Compared to Suzhou and Hangzhou, I prefer this underrated gem in the Jiangnan region
After being in the misty and rainy Jiangnan of Suzhou and Hangzhou, I always remember this hidden gem surrounded by mountains and waters in the south of Ningbo city.
"Mountains connect to Taibai, streams fall into Donghu," that is the Song Dynasty cultural "heritage" left by Wang Anshi, the Dongqian Lake in Ningbo.
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In my impression, this dreamy Jiangnan water town is "half bustling with life, half celestial in tranquility."
It is also "morning mist shrouds trees where crows still gather, green waters merge with the sky where gulls float freely."
Even more so, "feeling ashamed upon seeing the West Lake, feeling pity for oneself when coming from Taihu Lake alone."
And when the misty rain envelops the area, it's like a distant and poetic Jiangnan ink wash landscape scroll.
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🌴Dongqian Lake Two-Day One-Night Itinerary
👉Tour Route
day1: Xiaobadaling ➡️ Yinwan Village ➡️ Baishi Xianping ➡️ Xiagong Mountain ➡️ Lower Water Wetland Park ➡️ Qianhu Secret Realm ➡️ Erling Temple ➡️ Xiaoputuo
day2: Ningbo Painting and Calligraphy Academy (Tianluo Mountain) ➡️ Academician Center ➡️ Taogong Island Scenic Area ➡️ Hanling Ancient Town (Lingnan Ancient Trail, Hanling Art Museum) ➡️ Upper Water ➡️ Southern Song Stone Carving Park
👉👉Must-Visit Attractions
1⃣Yinwan Village
The internet-famous lighthouse and one of the ten scenic spots of Dongqian Lake, Yinwan Fishing Fire, as well as the ancient buildings built around the island and by the water, including the ancestral halls of the Sun, Zhang, Xiang, and Zheng families
2⃣Baishi Xianping
One of the old ten scenic spots of Qianhu, suitable for climbing high and looking far, viewing the city skyline, overlooking Yinwan Village, and the lake view of Taogong Island
3⃣Hanling
In ancient times, Hanling Market, also known as the East Market, was famous along with the West Xiang Feng'ao Market. Xianxiang, Dasong, and Zhanqi are the necessary routes to Ningbo; the water street with its small bridges and flowing water, pavilions, towers, and the scenery of lakes and mountains, have all the elements of a Jiangnan water town you can think of, which is even better than Zhouzhuang, Wuzhen, and other water towns. The Southern Song stone carvings, Lingnan Ancient Trail, and Qianhu Art Museum are not to be missed
4⃣Limin Village (Taogong Island)
The internet-famous pear tree is located under the small bridge in the village, by the river dock. The lakeside view of Dongqian Lake is a beautiful spot to enjoy.
5⃣Qianhu Secret Realm
"The mountain air is finest at the end of the day, birds flying back together," a lakeside secret realm, where you can walk or cycle on the waterfront boardwalk, as if traversing through the scenery
6⃣Xiaoputuo
Taogong Dike is like the Su Causeway in Hangzhou, and the Bai Causeway stretches like a rainbow lying on the waves, dividing Dongqian Lake into two. The eight scenic spots in the heart of the lake, such as Qianti Smoke Waves, Taogong Fishing Rock, Erling Fleeting Shadows, and Xiayu Locking Mist, are not to be missed
7⃣Erling Temple
A niche ancient temple by the mountain and water, with a beautiful sunset and Erling Pagoda
👉👉👉Transportation and Accommodation Dining
🚌Transportation
Self-driving is recommended to navigate to Yinwan Village and tour Dongqian Lake clockwise
Public Transportation
🚄Metro Line 4 Dongqian Lake Station Exit A
🚩Travel between attractions on foot + public transportation
1⃣Bus, during long holidays like National Day, there is usually a special lake tour line
2⃣Taxi. The fare between attractions is between 10-50 yuan
3⃣Rent bicycles and electric scooters, available right out of the subway station, with a cost of 50-100 yuan per day
🏚Accommodation is plentiful near Dongqian Lake or in the urban area
🍔Lunch on day1 is arranged in Dongqian Lake Town, and on day2 in Hanling Ancient Town
💴Admission is free
Dongqian Lake is a lake and scenic area in Yinzhou District, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, 15 kilometers east of Ningbo City, the southeast of the lake is backed by green mountains, the northwest of the lake is close to the plain, is a part of the geological movement of Anhui and Zhejiang Province, and is a natural lagoon formed by geological movements in ancient times. Mr. Guo Moruo is known as "West Lake scenery, Taihu Lake spirit".
Ningbo Dongqian Lake Scenic Area is a traditional tourist attraction in Ningbo. In recent years, many projects have been developed around the lake, including art museums, Ningbo Painting Academy and other art institutions, as well as commercial facilities such as Hanling Old Street.
Dongqian Lake is also an important water conservancy project in Ningbo. There are seven jiutang around the lake. The seven jiutang are: Qianqian, Meihuqi (waste), Sumu (waste), Mozhiqian, Pingshuiqi, Daqiuqian. Jiutang is Meihutang, Meihu Wutang, Sumutang, Mozhi Wutang, Dagutang, Pingshuitang, Qiangutang, Fangjiatang, Gaogutang. The Dongqian Lake area is a subtropical monsoon climate, with an average annual precipitation of about 1374 mm, the minimum temperature below zero 8.3 °C, the maximum temperature 38.5 °C, and the average annual water temperature is 16.2 °C. Due to the lake water temperature adjustment, it is suitable for intensive farming, drought and flood protection, and it is also conducive to shipping and summer and cold. Dongqian Lake water irrigation Jixian, Fenghua, Zhenhai eight townships more than 500,000 hectares of farmland, making the farmland around the lake years old and Fengdeng. In the past, there was a saying in Ningbo: "Tian wants Dongxiang, children want their own life." Tian in Dongxiang is annual high-yield, relying on Dongqian Lake. Moreover, most of the food water in Ningbo city also depends on this lake.
Dongqian Lake is a lake and scenic area in Yinzhou District, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, 15 kilometers east of Ningbo City, the southeast of the lake is backed by green mountains, the northwest of the lake is close to the plain, is a part of the geological movement of Anhui and Zhejiang Province, and is a natural lagoon formed by geological movements in ancient times. Mr. Guo Moruo is known as "West Lake scenery, Taihu Lake spirit". Dongqian Lake is composed of three parts: Guzi Lake, Meihu Lake and Outer Lake, the north-south length is8.5 kilometers, the east-west width is6.5 kilometers, the circumference of the lake is 45 kilometers, the area is 22 square kilometers, is the largest (natural) freshwater lake in Zhejiang Province, the area is three times that of Hangzhou West Lake, the average water depth is 2.2 meters, and the total water storage capacity is 33.9 million cubic meters. Dongqian Lake has a history of more than 1200 years, and has experienced more style of opening. During the Tang Tianbao years (744), Lu Nanjin led the people to build dams and embankments in Jixian County. After this, Wang Anshi, Li Yixuan, Lu Xianzhi and other local officials in the past dynasties removed the Qingjie and added facilities to make it a comprehensively used water area.
Dongqian Lake is well-known and worth sightseeing. The lake is wide and the mountains on the lakeside are all in front of you. The temple view of Eupsa on the lake shore attracted many tourists. Last year, the government invested in enriching the lakeside flowers and plants and services. Environmental protection is very good! Free tickets, I want to go again.
📍 Address: Dongqianhu Town, Yinzhou District, Ningbo City -🏞 Speaking of Zhejiang Lake View, the first thing everyone thinks of is Hangzhou's West Lake. But the West Lake is always crowded, so come to the #Dongqian Lake Scenic Area of Ningbo in the niche! -🚘 Transportation 🚘🚗 Self-driving navigation software input Dongqian Lake navigation 🚌 Bus 1⃣ Bus 906, 902, 903, 905, 106, 620, etc. can go to Dongqianhu Town. 2⃣ Bus 901 can go to Taogong Island and Xiaoputuo Scenic Area. 3⃣ Bus 960 can go to Fuquanshan Scenic Area, Shili Sixiang, Green Wild Eel and other attractions. 4⃣ Huanhu Line 966 can go to most attractions along the lake, 3 yuan/person. -🎫 Tickets 🎫 Dongqian Lake is free, some attractions inside need tickets - 🚶 Recommended tour route 🚶🔹 Parents and children along the lake: Xiashui Village - Erling Temple - Lihua - Xiao Putuo - Shashan (about 7 kilometers in length, about 3.5 hours, suitable for teenagers, Healthy middle-aged and elderly) 🔸 Tea Garden Donghai Sightseeing Adventure Tour: Street Village - Longtan Reservoir - Taogong - Wutai Viewing Sun - Tea Room - Fire Prevention Road - Yangshan - (about 11 kilometers in length, about 5 hours, suitable for adolescents, healthy middle-aged and elderly and travel friends) 🔹 Ancient Village Ancient Road Exploration and Wellness Tour: Hanlingyu Lingnan Ancient Road Yuhengjie Village (about 6 kilometers in length, about 3 hours, suitable for adolescents, healthy middle-aged and elderly, suitable for small groups) -🏞 Recommended attractions 🏞🔹 Fuquan Mountain Scenic Area ¥45 From/person is located in the southeast of Dongqian Lake Scenic Area, with Wanghaifeng as the core, and Chaling Bibo as the green line. Lake Haitan Creek is the blue line. From 🔸 Taogong Island ¥20/person, you can sail in this open water or fish here leisurely. 🔹 Xiaoputuo ¥30 is a long embankment in the lake, and it is a very popular attraction in Dongqian Lake. There are always many people in Xiayu Temple in the center of the lake to burn incense and pray for blessings. 🔸 Southern Song Dynasty Stone Inscription Park ¥55 Starting/person Park Stone Inscription is mainly based on Southern Song Dynasty Stone Inscription, covering some works during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, with a total of more than 200 stone statues born. -🍜 Signature Food 🍜🍲 Qianhu Kiss Selected Wild Green Shell Nautilus Freshly fished in Dongqian Lake that morning, tasted with braised method, fresh and salty, slightly spicy. 🐠 Fish Paddle "Paddle" is the fish tail. This dish must use raw materials at the tail of the green fish weighing about 10 kilograms. 🐟 whether it is steamed or braised in the waves, the entrance is "refreshing". 🦐 Qianhu River shrimp is finely meaty, delicious, nutritious, and is a high-protein and low-fat aquatic food. -🏢 Surrounding accommodation 🏢 #Ningbo Qianhu Yuezhuang Hotel ¥399 From / share #Ningbo Dongqian Lake Wanjin Radisson Resort ¥899 From / share #Ningbo Nanyuan Flower Expo Park Resort ¥728 From / share
Located in the southeast of Ningbo, the lake is 20 square kilometers, 45 kilometers of the shoreline around the lake, 81 mountains around, 72 streams, set a national tourist resort, national water conservancy scenic area.