I have to say, this trip to Ningbo gave me a whole new understanding of the city, completely different from my last visit. Instead of heading to the development zone, I spent all my time in the old town. I never expected Ningbo to be so commercially developed while also boasting such a long history.
First, let’s talk about Moon Lake Park. Moon Lake is an artificial lake excavated during the Tang Dynasty. It’s not far from Tianyi Square and is within walking distance. Liuting Street divides the park into two roughly equal halves. The park is free and fully open, making it a great spot for locals to take a stroll~~~ There’s also a Tea Culture Museum and a Haishu Art Museum inside that are worth a visit, though their overall quality isn’t particularly high. However, being in Ningbo, I finally realized just how grand the estates of wealthy families could be… Suddenly, the gardens in Suzhou seem rather modest by comparison.
As a symbol of Ningbo’s city image and its most famous attraction, Tianyi Pavilion is definitely a must-visit. It is the oldest existing private library in China, built in 1561 (the 40th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty) under the supervision of Fan Qin, who was then the Right Vice Minister of War (roughly equivalent to a Deputy Minister of National Defense).
Tickets are reasonably priced, and you can even purchase e-tickets on Ctrip that include an electronic guide, which is perfect for solo travelers. Just open the page on your phone and click on the corresponding spots on the map to listen to the commentary~~~
When I visited, there was road construction nearby, and Moon Lake Park was undergoing renovations, so it took quite some effort to reach the main gate.
The Shenlong edition of the ‘Preface to the Orchid Pavilion’ housed here is the finest among all extant Shenlong editions, serving as the archetype for all other Shenlong versions.
The gilded bridal sedan chair from that era
The grand opera stage—truly a display of immense wealth.
Photos in this post taken with a SONY A5100 + 16-50 f3.5-5.6, post-processed in Lightroom.
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