Discover the Pearl of Ancient Jiangnan Architecture! A Cultural Journey to Tianyi Pavilion

🖼️Attraction Overview: Ningbo's Tianyi Pavilion is China's earliest surviving private library and one of Asia's oldest libraries, built by Fan Qin during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty. Its architectural style blends the elegance of Jiangnan gardens with the solemnity of library structures. The main building, "Baoshu Tower," features a brick-and-wood structure with two floors and six bays under a hard hilltop roof. The design follows the concept of "Heaven generates water, Earth completes it," where the six lower rooms correspond to "Earth's six" and the single upper room to "Heaven's one," symbolizing fire prevention for book preservation. The garden boasts pavilions, towers, and bridges harmoniously arranged around Moon Lake, with rockeries, winding corridors, and waterside pavilions creating picturesque scenes. Details like horse-head walls, lattice windows, and carved wooden beams showcase the exquisite craftsmanship of Jiangnan's ancient architecture. Strolling through it feels like stepping back in time, experiencing the fusion of history and culture.

📍Location: No. 10 Tianyi Street, Haishu District, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province.

🎫Ticket and Opening Hours: Admission is 30 RMB per person. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM (last entry at 4:30 PM). Closed on Mondays (except public holidays).

🚶Activities and Route: Enter through the West Gate and explore attractions like the Fan Residence, Baoshu Tower, Dongming Cottage, Zunjing Pavilion, Mingzhou Stele Forest, Qianjin Studio, and Ninghui Hall in sequence. Exit via the South Gate for an immersive experience of library culture and garden beauty.

🏨Nearby Accommodations: Options include The Westin Ningbo and Atour Hotel Tianyi Square Ningbo, offering convenient transportation and complete facilities.

🍜Local Cuisine: Try Ningbo specialties like tangyuan (glutinous rice balls), steamed pork buns, and seaweed rice cakes. Recommended spots include Gangyagou and Zhuangyuan Lou, time-honored restaurants nearby.

🚇Transport: Take Metro Line 1 to Ximenkou Station (Exit C) and walk about 800 meters, or buses No. 2, 9, or 36 to Tianyi Pavilion·Moon Lake Scenic Area Station.

📷Photography Tips: Capture vintage-style portraits against horse-head walls and carved doors/windows; use the garden's borrowed scenery and framed views for landscape shots; soft morning or evening light is ideal for architectural panoramas and shadow details.

⚠️Notes: Photography is prohibited in certain areas—observe signage; protect ancient structures and artifacts by avoiding touch; maintain quiet to respect other visitors.

Post by Simmons_69 Oliver | Jul 4, 2025