Transport yourself through China’s different dynasties with a trip to the Baoguo Temple.  Nestled on the mountainside of Lingshan Mountain, the site is merely 15 kms away from downtown Ningbo. 

Established in the Han Dynasty (25 to 220), Baoguo Temple was rebuilt and expanded through the centuries to what it is today—a religious edifice featuring a montage of architectural styles and design motifs hailing from the various dynasties. 

At the temple’s gate stands two stone pillars with Buddhist scriptures of the Tang Dynasty (618 to 907). As you venture inside the temple, look out for the Grand Hall built in the architectural style of the Song Dynasty (950 to 1279). One of the oldest and best-preserved examples of wooden architecture south of the Yangtze River, the woodwork of the hall are bereft of nails holding its beams and pillars together—the structure’s girders, pillars and columns are joined together with neatly interlocking pieces. 

You also will not find any insects or birds and dust. It has been said that the architecture of the hall is designed such that when the wind enters the room, it swirls and produces a sound wave that not only scares off birds and insects but prevents the dust from settling! 

There are 17 showrooms open to the public, exhibiting Kwanyin (Goddess of Mercy) statues, bronze wares, scientific and technological discoveries, as well as inventions of the 20th century. 

With numerous courtyards and statues, the temple covers quite an extensive area. To show its expansiveness, bring along your wide-angle lens so that you can capture as much of the different areas of the temple in a single shot. 

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There is no library like the Tianyi Pavilion (Tian Yi Ge), which combines a pavilion, library, museum, garden and handful of decorative halls into one compound. Resting beside the picturesque Ming Lake in the city, the library was built in 1961, during the Ming Dynasty. 

In its heyday, Tianyi Pavillion’s library was said to have contained a collection of 300,000 volumes of books, of which 80,000 are tomes of antiquity. When Emperor Quanlong of the Qing Dynasty visited Tianyi Pavilion, he was so taken with it’s design that he ordered officials to draw the building’s schematics as prototypes for several imperial libraries, including the acclaimed Wenyuan Ge in the Forbidden City. 

To showcase the beauty of Tianyi Pavilion, visit at dusk or twilight. Train your wide-angle camera lens from across the pond, and catch its reflection from the stillness of the water. 

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If you are a fan of China’s romantic mythology, you need to make a trip to the Qing’an Guild Hall. This beloved building was one of eight Tianhou Temples in China (These are places used to worship the goddess Mazu, who protects fishermen and sailors). 

Today, the temple is transformed into a museum dedicated to eastern Zhejiang's maritime history and local arts and crafts. Apart from learning about China’s maritime folklore, take time out to appreciate the temple, acclaimed as one of the most beautiful in China. Look for the thousand ancient carvings in redwood, brick and stone which showcases Ningbo’s elite masonry skills during the Qing Dynasty. 

Inspect the rooftop of the Guild Hall to witness intricate carvings. Zoom in with your camera to capture historical warriors on horsebacks, guarding the place with all their might.

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Pagodas are plentiful in China. However, few can compare to the Tianfeng Pagoda. This 51 metre high hexagonal structure located in the heart of the city is the tallest ancient building in Ningbo. What is unique about this structure is that it stands at seven-storeys tall from the outside while “diving” seven storeys deep underground. 

First built in 695 during the Tang Dynasty, the Pagoda underwent several iterations after it was repeatedly destroyed and reconstructed. Today, a pair of male and female stone lions flank the two sides of the pagoda entrance, welcoming visitors to learn about its history and admire its artefacts. Look out for a copper Buddha, ancient money, and a rare and ornate model of the silver palace covered with gold. 

The best angle to take a photo of the Pagoda may not be at its compound, but a distance away, at the nearby shopping area. Here, you can compose an interesting picture with contemporary shops juxtaposed against the monumental Pagoda.

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Experience peace and tranquillity at the Temple of King Ashoka. The temple is known for containing the skull of the founding father of Buddhism, Sakyamuni—the relic is strategically buried in one of the temple’s pagodas. 

According to legend, Indian King Ashoka encountered Buddhism and became a Buddhist after he unified the whole of India. When Sakyamuni passed away, the King ordered pagodas with Sakyamuni’s bone fragments to be built around the world, one of which is the Temple of Ashoka in Ningbo. 

Today, you can see this relic ensconced in a red and gold box placed in one of the rooms in the temple. Apart from this rare relic, visitors can peruse Buddhist scriptures and works of ancient calligraphy completed by a Song emperor, or enjoy the temple’s zen-like gardens and bamboo groves.  

Similar to Tianyi Pavilion, bring along your wide-angle lens for your visit to the Temple of Ashoka. If you stand in the courtyard of the temple grounds, you can take a momentous photo of the temple with the pagoda in the background. 

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In the mood for a traditional Ningbo snack? At the Nantang Old Street, you can walk through Ningbo’s history while enjoying a local meal or two. Refurbished in traditional architecture, the street is one of the eight historical blocks of Ningbo. 

Offering visitors a scenic stroll with a canal running alongside the road, the precinct’s restaurants serve traditional Ningbo cuisine—some of these stalls have been running for generations by the same family. Take your pick of local snacks like fried dough twists, yellow croakers (a small fish), and potstickers. 

Numerous historic mansions and pavilions pepper the area, so take your time to explore the street. At the main square, you can enjoy cultural performances and exhibitions which evoke Ningbo’s deep and rich history. 

To best capture the action on the street, stand dead centre right at the start of the street. Make it a wide-angled shot, and include the surrounding shops and rows of colourful lanterns hanging along the street. As the architecture here is mainly in muted brown hues, do visit earlier in the day to see if the natural light complements your shot. 

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Get up close to admire the intricate Gothic architecture of the Jiangbei Catholic Church. Also known as the Sacred Heart Cathedral, this prominent landmark in Ningbo’s Old Bund area began its service in 1872 after it was built by French missionaries in the Qing Dynasty. A unique Western structure in a city steeped in Chinese history, the cathedral is a popular spot for young couples to take wedding photos. 

Look out for the cathedral’s twin bell towers which soar to 66 metres in height. While the Jiangbei Catholic Church’s facade is aged and weather-beaten, giving it a rustic look, the building’s interior is whitewashed and new. 

When trying to capture the beauty of the cathedral, consider visiting on a bright blue day. The structure’s beige, brown, orange and ash grey facade stands out best at noon on a sunny day when contrasted with blue skies. 

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If you are curious about how diverse cultures can co-exist, a visit to the Ningbo Mosque (or Yuehe Mosque) may reveal the answers you seek. The only mosque in the East Zhejiang area, the place of woship dates back to 1003, and was founded by Muslim traders during the era of Song Emperor Xiánpíng (998‐1003). 

Built in traditional wooden structures, the structure of the mosque is heavily influenced by the architecture of the mosques in Beijing. The only elements that reveal its Islamic origin are the inscriptions above doorways and the prayer halls. Hosting the Islam Soceity of Ningbo, the Yuehe mosque is listed as a Zhejiang cultural relic protection site in 2011. 

As the mosque is a small and unassuming building along the street, you can use the soft-focus setting on your camera to focus on its traditional architectural style and create a dreamy effect. 

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