The three must-see attractions in Ningbo are Ningbo Drum Tower, Tianyi Pavilion and Nantang Old Street.
1. Ningbo Drum Tower
The Drum Tower, also called Haishu Tower, is the only remaining ancient city tower site in Ningbo. Its lower part is in the style of a traditional Chinese tower, and above the tower is a Roman-style bell tower, which is a unique combination of Chinese and Western styles. Nowadays, the area around the Drum Tower is an antique pedestrian shopping area, and Ningbo specialty snacks such as Youzanzi are worth trying.
Today, the Drum Tower and the nearby Gongyuan Road area have become the gathering place for major cultural activities in Ningbo. Painting exhibitions, calligraphy exhibitions, and photo exhibitions are often held in the building. On both sides of the road are shops imitating the traditional architectural style of Ningbo. The double-slope roofs with small green tiles, Fenghuo horse head walls, and various fine wooden exterior wall decorations not only have the style of Ningbo’s traditional commercial street, but also have a strong historical and cultural heritage. texture.
The two ancient stone archways at the entrances at the east and west ends, as well as the city wall ruins, stone monuments of the historical changes of the city, and the Yongfengku Heritage Park near the Drum Tower, allow you to carefully read the history of Ningbo. At night, the Drum Tower area is very popular, and it is especially suitable for taking night photos when the landscape lights are on.
2. Tianyi Pavilion
Tianyi Pavilion Museum is located on the west bank of Yuehu Lake in Ningbo City. Here is the oldest existing private library in my country - Tianyi Pavilion. It is a library built by Fan Qin, a retired official during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty. Ancient books and bookcases are placed in the building, and there is a heavy aroma of books everywhere.
The museum is actually a Jiangnan garden. The East Garden and South Garden in the park are scattered with rockeries, ponds, pavilions and other scenery. Walking in the simple brick and wood corridor, you can feel the quiet environment. . There is a Mingzhou Stele Forest in the park, with hundreds of stone steles recording the history of ancient official education. There is also a calligraphy and painting hall, which often displays the exquisite calligraphy and painting works of the past dynasties collected by Tianyi Pavilion and the masterpieces of calligraphy and painting by celebrities and elegant scholars.
There are also other buildings in the park such as the "Dongming Thatched Cottage" which was the library before Tianyi Pavilion was built, the "Qin Family Ancestral Hall" which displays the architectural characteristics of Ningbo's residential buildings, and the former residence of the Fan family. In the Mahjong Exhibition Hall, you can see a variety of mahjong tiles, allowing you to understand the origin and development of mahjong culture.
3. Nantang Old Street
Nantang Old Street is located outside the south gate of the ancient city of Ningbo. It was once the "South Gate Three Cities" of old Ningbo's business and cultural gathering place, ranking among the three cities in Ningbo. One of the eight historic districts.
The old street has completely preserved more than 500 meters of traditional Jiangnan streets and alleys. During the design and construction, the old street has successfully integrated the historical charm, architectural features and celebrity culture of the old street into the block layout, recreating the business and transaction life of Ningbo people over the past century. The strong atmosphere of daily life.
The entrance to the old street is the archway of "Nantang Old Street". On both sides of the street are green walls, black tiles and carved attics. However, because they have been renovated, they look relatively new. Most of the small shops on both sides of the street sell Ningbo snacks. There are all kinds of snacks. You can eat all the way to the end. It is definitely a paradise for foodies.
Nantang Old Street also has many cultural monuments: Yuan Xie, one of the "Four Chunxi Masters" of the Southern Song Dynasty, and his descendants lived here for generations. In addition, there are also the former residence of the famous film artist Yuan Muzhi and the ancient Mingzhou Tong. Yongshui Bridge, the choke point to southern and western Zhejiang, Yongshan Pavilion built in the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty, as well as Guansheng Temple, Tongmaoji, Yu's Ancestral Hall, many stone river piers, and numerous shops and workshops along the street wait.