'''Ningbo''' (?_g; ''Ningb?'') is a port city in Zhejiang province.
Understand
After one of the Opium Wars in the 19th century, China was forced to open five Treaty Ports for foreign trade, including Ningbo. The others were Guangzhou, Xiamen, Fuzhou and Shanghai. However, Shanghai dominated the foreign trade. Ningbo today is a pleasant city without much to offer a tourist, except as a stepping-off point to other areas in the region, in particular the tourist trap Putuoshan. There's hope that the recently-completed http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donghai_Bridge Donghai Bridge, linking the municipalities of Ningpo and Shanghai, will increase foreign investment and economic integration with Shanghai.
Get in
From Shanghai:
-Daily direct flights from both Hongqiao airport (domestic airport within the city) and Pudong airport (international airport 40 minutes from the city by road). The flight duration is half an hour. Delays of about half an hour are common.
-Bus and car time from Shanghai to Ningbo is two hours and a half to three hours using the bay bridge. If going through Hanghzou, it takes about 4 hours.
-Train time is about 3 hours to 4 hours (it goes through HangZhou).
Get around
Taxis are \9 for the first 3km. Bus is \1 (\2 with air conditionning), but you must know the bus routes - stops are not announced in English.
[http://www.chinamaps.info/Ningbo/Ningbo-Area.htm Ningbo City Map]
Now, the bus stops are announced in English.
Money matters
As a foreigner, you can exchange your money at all major banks. A maybe wiser alternative is to use your foreign debit card. International ATMs (Plus/Maestro) can give about \2,000 (about 200,- Euros) out of each ATM at every transaction, up to a total maximum of \5,000 each day, which should be sufficient. ATMs can be found all over the place.
See
'''Tian Yi Square'''. The city's main square and shopping mall.
'''Moon Lake'''. The main city park, originally built in 636.
'''Tian Yi Library'''. A garden pavilion built in the 16th century.
'''Lao Waitan'''. The "old bund", a popular nightlife district. Really a modern re-creation, in the line of Xintiandi in Shanghai, with a number of Shanghai's popular chain restaurants and clubs having a branch, in anticipation of a foreign investment boom. Indian, Vietnamese, and a spectrum of foreign cuisines is represented.
Do
Go to the island
Know Vikky's places
Buy
'''cheap clothing''' - Chenghuang Temple.
'''brand-names''' - Tian Yi Square.
'''Carrefour''' (__?_____s), 248 Zhongxing Road, Ningbo City_C?_g__?_H248. Tel: +86-(0) 574-87771211. With parking lot.
'''Metro''' (_________s), 1 Maidelong Road, Ningbo City_C ?_g_______H1__ Tel: +86-(0) 574-88208888. Also with large parking lot. You will need a metro card to do your purchase. People, however, tend to be quite helpful - if you ask them to borrow their card, they are happy to help.
Sanfo is the leading outdoor gear stores in China and their store in Ningbo is located at 1227-1229 Baizhang Dong Lu, Jiangdong District
Eat
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''' (___Y_____X) [http://www.chinashipu.com/]. 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 __?_H87__(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''' (_O____?), Waimalu (_O?_H) 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.
Drink
Sleep
Budget
'''Ningbo Home Inn''', Zhenming Lu, Zhangqi Xiang 21 Hao(near Moon Lake).
'''Ningbo Lizhai International Youth Hotel''', 77 Gongqing Road (near Moon Lake).
Mid-range
'''Ningbo Kylie Hotel'''. Jicao Jie 76 Hao (downtown Jiangdong near Sheraton)
'''Ningbo Hotel'''. Ma Yuan Road 251. Tel:''+86 574'' 8709-7888. [http://www.ningbohotel.com/] Room rates are with about 240 RMB per night relatively okay. Though it is a rather old hotel, it was just freshly renovated in 2005. It is not far away from the city center. By cab I'd say 7 minutes (during rush hour it could be 15 min).
'''Ningbo Sunny Hotel''', 158 Xihe Road Haishu District, [http://www.ningbosunnyhotel.com/]. A 3-star business hotel with 105 tastefully appointed rooms. Impressive facilities include a well-equipped business center, conference rooms, and recreational facilities such as a spa and sauna. The hotel also serves sumptuous seafood fares in its Chinese restaurant.
Splurge
'''Ningbo Howard Johnson hotel''', Liuting Jie , 230 Hao. [http://chinatour.net/Ningbo-Howard-Johnson-Plaza.html] (near Moon lake)
'''Ningbo Nanyuan hotel''', 2 Lingqiao Road. Tel:''+86 574'' 8709-5678
'''Ningbo Sheraton hotel''', 50 Caihong Rd (N). Tel:''+86 574'' 8768-8688
'''Nanyuan Hotel'''. No. 2 Lingqiao Road Ningbo, Zhejiang. [http://www.NanyuanHotelNingbo.com] A multi-awarded five-star hotel along Haishu District.
New Jingdu Hotel. 6-574-87069999. ttp://www.newjingduhotelningbo.com. est rates on official website start at CNY 442.26+. New Jingdu Hotel is a 4-star hotel lies along East Baizhang Road. While staying at this hotel, you might want to visit some of the famous tourist spots in Zhejiang, China namely Qita Temple, Moon Lake, and Zhoushan Islands. All of their rooms are air-conditioned and has an en suite bathroom, cable/ satellite TV, safe, hair dryer, free high-speed Internet access, and IDD telephone
Get out
'''Bus''' Buses leave Ningbo's south bus station every ten to twenty minutes for Hangzhou, China's most popular domestic destination. Shanghai is also served by frequent, comfortable buses.
'''Boat''' The beautiful if over-touristed Buddhist island Putuoshan is a short bus ride and boat trip away, but can feel like a million miles from the hustle and bustle of the city. The ticket (bus and boat included) costs approximately 60 RMB, and the island has an additional 120 RMB entrance fee. The pier is next to the the Waitan, and the last boat of the day is in the early afternoon - there are more boats, operating later, during the tourist season.