Ningbo
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East China (华东) » Zhejiang (浙江) » Ningbo (宁波)
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Overview
Ningbo is situated at the south side of the Yangtze River Delta, and on the eastern tip of Zhejiang Province, peering at Shanghai over the Hangzhou gulf. It has a total area of 9,365 sq. km.
The subtropical monsoon climate of the city is mild and humid with an average annual temperature of 16.5 degrees Celsius.
The total population of Ninbo is about 5.6 million, 2.16 million of which live downtown.
Ningbo is one of the three richest cities in Zhejiang Province, and is a historical and cultural city. Beilun Port in Ningbo is a deep water port.
History
Ningbo has a 7,000-year history. It was one of the first rice-planting regions in the world.
Ningbo, then called Mingzhou, was a well-known seaport in the Tang Dynasty, over one thousand years ago. Unfortunately, its fame as a port resulted in Ninbo's inclusion in the unfair Treat of Nanking, along with four other ports. The treaty was signed in 1842 after the First Opium War.
Today Ninbo is prosperous and beautiful. It was listed as a national historical and cultural city by the State Council of the PRC in 1986.
Map
Click here to open Ningbo map.
Weather
Ningbo has sub-tropical monsoon climate with four distinct seasons. The average temperature is 16.2 °C (61 °F), and annual average rainfall is 1300-1400 mm (51-55 inches).
Current Conditions (2010-03-15 08:00:00, local time)
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Ningbo |
Temp: 49°F (9°C) |
Ningbo Weather Forecast
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| Weather averages for Ningbo | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Avg high °C (°F) | 9 (49) | 10 (50) | 13 (56) | 18 (65) | 23 (73) | 27 (80) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 27 (81) | 23 (74) | 18 (65) | 12 (54) | |
| Avg low °C (°F) | 3 (38) | 4 (39) | 7 (44) | 11 (52) | 16 (61) | 21 (69) | 24 (76) | 24 (76) | 22 (71) | 17 (62) | 12 (53) | 6 (42) | |
| Rain mm (inches) | 59.7 (2.35) | 56.6 (2.23) | 96.8 (3.81) | 85.9 (3.38) | 99.6 (3.92) | 141.2 (5.56) | 96.3 (3.79) | 161 (6.34) | 129 (5.08) | 56.1 (2.21) | 52.6 (2.07) | 47.2 (1.86) | |
| Source: per MSN 2008 | |||||||||||||
What to see
Spring is the harvest season for Yangmei, also called Yumberry (Official name: Myrica rubra), a sweet, juicy fruit. The world-famous annual Yangmei festival is held in Cixi, a smaller city under the jurisdiction of Ningbo.
In summer, the beaches in Songlanshan Mountain area near Ningbo is a popular destination for beach goers. It offers water sports, hunting, and other leisure activities. Another extremely desirable summer resort is the Simingshan Mountain where the average temperature is often 5-6 °C below that in the city.
Mid-September of every year sees the "China Fishing Festival" opened in Shipu Fishing Port, one of the four traditional fishing ports in China. Activities include fishing lantern festival, fishing boat sailing competition, fireworks, folk dancing, the sea worship ceremony, the floats parade.
During the winter, Nanxi Hot Springs, surrounded by the famed Tiantai Mountain and Simingshan Mountain, is a must-see for winter travelers. It is said that the gurgling warm streams can cure many skin diseases, arthritis and other digestive and cardiovascular disease, while the Simingshan Mountain is covered by heavy snow three or four times every year, a rare scene in the area.
Getting in & Getting out
By Air
Ningbo Lishe Airport is located 13 kilometers southwest of the city area. It has more than 40 domestic and international flights. The airport ticket office is at 91 Xingning Road, and the inquiry line is: 0574-87427700.
Website: www.ningbo-airport.com
Ningbo city taxi drivers are generally honest, but there are some bad apples at the airport who will attempt to overcharge you. The fair rate to the city area should be around 50 RMB. The taxi complaint line is 96520.
By Train
Ningbo is served by Ningbo-Xiaoshan Railway, which connects with Zhejiang-Jiangxi, Shanghai-Hangzhou line at Xiaoshan (Hangzhou). Ningbo Railway Station is a first-class passenger station in China.
There are three stations in Ningbo: East Station, North Station and South Station. The one located inside the urban area is the South Station. The ticket office is at the eastern side of the station. The inquiry line is 0574-56163111.
By Bus
By Ship
Getting Around
By Public Bus
The fare for air-conditioned bus starts from 2 RMB.
By Tour Bus
By Taxi & Rental Car
The fare for economy taxis (such as Hongqi, Passat, Santana) is 8 RMB for the first 3 km, and 1.80 RMB for each additional km. For luxury taxis (such as Audi A6), the fare is 10 RMB for the first 3 km, and 2.30 RMB for each additional km. The fare during the night time (11pm to 5am) costs an additional .20 RMB per km. In addition, gas surcharge in the amount of 1 RMB applies for the trip.
Attractions
Hotels
Budget
Mid Range
Luxury
Restaurants
For an experience, go the 35th floor revolving restaurant in the centre of town. It takes 2 hours to revolve, giving you a spectacular view of the city and the meeting of the Three River Mouths.
- TianXiang YuanKongZhong ShiShang CanTing (Revolving Restaurant), 35/F, 181 Zhongshan Dong Road. They are open most of the day, but evening is best. They close at 9pm, so go at least before 7pm. Book in advance if you want a window seat. Reservation Telephone : 0574-8725-7177 – 0. Two of you can eat a basic meal for about 100-200 RMB, though if you want to splurge and try out the delicacies on their rather large menu be prepared to pay more.
Ningbo's local seafood style is called "Yong cuisine".
- Shipu Restaurant (石浦大酒店) [1]. Two locations, 60 Yangyue Jie (tel:8732 8777) at Moon Lake, and 7 Gongqing Road (tel:8730 7470) at Tian Yi Square. Considered one of the best restaurants in Ningbo.
- Feast Modern Restaurant 87 Huaishu Lu 槐树路87号(tel:574-8735-1111) Probably the best chinese decor in Ningbo. Located in a 200 years old Qing Dynasty merchant house which has been totally renovated, the restaurant offers early twentieth century Shanghai furniture style. The dishes offered are mainly from the region but tend to be more sophisticated than the usual fare found in the city, in general it is excellent. The menu is in Chinese but there are a lot of pictures. Located downtown, 5 minutes or less by taxi from Tianyi Square and Lao Wai Tan.
Splurge
- Waitan Huiguan (外灘会馆), Waimalu (外马路) 17. Ningbo. Reservations: 5 74 – 87 35-16 38, Fx: -13 38, 87 35 09 38. Clean Teppanyaki place. Their pricing is also somewhat spectacular - a dinner for two relieves you of about 1,200 RMB. Nevertheless, the food is quite well prepared. Service was also quite attentive.
--from wikitravel.org
Video
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Shopping
Areas along Zhongshan Road (中山路), South Jiefang Road (解放南路), Kaiming Street (开明街), Dongmenkou (东门口) are the most well-known shopping places in Ningbo. The shopping centers feature Yintai (银泰), International Shopping Center (国际购物中心), Jingguang Center (金光中心), 2nd Department Store (二百), Changfa (长发), and New Hualian Shopping Malls (新华联商厦).
Night Life & Entertainment
Sports & Recreation
Excursions & Day Trips
Putuoshan Mountain is one of the four Sacred Mountains of Buddhism in China (the other three are Wutaishan (五台山), Emeishan (峨眉山), and Jiuhuashan (九华山)). It is an island of size of 13 sq km, and can be reached through ferry from Ningbo in about two hours and from Shanghai in about 3 hours.
Putuoshan is the home of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy. It once housed over 200 temples and nunneries, but now has about 80. Devout Buddhists try to make a pilgrimage to here at least once in a lifetime, much like Muslims' pilgrimage to Mecca, the most sacred place in Islam.
