Se hva du kan gjøre og oppleve i Ningbo

The city's main attraction and a huge source of pride, the Tian Yi Library is the most historical library in Asia. The library complex contains multiple historic artefacts and is a pleasure to simply walk around and admire the ancient building while strolling through tranquil gardens and courtyards.

Yuehu, which literally means Moon Lake, is in the south-west of Ningbo, was first turned into a cultural and academic centre during the Song and Yuan Dynasties. Nowadays it is the main recreation area for many locals who come to play chess, practice the martial art of Tai Chi, dance or just enjoy the beautiful views.

The Drum Tower, which constructed during the Tang Dynasty, is the only remaining ruin of an old city gate tower in Ningbo. At the top, there is a six-meter high Romanesque bell tower added in the Republic period. Around the base of the tower is a commercial area where all the buildings are reconstructed in the traditional style.

Tianfeng Pagoda is 120 years older than Ningbo city itself. During ancient times, it was served as a lighthouse that directed passing ships. Today you can climb the stairs all the way to the top and from there take in a panoramic view of the city.

The Catholic Church in the south of Tianyi Square was built in 1702 by a French missionary. This classical Gothic-style cathedral consists of a hall (31 meters in height) and two bell towers that are 66 meters high.

The Old Bund has witnessed the development of Ningbo as a port city, with English, French, German and Dutch-style architecture evoking memories of the 30's and 40's in this cosmopolitan hub. There are a number of evening venues in the area, most operating during the summer months.

For a scenic day trip, head to Yushan Island, a beautiful and secluded formation. Tourist infrastructure is little developed here, with a few resorts and a picturesque lighthouse set against the backdrop of crystal-blue sea water. During the night, you can look at the sky and even see the magical blue tears, the mysterious blue lights spotted along Yushan Island.

This Buddhist Temple, which sets in a hilly area about an hour long bus trip away from Ningbo city, is a perfect venue for a day trip. Hiking uphill is a pleasant experience with the clarity of the air, scenic views, and multiple smaller temples along the way.

This little village has over 600 years history and was constructed on a hill with one side open to the sea. The wall of the village traces the mountainside, going up and down. There is a whole street of seafood restaurants near the port where one can savor the freshest seafood and the most authentic Ningbo dishes.

The museum itself is a wonderful piece of art and has won several international architecture prizes. The most interesting part of the exhibition would be the folk culture hall, where a whole street featuring shops of traditional handcrafted art was created inside the building. This place will take you back in time and offer a closer look at the old Ningbo City.

This seafood restaurant enjoys a spotless reputation in Ningbo, and some say it even makes the cut as one of the top contenders for best seafood restaurant nationwide. Take a pick from the display on the ice and have your favourite seafood dish freshly prepared within minutes.

Located in a renovated ancient Chinese mansion, Feast Modern Restaurant offers local fare with a sophisticated twist. The menu is in Chinese, but very well-illustrated. This one is, indeed, a dining experience rather just a meal - all in a 20th-century Shanghai-style interior.

An incredibly popular Indian eatery, Ganesha serves curries and fresh, fluffy Naan bread that keeps patrons coming back for more. Do not be put off by the modest interior - appearance matters little once you discover the famously delicious meals and incredible friendliness of the staffs.

With its four locations around town, Grandma's Home is a must-visit eatery serving authentic Zhejiang Dishes. You will be served with a wide variety of dishes in southern culinary style, which is light and delicate. Be aware that the menu is only in Chinese so better to go with a Chinese person who can order for you.

ZaoZiShu serves vegan and vegetarian cuisine, that is varied compared to other vegetarian restaurants. It is a good place for those with a carnivorous persuasion to give plant-based foods a chance. You will find ZaoZiShu very easily as it is located in the old town of Ningbo.

With some of the best Turkish food in Ningbo, Mevlana is a reputable restaurant serving a variety of hot and cold mezze, kebab, pide, hummus, salads and many more delicious staples of the Mediterranean and Turkish cuisine. The staff can speak English. Please keep in mind that alcohol is not served.

Ancient grains of rice were discovered at the Hemudu Site, once home to a Neolithic culture that inhabited the Ningbo area, which makes Ningbo the city with the longest history of rice cultivation. Rice is put to good use in countless ways here, tang yuan being, perhaps, the most famous of all. Tang yuan are essentially glutinous rice balls that come with all kinds of fillings. These can be sweet and salty, hot and cold, served dry or with soup. With all these different combinations, there is plenty of room for choice. Apart from tang yuan, nian gao, the year cake, which is made of rice, is also popular and can be served in all different kinds of shapes and cooked in hundreds of ways. Gang Ya Gou is the most reputable restaurant of local cuisine. This is the place where you can sample all the dishes mentioned above, as well as enjoy rice in ways you never imagined possible.

This spacious, airy establishment is known for the quirky way of marking tables - instead of numbers, guests get to have their very own stuffed teddy bears. The café serves various treats - waffles and toast, as follows from the name, but also sandwiches, ice creams, fruit salads and drinks.

Heralded as the best bakery in Ningbo, Mon Epoque offers a truly varied selection of freshly baked bread and pastries - one would be hard-pressed to find an establishment able to compete. Light meals such as sandwiches and salads are served as well.

This café is currently a hit on Ningbo social media for having a lot of cute kitties as "employees". It is located in the centre of Ningbo and is an ideal place for a break when shopping in Tianyi Square.

It is hard to miss Ancient Coffee when you enter the Laowaitan Area. The owner of Ancient coffee is one of the first professional coffee makers in China. The coffee shop is equipped with a Giesen roasting machine that allows them to roast their own coffee beans. Their signature coffee is Hartmann Black Winey which is imported from Panama.

Hug Coffee shares the same owner as Ancient Coffee, which can be seen as all but a guarantee of high quality. This café is located in the Drum Tower commercial street and has only several seats, but they do offer great coffee such as flat white, cold brew Kenyan pour over, and more.

Honeywood Cafe is simple and cosy, and will make you feel like you're visiting a friend. They have both professional equipment and professional coffee makers from Shanghai, and their milk tea is a must-try.

At night, head to the popping riverside area of Laowaitan. It is packed with restaurants, bars and nightlife venues to the brim - establishments dot the neighbourhood, and one is never too far away from a watering hole. Locals, expats and tourists all flock here after sundown.

S86 is the biggest pub in Ningbo and also the most famous one. The professional guest DJs are invited from all over the world. The price is relatively high and there will be no more seats after 23h, so it is recommended to make a reservation. The staff can speak English.

This bar will definitely surprise you for its entrance is hidden behind one of the bookshelves in a place that looks like a bookstore. You'll have to put some effort into finding the hidden button so that you can get in. It is a quiet cocktail bar that's ideal for a little chat with friends. Their signature cocktail is provocatively called "deep throat", the upper part of which is strong, and the lower part sweet.

Shishen is a Japanese style Izakaya and it is reservation only. It is cosy and warm and has a lot of original cocktails. You need to buy one bottle to become a member and the bartenders will make cocktails based on the alcohol you buy, although you can, of course, drink neat.

Bar Constellation is a fancy and upscale bar with classic interior and a wide selection of cocktails, whiskeys, wines and cigars. The staff (dressed in white gloves and bow-ties) and the big, monumental armchairs contribute to the elegant atmosphere. The staff can speak English.

This Irish pub has been around since 2006 and attracts both locals and tourists. The lively and happy atmosphere invites people from all around the world to a beer and a chat with new friends. If you are hungry, grab a bite to eat from their menu with sandwiches, burgers, pizza and fries. Staff can speak English.

This bar cum restaurant located in the old port area of Ningbo is a relaxed evening venue with darts and live sports broadcasts. And this is one of the expat's favourite. Brunch is served between 10:30 AM and 3:00 PM on weekends. Seating on the top floor offers a great view of the opposite river bank.

Called the Saloon of Ningbo, Tianyi Square is one of the busiest places and most fashionable shopping district of the city. Here you can find boutiques, restaurants, coffee bars and entertainment centres. The Square's series of fountains light up at night, making for a majestic outdoor show.

Wanda Plaza is comprised of shopping malls with both local and western stores such as Walmart, a great variety of restaurants, as well as entertainment destinations. Don't hesitate to go with family. The vast shopping options are for all needs no matter what age you are.

There are multiple INtime shopping centre branches throughout Ningbo, the most well-visited one located in one of the city's busiest areas - the Tianyi Square. With a multitude of stores and boutiques, these shopping centres are a one-stop location for all one's shopping needs.

Located right by the Drum Tower, Gu Lou is a traditional commercial street with multiple small shops selling various knick-knacks, artworks, leather goods, and local snacks like traditional roasted chestnuts. Chinese lanterns linger from the sky as local cafés invite shoppers for a quick break.

Here you can find food, bars, KTV, cinema and of course, local stores alongside international brands. The place is located in the city center, making it an easy stop for copious numbers of visitors.

For citizens of the following countries, the visa is not requested for short term stays: - 90 days: Bosnia and Herzegovina, San Marino - 60 days: Mauritius - 30 days: Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Ecuador, Fiji, Grenada, Qatar, Serbia, Seychelles, Tonga, United Arab Emirates. - 15 days: Brunei, Japan, Singapore. Holders of passports issued by the following 49 countries do not require a visa for a 144-hour stay if they are transiting through airports in Shanghai, Hangzhou or Jiangsu. However, passengers need to provide ticket showing their first destination, which should be outside China, nor could it be in the same country as the inbound flight. - All European Union citizens, Albania, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Iceland, Japan, Macedonia, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Qatar, Russia, South Korea, Switzerland, Ukraine, United States. - Passengers who enter China via airports in Shanghai, Hangzhou or Jiangsu cannot leave this area.

Due to the Internet policy of China, certain websites and applications are not accessible from the mainland, which includes those very commonly used in the west (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google, Skype and more). Some travellers have been able to gain access to those via a VPN service (installed prior to arrival in China). Make sure you comply with local laws and regulations when deciding on whether or not to employ a VPN, and which one to choose (if you do, only use those explicitly allowed by the Chinese government, and only use them for authorised purposes to avoid any trouble). There have been reports of foreigners in China getting their cell service cut off in response to unauthorised use of VPN being detected; restoring cell service required a trip to the local police station where contents of the device were investigated and certain apps removed. Giving that Google is banned in China, Google Maps might not be the most accurate and reliable source of information. Some local apps such as Baidu Maps and AutoNavi tend to work better than Google Maps.

Pharmacies are easy to locate but do mind that staff often will not speak English, so it is recommended that you bring along someone who can interpret for you, or have the name of the needed medicine written down in Chinese characters. Nepstar Drugstore

The best time to visit Ningbo is from April to June when the temperature is around 20°C, so you can enjoy favourable weather.

Ningbo Lishe International Airport is situated 12 km away from the downtown area of Ningbo. It takes 10 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic conditions. Taxis from the airport are very affordable and depart directly from outside the terminal. Bus service to the city is provided with multiple stops, but only departs several times a day. It is also possible to take the subway to town with Line 2 which connects the airport to Qingshuipu via Ningbo Railway Station and Drum Tower.

The easiest way to get around the city is by car but if you prefer public transport there are several bus lines operating in Ningbo. Be aware that stops are neither marked nor announced in English. There are also currently 2 subway lines in Ningbo. Line 2 connects the airport to Qingshuipu via Ningbo Railway Station and Drum Tower.

With more than 3,000 taxis in Ningbo, you do not have to wait long to find one. The price is set by taximeter and varies depending on which type of car you choose. You can also use the taxi cab hailing service with WeChat or Alipay (like the Chinese version of Uber).

You can find stamps in post offices scattered around the city. Ningbo Post Station Address: 496 Zhongshan Xi Lu Zhenhai Post Station Address: 136 Hexi Lu Huaguang Post Station Address: 1087 Baizhang Dong Lu

Country code: +86 Area code: 574

220 V, 50 Hz Adapter needed