With great sincerity, Yinzhou Culture & Tourism invites you to embark on a wellness journey exclusively designed for the “Leisurely Silver Season,” helping you master the art of savouring time steadily and meaningfully. These carefully curated four routes cover distinctive spots within Yinzhou and its surrounding areas—true hidden gems waiting to be discovered.

You can cleanse your soul with the ancient temple bells, listen to history echo amid lakes, mountains, and classical architecture, and experience a tranquil Zen retreat to refresh your spirit. Or step into Ningbo Museum to travel through time and touch the city’s past, admire traditional craftsmanship at the Yinzhou Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum, and stroll through the ancient county town of Cicheng to soak up its historic charm. Alternatively, immerse yourself in nature’s embrace, breathe fresh mountain air, enjoy breathtaking natural scenery, and dispel all fatigue. You can also witness the bustling port vessels, explore the glorious maritime history in museums, and gain a deeper understanding of the city’s development heritage.

Route 1: Southeast Buddhist Blessing Tour (3 Days)

Route: Tiantong Temple — Ashoka Temple — Xiaoputuo at Dongqian Lake — Hanling Old Street — Xuedou Temple — Maitreya Sacred Altar

Itinerary:

• Day 1: Morning visit to Tiantong Temple, one of the five great Zen Buddhist temples and known as the “Southeast Buddhist Kingdom,” where you can experience the harmony of Zen and tea. Enjoy a complimentary vegetarian meal. In the afternoon, visit Ashoka Temple, the fifth of China’s “Five Mountains” of Zen Buddhism and the only millennium-old temple in China named after the Indian Emperor Ashoka.

• Day 2: Morning tour of Xiaoputuo Scenic Area at Dongqian Lake and a blessing ceremony at Xiayu Zen Temple. In the afternoon, explore Hanling Old Street, known as “Zhejiang’s Oldest Ancient Street,” to feel the commercial prosperity of Ming and Qing dynasty markets and experience the folk customs of the water-town ancient village.

• Day 3: Morning visit to the Maitreya Sacred Altar in Fenghua Xikou, built using the natural mountain edges of an abandoned quarry combined with modern materials to create a “heavenly palace” illusion. In the afternoon, tour the ancient Jin dynasty temple, Xuedou Temple, one of the “Five Mountains and Ten Temples” of Zen Buddhism during the Song dynasty.

Special Experiences: Zen tea tasting at Tiantong Temple, Ashoka Temple’s relic stupa.

Route 2: Cultural & Museum Exploration Tour (3 Days)

Route: Ningbo Museum — Zhou Yao Insect Museum — Beilun Port — China Port Museum — Baoguo Temple

Itinerary:

• Day 1: Morning visit to Ningbo Museum, designed by Wang Shu, the first Chinese architect to win the Pritzker Prize. The museum’s unique “New Regionalism” architecture integrates Ningbo’s regional culture, traditional architectural elements, and modern design, delivering profound historical messages while embodying the building itself as a special “artifact” and “exhibit.” In the afternoon, visit Zhou Yao Insect Museum, one of Asia’s largest insect museums, named after a private individual.

• Day 2: Morning tour of Beilun Port, which boasts 50 berths, including 38 over 10,000 tons, home to the world’s largest coal-fired power plant berth, the largest foreign-invested chemical terminal in Ningbo, and a major hub for sea-rail intermodal and domestic container trade. In the afternoon, visit the China Port Museum, the largest and highest-ranked national port-themed museum officially designated by China’s State Council.

• Day 3: Morning visit to Baoguo Temple, a “three-no” temple without monks, Buddha statues, or incense, where only the Song dynasty main hall and Qing dynasty structures quietly stand.

Special Experiences: Discover the mysteries of insects, explore the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road.

Route 3: Wellness & Leisure Tour (3 Days)

Route: Tiantong Temple — Tiangong Manor — Dongqian Lake — Limin Village — Tianyi Pavilion — Yuehu Park

Itinerary:

• Day 1: Morning visit to Tiantong Temple, one of the five great Zen Buddhist temples, called the “Southeast Buddhist Kingdom,” to enjoy Zen tea. Complimentary vegetarian meal provided. In the afternoon, visit Tiangong Manor — an urban village, city garden, and national agricultural tourism demonstration site.

• Day 2: Morning boat cruise on Dongqian Lake and Xiaoputuo, enjoying the lakeside scenery and old water villages with scattered low-rise houses, feeling the charm of ancient waterside settlements. Afternoon visit to Limin Village with afternoon tea.

• Day 3: Morning visit to Tianyi Pavilion, Asia’s oldest private library and one of the world’s three oldest family libraries, originally the book collection of Ming dynasty Minister Fan Qin. Afternoon stroll at Yuehu Park, Ningbo’s key historical and cultural preservation zone, praised as the “Zhejiang’s Zoulu.”

Special Experiences: Fruit picking at Tiangong Manor, sweet afternoon tea at Dongqian Lake.

Route 4: Silver Age Learning & Experience Tour (3 Days)

Route: Ningbo Museum — Yinzhou Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum — Cicheng Ancient County Town — Hand-beaten Rice Cake Experience — Ashoka Temple

Itinerary:

• Day 1: Visit Ningbo Museum, designed by Wang Shu, China’s first Pritzker Prize-winning architect. The museum combines Ningbo’s regional culture, traditional architecture, and modern forms to convey rich historical information with a modern feel, making the building itself a special “artifact” and “exhibit.” In the afternoon, visit the Yinzhou Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum, which showcases over 20 heritage items across five exhibition and experience halls, including bone and wood inlay, Ningbo gold and silver embroidery, and a wedding display called “Phoenixes in Harmony.”

• Day 2: Morning visit to Cicheng, the first ancient county town in Jiangnan, known for filial piety and scholars, with a history of over a thousand years. In the afternoon, enjoy a hands-on experience making hand-beaten rice cakes.

• Day 3: Morning visit to Ashoka Temple, a renowned Zen Buddhist temple, the fifth of China’s “Five Mountains,” and the only ancient temple named after the Indian Emperor Ashoka.

Special Experiences: Yinzhou intangible heritage handcrafts, hand-beaten rice cake in Cicheng

Source: Yinzhou District Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism & Sports Bureau

Editor: Ye Ke