Free and fun, fewer people for better photos | 9 must-visit hidden spots in Ninghai

Located in Ninghai County, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, the travel destination of Xu Xiake, this area boasts clear mountains and waters, with excellent cultural and natural attractions. Here are 9 lesser-known hidden spots in Ninghai, especially suitable for reverse tourism during long holidays like Spring Festival and National Day, allowing you to avoid crowds and traffic while enjoying beautiful scenery and a peaceful, leisurely experience.

1⃣ Donghai Yunding
This route is the shortest way to Mozhu Peak. Park your car at the entrance of the energy storage power station, then hike up the ancient path on the left side of the main gate. The round trip is about 3 kilometers and takes around 2 hours. On clear days, you can enjoy a distant view of the sea. On the way back, consider detouring to Taohuaxi for a visit.
Reference track:

2⃣ Liyang Village
A thousand-year-old ancient village beneath Donghai Yunding, founded in the Tang Dynasty and flourishing in the Qing Dynasty. Located at the end of Sanmen Bay harbor, this ancient village under the tea mountain has many large-scale ancient buildings such as Wumen Mansion and Anzhuo Mountain House, comparable in quantity and quality to Qiantong Ancient Town. The intangible cultural heritage like paper-cutting is also worth appreciating.

3⃣ Guiyun Cave
The study place of Southern Song Dynasty Prime Minister Ye Mengding in his youth. It features a natural stone cave with a temple inside and a thatched cottage outside, making it a pilgrimage site for Ningbo scholars.

4⃣ Xujia Mountain Stone Village
An uncommercialized, pristine stone ancient village where stone walls, stone windows, stone roads, stone bridges, stone alleys, stone wells, and stone mills are everywhere. The Ye family ancestral hall by a clear pond is a highlight.

5⃣ Wangqian Mountain
A lesser-known spot in Ningbo to watch the sunrise and see the changes of Sanmen Bay over time. The mountain trail connects several viewing platforms suitable for camping and offers distant views.

6⃣ Aohu Ancient Opera Stage
The architectural style of the Sanzao Well ancient opera stage is rare in the province and holds high artistic value.

7⃣ Yancang Mountain Scenic Area
This hidden gem offers many cultural and natural attractions with complete facilities, making it a must-visit. It mainly includes Hehong Ancient Village, a longevity village in Ningbo. The village’s ancient houses, old paths, and ancient trees have a strong sense of history. Foshou Mountain features a winding leisure trail leading to a viewing platform, with a giant Buddha hand sculpture set against the distant mountains, creating a stunning sight. The Jiulong Waterfall at the foot of Foshou Mountain is not to be missed.

8⃣ Xiyou Temple
A little-known ancient temple built over 800 years ago, nestled on a mountain with many pagodas. Standing among the pagodas, you can overlook the entire temple and the magnificent mountains and rivers of deep Shenjuan in Ninghai.

9⃣ Longgong Ancient Village
A secluded ancient village named after the dragon, where 99% of the residents have the surname Chen and uphold the value of "righteousness." Natural and cultural landscapes named after dragons, such as Longshu, Longxi, Longtan, and Longqiao, leave a deep impression.

❗️There are 2⃣ travel modes to choose from:
1⃣ Two-day one-night mode: Visit all 9 spots in a special forces-style tour within 2 days, staying in Ninghai County town.
Day 1: 1⃣2⃣3⃣4⃣5⃣
Day 2: 6⃣7⃣8⃣9⃣

2⃣ Three-day two-night mode:
Day 1: 1⃣2⃣3⃣4⃣ Stay at Wangqian Mountain
Day 2: 5⃣6⃣7⃣ Stay in Shenjuan Town
Day 3: 8⃣9⃣ Return trip

For the second mode, accommodation needs to be booked in advance. If unavailable, the alternative is to stay in Ninghai County town.