Tiantong Temple

Legend says the Sheli Pagoda here wasn't built, but rose from the ground. This active monastery 20 km (12 mi) from Ningbo houses a bone fragment of Sakyamuni, Buddhism's founder, as well as artifacts, paintings and calligraphy - some personally written by Chinese emperors. Legend has it that the monk who found it was looking for one of the many Sheli pagodas that the Indian ruler Ayuwang (Ashoka) had established throughout the world. The monk was walking in the area and heard a bell ringing from underground. He sat down and prayed for three days and three nights, at which point the pagoda came surging up from beneath the ground. Established in 282, temple was eventually completed on the site in 522 and named. The temple plays an important role in the Sino-Japanese culture exchange in the Buddhist history. Immediately outside the west entrance, a vegetarian restaurant serves buffet lunches from 11:00-13:00 for ¥10.

The zoo has over 10,000 animals, dozens of routes to walk, and beautiful panoramic views of the entire zoo from atop man-made mountains.

A major national-level maritime museum in the city's busy harbour district.

The largest natural lake in Zhejiang, and a popular spot for locals to visit. It's possible to rent tandem or triple bicycles, or boats, to see the lake. Several scenic spots charge admission, including a causeway through the middle of the lake (¥30) to Xiayu Temple (霞屿禅寺) and "small Putuoshan". A variety of very old buildings overlooking the lake have been turned into tea shops. Hanling old street (韩岭老街) is near the southern end of the lake. A park is built with stone carvings collected at tombs built in Southern Song Dynasty around the lake. The Stone Carving Relic Park of the Southern Song Dynasty (南宋石刻公园) is near the eastern side of the lake.

A large forested hill where the Yong River empties into the ocean, it has several rebuilt temples, a 57.6m-tall pagoda you can climb since the elevator seems to be broken, Sanskrit inscriptions on exposed rock, a grotto, and remnants of multiple small defensive walls. Adjacent museums cover local naval history and military hardware. Don't expect tranquillity - a freeway tunnels through the centre of the hill.

Displays the long and proud history of Ningbo's mafia-like groups.