Ningbo

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Ningbo
宁波
Níngbō Shì
Nickname(s): 甬 yǒng
Location of Ningbo Prefecture within Zhejiang
Location of Ningbo Prefecture within Zhejiang
Ningbo (China)
Ningbo
Ningbo
Location within China
Coordinates: 29°52′N 121°33′E / 29.867, 121.55
Country China
Province Zhejiang
County-level divisions 11
Township divisions 148
Government
 - CPC Ningbo Committee Secretary Bayin Chaolu (巴音朝鲁)
 - Mayor Mao Guanglie (毛光烈)
Area
 - Sub-provincial city 9,365 km² (3,615.8 sq mi)
Elevation 150 m (488 ft)
Population (2007)
 - Sub-provincial city 5,646,000
 - Density 602.9/km² (1,561.5/sq mi)
 - Urban 2,182,000
Time zone China Standard Time (UTC+8)
Postal code 315000
Area code(s) 574
License plate prefixes 浙B
GDP (2007) CNY 343.3 billion
 - per capita CNY 61,032
City trees
Camphor Laurel Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Sieb.)
City flowers
Camelia
Website: www.ningbo.gov.cn (Chinese)

Ningbo (simplified Chinese: 宁波; traditional Chinese: 寧波; pinyin: Níngbō; Wade-Giles: Ning-po; literally "Tranquil Waves") is a seaport with sub-provincial administrative status. The city has a population of 2,182,000 and is situated in northeastern Zhejiang province, China. Lying south of the Hangzhou Bay, and facing the East China Sea to the east, Ningbo borders Shaoxing to the west and Taizhou to the south, and is separated from Zhoushan by a narrow body of water.

Contents

[edit] Etymology

Níng (宁) - Serene; bō (波) - Waves; Together - Serene Waves. The city is abbreviated Yong (甬). The abbreviation Ning is used for Nanjing.

[edit] History

Ningbo was one of China's oldest cities with a history dating back to 4800 B.C. the Hemudu culture. Ningbo was known as a trade city on the silk road at least 2000 years ago, and then as a major port along with Yangzhou and Guangzhou in the Tang Dynasty; thereafter, the major ports for foreign trade in the Song Dynasty. Ningbo was one of the five Chinese treaty ports opened by the Treaty of Nanjing (signed in 1842) at the end of the First Opium War between Britain and China. During the war, British forces took possession of the walled city of Ningbo briefly after storming the fortified town of Zhenhai at the mouth of the Yong River on October 10, 1841. In 1864 the forces of the Taiping Rebellion held the town for six months. In March 1885, during the Sino-French War, Admiral Courbet's naval squadron blockaded several Chinese warships in Zhenhai Bay and exchanged fire with the shore defences.

Ningbo was once famed for traditional Chinese furniture production.

During World War II in 1940, Japan bombed Ningbo with fleas carrying the bubonic plague.[1]

"It has been said of the Ningbo fishermen that, 'no people in the world apparently made so great an advance in the art of fishing; and for centuries past no people have made so little further progress.' "[2]

[edit] Administrative Structure

Ningbo currently has a party secretary of Mongol background, Bayunchoru, serving as first-in-charge of the city.

There are 5 county-level satellite cities under Ningbo's jurisdiction, namely:

[edit] Geography and climate

  • Ningbo covers an area of 9,365 square kilometres (3,616 sq mi) and has a total coastline of 1,562 km (971 mi) including 788 km (490 mi) of mainland coastline and 774 km (481 mi) of island coastline.
  • Climatic Features: sub-tropical monsoon climate featured with temperate and humid weather and four distinct seasons; frost-free of 230-240 days
  • Average Temperature: 16.2 °C (61.2 °F); average high in summer is 32 °C (90 °F), in winter 9 °C (48 °F)
  • Average Rainfall: 1,300 mm (51 in) – 1,400 mm (55 in)

[edit] Economy

Ningbo is a very important economic hub and port city. A port city for foreign trade since the 7th century, Ningbo has since become a major exporter of consumer products, electrical products, textiles, food, and industrial tools.

In 2007, Ningbo's economic activity reached USD 56.5 billion, up 33.9% from 2006. The exports totalled USD 38.26 billion, up 33% from the previous year. In addition, Ningbo imported USD 18.24 billion of goods, up 35.7% from the previous year.

Ningbo's economy grew 14.8 percent in 2007 to 343.3 billion yuan (US$45 billion). The city's per capita output was $8,026, more than three times the national average and very competitive to Shanghai's $8,949.[3]

[edit] Tourism

Ningbo at night
Ningbo at night
  • Tianyi Pavilion Museum, (Tian Yi Ge Bowuguan) Ningbo's best tourist attraction, the Tianyige Library (daily 8am-4.30pm; ¥12), is comfortably tucked away in the vicinity of Moon Lake (Yuehu). Built in 1516 and said to be the oldest surviving library building in China, it was founded by Ming official Fan Qin, whose collection went back to the eleventh century and included woodblock and handwritten copies of the Confucian classics, rare local histories and lists of the candidates successful in imperial examinations. Nowadays you can visit the library's garden and outhouses, some of which contain small displays of old books and tablets. It's quite a charming place and the gold-plated, wood-paneled buildings, their bamboo groves, pool and rockery still preserve an atmosphere of seclusion, contemplation and study.
  • Baoguo Temple, the oldest intact wooden structure in Southern China, is located in Jiangbei District, 15km north of Ningbo city.
  • Tianfeng Tower
  • Ahyuwang Temple
  • Tiantong Temple
  • Tian Yi Square

[edit] Notable people

The monument of victory in the Battle of Zhenhai (Sino-French War)
The monument of victory in the Battle of Zhenhai (Sino-French War)
Main article: Ningbo People

Many well known Chinese came from Ningbo or their ancestral home was Ningbo.

People in main land China

People in Hong Kong

People in Taiwan

People overseas

[edit] Transportation

Zhao bao shan Bridge, Zhenhai District, Ningbo
Zhao bao shan Bridge, Zhenhai District, Ningbo

The Hangzhou Bay Bridge, a combination cable-stayed bridge and causeway across Hangzhou Bay opened to public on 1 May 2008, connects the municipalities of Shanghai and Ningbo, and is considered the longest trans-oceanic bridge in the world, and the world’s second-longest bridge, after the Lake Ponchartrain Causeway in Louisiana, USA. The port of Ningbo is one of the World's busiest ports, ranked 4th by cargo tonnage in 2005, and 15th in TEU.

[edit] Military

Ningbo is the headquarters of the East Sea Fleet of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy. Its sector of responsibility includes Taiwan.

[edit] Food

Ningbo is known for Ningbo Tang Bao, small stuffed buns which are steamed. The stuffing is usually ground pork mixed with minced vegetables. They are usually eaten with care as the tang (broth) inside the buns can be very hot.

[edit] Universities and colleges

Ningbo has three universities. Towards the north of the city is Ningbo University, while the Ningbo Higher Education Zone (Yinzhou district) is home to Zhejiang Wanli University as well as the University of Nottingham Ningbo, China – a joint venture between the University of Nottingham and the Wanli Education Group.

[edit] Sister cities

Ningbo has city partnerships with many cities around the world.

[edit] Sister cities (友好城市)

[edit] Cities of friendly exchanges (友好交流关系城市)

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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Coordinates: 29°52′N 121°33′E / 29.867, 121.55

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