Ningbo

Ningbo's city centre is sandwiched between the ocean to the northeast and low-lying mountains to the southwest, with coastal plains and valleys in between. The Xinjiang Bridge straddles the most interesting sections of Ningbo and serves as a useful landmark for finding your way around the city. On the eastern bank is the Old Bund, or Laowaitan area, already popular with visitors by day. After sundown, the quarter transforms into the city's major nightlife hub. Stretching from the Catholic Church are old warehouses, now transformed into riverside bars and restaurants. Behind them are modern skyscrapers that complete the business district. On the other side of the river are the Town Hall and the Drum Tower, where the remaining architecture from China's imperial times offers visitors a glimpse into the city's glorious past. Further south lie the scenic Moon Lake (月湖), Tianyi Square (perhaps the city's busiest commercial hub), and the Tianfeng Pagoda, dating back to the 7th-century Tang Dynasty.