Things to do in Ninghai

No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Ninghai

Qiantong Ancient Town

Qiantong Ancient Town is located in Southwest Ninghai County. The town is about 14 km long and contains many dwellings and old streets that date back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It was made famous by the well-known movie, "The Music Box". This is a much less commercial place than Zhouzhuang or Wuzhen. There are almost no commercial attractions. Qiantong Ancient Town is a great place to stroll down cobblestone paths, take photos, etc.

No. 5 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Ningbo

Longgong Village

Longgong Village is a thousand-year-old village hidden in the mountains of Shenquan, Ninghai. In the second year of the Xuanhe era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1120), the ancestors of the Chen clan moved here from Pinghu, Xinchang, to live together as a clan and multiply through the generations; today, most families in the village have the last name Chen. The village is situated in a high mountain basin, surrounded on all sides by peaks such as Dahu Jian, Xiaohu Jian, andZhenting Mountain. TheLonggong Creekflows through the village, with old Ming and Qing dynasty residences spread out along the stream. Courtyard complexes known locally as daodi, such as Sanchuantang and Wushitongtang, remain intact in groups, dotted with ancient bridges and trees. Upon entering the village, you are greeted by theChen Ancestral Hall. Its layout, featuring two courtyards (front and back), differs from other ancestral halls in Ninghai. The caisson ceiling of the stage and the wood carvings in the two corridors are exquisite, and a natural tree root shaped like a swimming dragon hangs in the hall. The Yuying Academy within the village is one of the four great ancient academies in the northern countryside of Ninghai. TheLonggong Nunnery(also known as Jifu Temple, and commonly called Longgong Great Nunnery) in the mountains outside the village was built in the ninth year of the Zhengtong era of the Ming Dynasty. By the creek stands an ancient wingnut tree with twisted branches, hundreds of years old, known as the "Dragon Tree." The village's name originates from the Shilong Dou (Stone Dragon Cave) beneath the cliff west of the village: a waterfall cascades from the top of the cliff into a deep pool, the water of which is emerald green and bottomless, as recorded in the Guangxu edition of the Ninghai County Annals. The village was originally namedLongxi Villageand was renamed Longgong Village in the thirteenth year of the Zhengtong era of the Ming Dynasty, a name that has been used ever since. Following the valley out of the village leads into the Longgong Grand Canyon, where a series of waterfalls and emerald pools, such as the Da Fangxie Pool and Xiao Fangxie Pool, connect one after another. An ancient stone-paved path dating back to the Han Dynasty connects Ninghai and Xinchang. The village upholds a family tradition of righteousness, with a large character for righteousness inscribed on the ancestral hall's screen wall. Every year on the second day of the second lunar month, the village hosts folk activities such as dragon dances along the creek, watching operas, and attending banquets.

No. 12 of Activities in Zhejiang

Ancient Theater in Ninghai

Ninghai, a small city with a long history, not only has beautiful natural scenery, but also hides a profound cultural heritage. Many people don't know that Ninghai also has a little-known identity, that is, "the hometown of Chinese ancient stage culture". According to historical records, there are more than 120 ancient stages in Ninghai, which is one of the areas in China with the most and best-preserved ancient stages. The ancient stages in Ninghai are mainly ancestral hall stages and temple stages. Their structures include the main stage, backstage, viewing building, and artistic caissons, etc., showing rich cultural connotations and architectural aesthetics. Those small and exquisite ancient stages are like a miniature cultural stage that brings together the essence of humanities and history and the brilliant artistic brilliance. They stand quietly and witness the changes of history.

No. 4 of Hot Springs Attractions in Zhejiang

Ninghai Forest Hot Spring

The Ninghai Forest Hot Spring is commonly known as the Tianming Mountain Nanxi Hot Spring, and is a famous forest hot spring in Eastern China. It is nestled in the Tianming valley in Shenzhen Town, located in the northwest of Ninghai Municipality. It mainly consists of a residential district and a hot spring district, with a shuttlebus service that runs in between the two districts. Especially in winter, it's extremely enjoyable to come and soak in a hot spring. There are two types of hot spring pools, indoor and outdoor. All of the outdoor pools are built on a hillside and are at one with nature. Other than being known for hot springs, the scenery here is also stunningly beautiful, and the green hills and clear water form a giant natural "source of oxygen." After bathing in the water, visitors can explore and take a leisurely tour of the area.

No. 12 of Night Attractions in Ningbo

Shangjin Caishen Valley

Shangjin Caishen Valley is a tourism project developed by Ningbo Century Prosperity Tourism Development Co., Ltd. Located in Shangjin Village, Chalu Town, Ninghai County, Zhejiang Province, it is a 1-hour drive from Ningbo Lishe Airport, 24 km from both Sanmen High-Speed Railway Station and Ninghai High-Speed Railway Station, and 1 km from the Ninghai South Exit of the G15 Shenhai Expressway. With a total planned area of 8,200 mu, it is a key project at the county, municipal, and provincial levels. The attraction centers around Fan Li, the ancient merchant sage and philanthropic pioneer, and leverages the auspicious location of Shangjin Valley to create a unique blend of traditional Chinese culture and scenic views through thoughtful design and operation. It aims to be a "high-standard," "smart," and "cultural" tourism destination integrating ecological conservation, vacationing, leisure wellness, conference activities, and commercial shopping. The phase one main attraction project covers an area of approx. 2,800 mu, with an investment of nearly CNY 2 billion. It includes multiple parking lots, a commercial street, a travelers service center, the attraction's Golden Bay Bridge, China Dream Square, Chinese dragon pillars, themed sculpture square, merchant culture hall, cultural corridor, Xishi Flower Street, statues of scientific giants, statues of business tycoons, statues of renowned overseas Chinese, statues of elite representatives from various domestic industries, a children's play area, and a night light show. The attraction features deep valleys, winding paths, clear waters, and picturesque scenery. The night light show dazzles with vibrant colors, creating a dreamlike atmosphere.

Wushan Grotto

The Wushan Seaside Grotto is located on the Sanmen Bay on the coast of the East China Sea. Due to its majestic changes, the original and maritime style of the vines is different from other quarrying landscapes. The scenic spot includes two scenic spots, namely, the mountains and the smart mountains. There are strange peaks and caves all over the mountains, and because they are located at the seaside, you can enjoy the scenery of the ocean when you visit. If the caves are on the mountain, one side is the mountains. It's a little bit of a sail, and the colors of the mountains and seas are all in sight.

Xiyou Temple

This is a lesser-known temple hidden deep in the mountains, founded during the Southern Song Dynasty, built against the mountainside, and featuring numerous pagodas.

Hengshan Island

Lianghuang Mountain Scenic Area

Lianghuang Mountain in the Lianghuang Mountain Scenic Area was called "Tongbai Mountain" in ancient times. It was named after Liang Xuan Emperor in the Southern and Northern Dynasties for the retreat. Many ancient and modern scholars have left poems and footprints here. Since the Song Dynasty, they have been one of the famous mountains in the south of the Yangtze River. Liang Huangshan is the opening place of "Xu Xiake's Travels" and is the birthplace of Jiangnan Buddhism and Taoist culture. The Lianghuang Mountain Scenic Area is beautiful and beautiful; it is a perfect combination of the history and culture of the city and the unique natural landscape.

Guangde Temple

Located in Ninghai County, Guangde Temple was first built during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. The temple boasts unique architecture and landscaping that features the currently popular dry landscape style, where large areas of white sand and gravel in the courtyard create a miniature landscape scene.