Ningbo is one of the easiest cities in China for a westerner to live in, especially if you are newly arriving. It offers many different experiences to suit the tastes and curiosities of the seeker.
For those looking for an "authentic" Chinese experience, there are several well preserved hutongs -- neighborhoods of small old houses with narrow winding walkways and twisting canals. Local restaurants serve Ningbonese food, usually fresh seafood and spicy sweet noodles, as well as restaurants specializing in cuisines from Sichuan, Dongbei and other famous cooking styles. Tian Yi Ge houses the oldest private library in Asia, surrounded by peaceful ponds filled with bright red carp. Moon Lake and Sun Lake have garden walks and old pavilions on their shores. Just outside the city there are dozens of Buddhist temples with beautiful carvings and sculptures. Ningbo is a short ferry ride away from Putuoshan, a Buddhist island devoted to the patron of mercy, Guanyin, and one of the main sources of modern Buddhist writing and teaching. Tea drinking is quite popular here, and there are small tea houses dotted across the city. Local Chinese people are very friendly, helpful and outgoing, and particularly love it when westerners try to speak Chinese. Ningbo is a source of ever unfolding curiosity for teachers looking to practice their language skills, learn about local culture, and expand their understanding of the fascinating paradoxes of modern China. For those looking to hold on to the comforts of home, there is quite a lot of English spoken in town compared to other Chinese cities, and many young Chinese are eager to meet foreign friends and practice their English. Ningbo is lucky to have a large amount of foreign restaurants and cafes catering to the large expat community, so its easy to find a favorite meal from back home. Its also very easy to make foreign friends, as Ningbo has permanenet residents from around the world. College age foreigners regulary pour into Nottingham University, which has a campus here, while twenty and thirty somethings populate the foreign teacher community, and thirty somethings and older are involved in import-export businesses and small startups. There are several excellent theaters in the city which showcase a great variety of performing arts. Cinemas regularly import foreign movies. There are dozens and dozens of clubs and bars for both foreign and local crowds. |
Ningbo Links
|