Chinese Name: 宁波 (níng bō)

Population: 8,542,000

Area: 9,816 square kilometers (3,790 square miles)

Location: in the east of Zhejiang, east China

Administrative Division: 6 districts (Haishu, Jiangbei, Beilun, Zhenhai, Yinzhou, Fenghua); 2 counties (Xiangshan, Ninghai); 2 county-level cities (Yuyao, Cixi) 

A Historic Port City & Waypoint to Mt. Putuo Lying in the east of Zhejiang, Ningbo sits at the mid-point of the Chinese coastline, towards the south of the Yangtze Delta. It is adjacent to Shaoxing to the west and Taizhou to the south. The annual cargo throughput of Ningbo Zhoushan Port ranks first in the world, and the container volume ranks the top three. For tourists, what is worth visiting is the cultural heritage deposited in the city. First, pay a visit to Tianyi Pavilion, the oldest library in Asia. The Old Bund of Ningbo, a former foreign concession, has made an indelible mark on Ningbo. Many old European-style buildings have been transformed into bars and restaurants. Charming lakes in the North of the city are also ideal places for outdoor relaxation and cycling. Visitors can also take a visit to Mt.Putuo, one of the four famous Buddhist mountains in China. It takes 1 hour and 40 minutes to there by car.

Attractions

Ningbo is a city with strong Buddhist connections boasting a number of visually-impressive, historical temples.

Ashoka Temple: The 1700 year-old Asoka Temple houses the rare Buddhist relics of Sakyamuni, who is the founder of  Buddhism.

Tiantong Temple: With a history of over 1600 years, it is renowned for its fantastic scenery and subtle architectural style.

Baoguo Temple: It boasts one of the best-preserved wooden structures of its type in the country. Other Buddhist temples in the city include the Qita Temple, the Tianfeng Pagoda and the Xiantong Pagoda.