Kyle Patrick Long

Driving to Ningbo means crossing the Hangzhou Bay Bridge, the longest sea crossing in the world, at least until the Bahrain-Qatar link opens. At 36 kilometres it effectively cuts the total trip from Shanghai by more than 100 kilometres. Crossing the sea should whet your appetite for the wide variety of fresh seafood available in any number of open air markets spread throughout the city. Just pick and point, and vendors will fry up a variety of delicious sea creatures, some of which you’ve probably never seen outside Ningbo.

The city itself is still something of a work in progress – metro lines are being built, luxury malls are just opening and major hotel brands are now getting in on the action. It lends a hectic feel to the city, but with plenty of options for touring the countryside around Ningbo, this shouldn’t be a problem. Traveling by bike is a popular option while touring around town, and the abundance of rivers and a growing number of skyscrapers should help with navigating for first-timers.

Start your visit with a trip to Tianyige (The First Hall Under Heaven), located next to downtown Ningbo’s Moon Lake. Although the lake is smaller than the more well known West Lake in Hangzhou, there's fewer crowds obstructing the pleasant views and strolls. Not far from the hall is a close-up look at some of the most treasured ancient and well-preserved texts and manuscripts collected by Fan Qin beginning in the Ming dynasty (1522-1566), and lovingly curated and maintained in a sprawling library by his progeny. Today, it’s a peaceful sanctuary with interesting exhibits, gardens and more, including a room of intricate, historical mah-jong sets.

If temple fatigue has already set in for you, Ningbo has a cure for that. Located about an hour drive outside the city, the Xuedou Temple is a sprawling complex that at first glance looks like so many other temples in China, but work your way towards the hillside and you are soon greeted by a giant bronze Buddha beckoning from the top of a looming flight of stairs. His jolly, peaceful smile overlooks the temple and its residents, a siren call for the horde of tourists that are just beginning to discover its charms.

With bullet trains from Shanghai’s Hongqiao Station arriving in Ningbo in less than three hours, the city is emerging as a very viable travel destination. If you’ve crossed Hangzhou, Suzhou and Beijing off the travel to-do list, Ningbo is certainly worth a second look for a relaxing weekend away.