Ningbo, a port city in Zhejiang province of China, may not be a familiar name. Located on the eastern coast of China, Ningbo's history dates back 7,000 years. Established in 738, Ningbo Port is now well-developed and is one of the busiest in China. At present, nearly 1,000 million tonnes of cargo pass through the port annually.
"The Ningbo people are quite good at trading. They run their own businesses. However, one big difference you may notice is the way they talk. Ningbo people always speak very loud, almost shouting. They consider this manner as a proper way to show their sincere hearts," my Chinese guide Han Zhi Ain explained.
"At the schools, there are sessions where students must make loud speeches for 20 minutes. If your cannot deliver a loud speech, teachers may wonder if the kid is healthy or not," Han said. "They keep in mind that if they do nothing wrong, talking loudly is the thing they should do."
China, for me, has always been a country of chaotic roads, smelly toilets and messy communities. But Ningbo surprised me with its development. Its tidy roads are lined with shady trees and beautiful gardens. The well-paved footpaths are wide and clear, free of street vendors. Sculptures and street art dot public green areas. Stylish shops beautify the avenues while mega malls are busy with delighted shoppers.
A few years ago, Hangzhou, the neighbouring city of Ningbo, hosted the G20 Summit meeting. Hence, a huge amount of money was poured into cities to upgrade infrastructure.
While strolling through Ningbo, I noticed that all motorcycles were electric. Old cars and trucks that blow black exhaust fumes were replaced with brand new cars. Tourists get around on the bright coloured bicycles from the bike-sharing system that is available throughout the city.
The Ningbo Historic Museum is very impressive. Its stunning design reflects the conceptual combination of mountains and water, while its walls are made from millions of pieces of old tiles and concrete covered bamboo. Besides collections of antiquity that tell the very long history of the city, presentations with modern techniques successfully interest visitors.
I walked through different exhibition rooms at the museum, passed wax models of people from the past and mock buildings of old towns obviously mirroring the traditional commercial streets in Ningbo.
There are a number of traditional commercial streets, which allow tourists to get a glimpse of the charming old Ningbo quarters. I noticed an old street and wanted to see how old it was. However, it was not an old community, just a new one built in the old style.
Under the old-fashioned roofs are modern outlets fitted with facilities such as air-conditioning and CCTV. Stunned for seconds, I felt like I was being fooled. But these new buildings are easier to manage and maintain.
Wisely blending the old and the new, Ningbo has cleverly developed without losing its identity. From its streets, community, to public places like museums and theatres, you can feel the local atmosphere hidden under the modern look.
Ningbo is in Zhejiang province of China. Thai Air Asia, China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines operate regular flights between Bangkok and Ningbo. The flight time is around four hours.
Hangzhou is around 150km from Ningbo. There are high speed train services linking the two cities.
