Ningbo, a port city in Zhejiang province of China, may not be a familiar name. Located on the eastern coast of China, Ningbo's history dates back 7,000 years. Established in 738, Ningbo Port is now well-developed and is one of the busiest in China. At present, nearly 1,000 million tonnes of cargo pass through the port annually.
"The Ningbo people are quite good at trading. They run their own businesses. However, one big difference you may notice is the way they talk. Ningbo people always speak very loud, almost shouting. They consider this manner as a proper way to show their sincere hearts," my Chinese guide Han Zhi Ain explained.
"At the schools, there are sessions where students must make loud speeches for 20 minutes. If your cannot deliver a loud speech, teachers may wonder if the kid is healthy or not," Han said. "They keep in mind that if they do nothing wrong, talking loudly is the thing they should do."
China, for me, has always been a country of chaotic roads, smelly toilets and messy communities. But Ningbo surprised me with its development. Its tidy roads are lined with shady trees and beautiful gardens. The well-paved footpaths are wide and clear, free of street vendors. Sculptures and street art dot public green areas. Stylish shops beautify the avenues while mega malls are busy with delighted shoppers.
A few years ago, Hangzhou, the neighbouring city of Ningbo, hosted the G20 Summit meeting. Hence, a huge amount of money was poured into cities to upgrade infrastructure.
While strolling through Ningbo, I noticed that all motorcycles were electric. Old cars and trucks that blow black exhaust fumes were replaced with brand new cars. Tourists get around on the bright coloured bicycles from the bike-sharing system that is available throughout the city.
The Ningbo Historic Museum is very impressive. Its stunning design reflects the conceptual combination of mountains and water, while its walls are made from millions of pieces of old tiles and concrete covered bamboo. Besides collections of antiquity that tell the very long history of the city, presentations with modern techniques successfully interest visitors.
I walked through different exhibition rooms at the museum, passed wax models of people from the past and mock buildings of old towns obviously mirroring the traditional commercial streets in Ningbo.
There are a number of traditional commercial streets, which allow tourists to get a glimpse of the charming old Ningbo quarters. I noticed an old street and wanted to see how old it was. However, it was not an old community, just a new one built in the old style.
Under the old-fashioned roofs are modern outlets fitted with facilities such as air-conditioning and CCTV. Stunned for seconds, I felt like I was being fooled. But these new buildings are easier to manage and maintain.
Wisely blending the old and the new, Ningbo has cleverly developed without losing its identity. From its streets, community, to public places like museums and theatres, you can feel the local atmosphere hidden under the modern look.
Ningbo is in Zhejiang province of China. Thai Air Asia, China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines operate regular flights between Bangkok and Ningbo. The flight time is around four hours.
Hangzhou is around 150km from Ningbo. There are high speed train services linking the two cities.
With a strategic location as the crossroads of various ocean shipping routes, as well as inland waterways through the Yangtze River into inner parts of China, Ningbo's port is among the world's busiest. PEERAWAT JARIYASOMBAT
Besides modern buildings and a good transportation system, Ningbo boasts a number of old-style shopping areas, which serve as traditional commercial streets. Peerawat Jariyasombat
The exterior of Ningbo Historic Museum shows amazing stonework made from recycled materials from traditional Chinese buildings once located in the area. Some 30 villages were demolished to make way for urban development. The architect Wang Shu decided to make the wall from old materials, as he wanted to keep a few memories of those who lived here. Peerawat Jariyasombat
Ningbo Historic Museum showcases the city's role as a port. The ceramic trading route shows that Siam was on the trading route of Ningbo's ceramic products. Peerawat Jariyasombat
Situated by the sea, the China Port Museum in Ningbo tells interesting stories of port development in China, which dates back to more than 2,000 years. Visitors will learn about ancient ship building and shipping technology of different eras, particularly when the Maritime Silk Road flourished. Zheng He (1371–1433), a Chinese mariner, made seven voyages to South Asia, East Africa and Southeast Asia, including Siam. Peerawat Jariyasombat
Tianyige is an old private library built 400 years ago. It houses some 300,000 books. Visitors will be amazed with the peaceful atmosphere of the library, which is situated in a serene Chinese-style garden. Peerawat Jariyasombat
Ningbo's neighbouring city, Hangzhou, is a famous destination. It is famed for Xihu or the West Lake. The picturesque lake is 5.6km² and is surrounded by mountains. Su Dongpo, a famous Chinese poet compared the lake with Xizi, one of the most beautiful Chinese women. Thus, the lake is also called Xizi Lake. Peerawat Jariyasombat
The Leifeng Pagoda stands elegantly by Xihu Lake. It offers a bird's eyes view of the lake. The original pagoda was built in 975, before being rebuilt after a fire destroyed it during the Ming dynasty. A Chinese legend of the White Snake, a tale about a snake spirit who falls in love with a human, says the spirit is imprisoned in the pagoda. So, in the latest renovation, the pagoda houses a number of paintings and carvings depicting the legend. Peerawat Jariyasombat
