasons for travellers to visit here. Every September of the lunar calendar， the Dragon Boat Festival will be held here. In winter， you may experience the fishing culture of Ningbo. In a word， the lake will present you different views in different seasons.

Xikou Town， 35 km away from the downtown of Ningbo， is a tourist site boasting picturesque scenery as well as historical connotation. Here is just the former residence of Mr. Chiang Kai-Shek， former President of the Republic of China. Known for its forest， Shanglianggang Hill in Xikou Town is a perfect habitat for various kinds of precious plants and animals， bringing you to a primitive and quiet wonderland. Inside the tourist area， you can enjoy cascading waterfalls， climb mountains with grotesque gorges， go rafting and experience the rural life. In rural villages， after a good meal in the barbecue garden， there are many activities that will offer you great joy， including making delicate cakes， indulging in the agile dancing of the minority group， or enjoying the musical fountain with your beloved.

Whenever you smell the smoke of the incense in Baoguo Temple， or paddle a floating bamboo raft on the misty Dongqian Lake， or catch a sight of the historical residence in Xikou Town， you are in Ningbo where beauty is well preserved. Now let us slow our steps， speed up camera shots， free our boat along the Yuzhaojiang River， and taste the historic legends and fascinating sights of Ningbo.