Brief Introduction

Geographical Conditions Ningbo, called Yong for short, is located midway on the eastern coast of China, in the South of the Yangtze River Delta and the east part of Zhejiang province (28°51'-30°33'N and 120°55'-122°16'E). It is naturally sheltered by Zhoushan Archipelago in the east and it borders on Hangzhou Bay in the north, neighbors on the city of Shaoxing in the west, and faces Sanmen Bay in the south, adjacent to the city of Taizhou.

Historic Evolution

Ningbo has enjoyed a history of over 7,000 years. The Neolithic Hemudu Culture Ruins show that Ningbo is one of the birthplaces of rice planting on the earth. Ningbo was called “Yin” in the Xia Dynasty (before 2000 B.C.), was within the boundary of the state of Yue during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B.C.), including three counties of Yin, Mao and Gouzhang under the jurisdiction of Kuaiji Prefecture in the Qin Dynasty (221-206 B.C.), and called Mingzhou in the Tang Dynasty (618-907A.D.). In the year of 821, the prefecture seat of Mingzhou was moved to the "three-river-junction" and set up an inner city, which marked the foundation of the city. In the year of 1381, the city got the present name—Ningbo, which means “calm wave”.

Districts & Popularity

Under Ningbo’s jurisdiction, there are six urban districts of Haishu, Jiangdong, Jiangbei, Zhenhai, Beilun and Yinzhou, three county-level cities of Yuyao, Cixi and Fenghua, and two counties of Xiangshan and Ninghai. Ningbo covers a total area of 9,816 km2, with a population of 5.604 million. And the urban districts cover 2,462 km2, with 2.158 million people.

Recent Honors to Ningbo

Climate Conditions

Ningbo offers a subtropical monsoon climate, featuring mild temperatures, moderate humidity and distinct seasons. The annual average temperature is 16.4°C, with hottest month, July (28°C in average) and the coldest one, January(4.7°C in average). No-frost season lasts 230-240 days a year. The annual average precipitation is around 1,400mm, of which the precipitation in the months from May to September accounts for 60%.

The Meteorological Data of Ningbo In 2006

The Industries

Comprehensive Strength

In 2006, the gross domestic product (GDP) of the city reached ¥286.45 billion, increasing 13.45%; the GDP per capita reached ¥51,285 (US$6568); the budgetary revenue income was ¥56.12 billion, including local revenue ¥25.74 billion, which increased 21.2%. The city ranks 5th among all the sub-provincial cities by its GDP, 4th by local revenue income, and 3rd by per capita disposable income of urban residents. All of the 5 counties (county-level cities) of Ningbo are among the national top 100 counties in terms of comprehensive economic strength.

The Main Statistical Indexes of National Economy In 2006

A Day In Ningbo

The GDP of The City Over The Years

2003    2004    2005    2006

Ningbo’s Local Revenue Income

Industry Structure

In the year 2006, the primary, second and tertiary industries increased ¥13.95 billion, ¥157.59 billion and ¥114.91 billion respectively, with an increase of 4.4%, 12.4% and 15.9%. Currently, the ratio of the tertiary industrial sector is 40.1 %, and its contribution ratio to the economy growth was 47.5% .

Industry Economy

Ningbo, an important industrial base in Zhejiang Province, has formed an industrial system, which is mainly composed of traditional mainstays, such as textile, garments, and machinery, large-scale harbor-based industries represented by petrochemicals, iron & steel, power generation and paper-making etc, and new hi-tech industry including integration of electronic information and mechanical & electrical, biomedicine, etc. In 2006, the whole industry production value reached ¥751.07 billion, increasing by 22%. While the large-scale industries increased ¥597.43 billion in value, by 23.4%. 98.2% products were sold by the large-scale industries. New production value reached ¥73.77 billion.

Agriculture Industry

Ningbo is also a major production base of grain, cotton, edible oil and aquatic products in China. In the year of 2006, farming, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery increased ¥22.22 billion in value, which increased 4.3%. The industrial connection between urban and rural areas has been enhanced. Now, Ningbo has 18 kinds of organic food at state-level, 118 kinds of green food, 212 kinds of non-environmental-pollution agricultural products. Meanwhile, Ningbo owns 6 leading agricultural enterprises at the state-level, 27 ones at province-level and 198 ones at city-level. The export of agricultural products reached US$ 1.201 billion with an increase of 24.33%.

In 2006, the city invested ¥3.26 billion in construction of new socialist countryside. 175 interlock super-markets and 2858 shops have been set up in 91 towns of the city. People can buy things that they want conveniently in the countryside.

Private Economy

By the end of 2006, 249,200 families have been engaged in industrial and commercial activities individually, involving 482,600 employees and registered capital of ¥8.893 billion. There are 83,200 private enterprises, involving 1.2592 million employees and registered capital of ¥113.275 billion, of which 58 ones have more than 100 million net asset. The main indexes of scale, turnover, profits, revenue and export, etc, are among the foremost of Zhejiang Province.

Brand Economy

Ningbo has been appraised of The City of Brands for recent two years and awarded the titles of Stationery Capital, Mould Capital and Plastic Machinery Capital in China successively. Till now, Ningbo has successfully developed 37 “Well-Known Trademarks of China”, 44 “China Top Brands”, 12 “China’s 500 Most Valuable Brands”, 20 “Famous Export Brands Supported and Developed by Ministry of Commerce of China”, 5 “Industrial Symbol Brands in China”, and 220 “Famous Brands of Zhejiang Province”. In 2006, the sale value of brand products reached ¥199.85 billion, accounted 34.1% of the total sale value of large-scale industry products. The registered brands added up to 33,649. 162 enterprises of the city have registered 1,070 brands in abroad, whose products were sold in over 100 counties and regions.

Exhibition Economy

The city of Ningbo has been awarded the titles of “the Outstanding Exhibition City of China” and “Ten top Feast Meeting Cities of China”. A famous exhibition city is being founded. In 2006, the city of Ningbo holds 148 different kinds of exhibition activities, with an increase of 74% over the previous year. Such exhibitions as Zhejiang Investment & Trade Symposium, China International Consumer Goods Fair, China International Fashion Trading Fair have been among the most influential exhibitions in China.

Zhejiang Investment & Trade Symposium China International Consumer Goods Fair

Zhejiang Provincial People’s Government made a decision to hold Zhejiang Investment & Trade Symposium in Ningbo from June 8th to 12th annually. The last eight symposiums since 1999 attracted more than 60,000 businessmen from over 100 countries and regions.

The 9th Zhejiang Investment & Trade Symposium will still be supported by associated departments of the state, composed of investment symposium, exhibition & trade of (import) export goods, forum on investment, recommendation of talent and technology. Meanwhile, the 6th China International Consumer Goods Fair will be held by Commerce Ministry and Zhejiang Provincial Government simultaneously.

The International Fashion Festival of Ningbo

Ningbo was the port of departure of ‘the silk road in the sea’ in ancient China and the hometown of “Hongbang” Tailors, who used to make western style suits for westerners in old days. Ningbo has special position in the garment industry history of China: Ningbo people made the first Chinese tunic suit and the first Western-style suit, managed the first Western-style suit store, and wrote the first book on making Western-style suits in China, and even founded the first garment school of China.

At present, More than 2,000 garment factories in Ningbo produce over 1.4 billion suits annually, accounting for 12% of the country’s total. A batch of nationally famous brands as “Firs”, “Younger”, “Romon”, “Progen”, “Rouse”, “Aiyimei”, “Peacebird’, “Tonlion”, “Veken” have been formed. Now, the garment industry has become one of the pillar industries of Ningbo. And Ningbo, the biggest garment producing base and key garment export base of China, are trying to build the “City of Garment in China”.

Since 1997, Ningbo has successfully sponsored the International Fashion Festival for 10 years, which has become one of “the Top Ten Feast Activities in China” and “Ten Chinese Most Influential Feast Activities to the World”. The 11th International Fashion Ningbo will be held on October, 2007.

Main Exhibitions Held in Ningbo in 2007

Port & Traffic

Port

In 738 AD, Ningbo Port was put into use formally. In the Tang Dynasty (618-907), it was known as one of the three major seaports for foreign trade, along with Yangzhou and Guangzhou. In the Song Dynasty, it became one of the three major port cities for foreign trade together with Guangzhou and Quanzhou.

“Ningbo-Zhoushan Port” was used as its formal name on January 1st , 2006. As an important part of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, Ningbo port region is well situated at the middle of the coastline of Mainland China, just at the T-shaped joining point of North-south shipping line and the golden waterway of the Yangtze River. It is a modern port composed of Beilun (seaport), Zhenhai (estuary port), Daxie Port, Chuanshan Port and old Ningbo harbor (inland river port) areas, with comprehensive functions and multi-level berths. It has become the main storage and transshipment base for crude oil, iron ore, containers and liquid chemical products of Mainland China. In 2006, the port region handled 310 million tons of cargo, ranking 2nd in the ports of Mainland China, and 4th worldwide. The TEU containers handled by this port region reached 7.068 million, increased by35.7%, ranking 4th of coastal ports in Mainland China and 13th worldwide. There are more than 163 regular shipping lines and 82 ocean shipping lines for container between Ningbo Port and other main ports all over the world. The container liner services count more than 700 a month.

Ningbo port region is a deep-water port famous all over the country. The shallowest section of the entry channel is more than 18.2 meters deep, enough for vessels of 250,000 tons to enter freely. Huge ships of 250,000 to 300,000 tonnages can also navigate at tide. There are 311 berths totally in use, 60 of which are deep-water berths for thousand tons and above. It is the port with the most large and super large berths deep-water in Mainland China. Free from big waves and strong winds, there are more than 350 workable days in a year. Ningbo Port is an ideal place for developing ocean-going transport to North and South America and Oceania. Up to now it has built trade and transport relations with over 600 ports of more than 100 countries and regions in the world.

Traffic

Headed by Ningbo Port, Ningbo has formed overall transportation network including highway, railway, aviation and waterway. The Hangzhou Bay Oversea Bridge, the longest oversea bridge in the world, will be done in June this year, and put into use in 2008. At that time, the distance from Ningbo to Shanghai will be only 120 km by land, including 36 km of the bridge’s length in total. The bridge involves an investment of 11.8 billion Yuan RMB. It can be used for 100 years at least according to its design.

At the end of 2006, the total length of roads was 8900 km.. There are three main highways connecting Ningbo to Hangzhou, Jinhua, Taizhou and Wenzhou respectively. And passengers may reach more than 300 important cities in China by taking regular buses here. 20 pairs of trains go to every corner across the country everyday, and 9 of which running between Shanghai and Ningbo, Hangzhou and Ningbo everyday. In 2006, the number of passengers transported in and out by railway was 7.451 million.

Ningbo Lishe International Airport, the 4th international airport in the Yangtse River Delta, possesses more than 40 lines with 560 flights a week. In 2006, the number of passengers transported in and out by air was 2.973 million, while goods were 53,000 tons. There are 6 flights everyday flying between Ningbo and Hong Kong. An international flight course between Ningbo to Seoul, South Korea, is in operation. The cargo flights between Ningbo and Hongkong, airbuses between Ningbo and Shanghai are also in operation.

Open Up

Foreign Trade

As a foreign trading port with a long history, Ningbo created the glory of “the silk road on sea” and “the road of china” in the antiquity. And in the Song Dynasty, Shibosi, an organization in charge of foreign trade set up in Ningbo, was one of the four largest organs in China. Since opening-up, Ningbo has boasted rapid development of foreign economy and trade. The export and import volume in 2006 surpassed US$42.1 billion with an increase of 26%, ranking 11th among 36 provinces, provincial-level cities, autonomous regions and sub-provincial-level cities. The export volume was US$28.77 billion, with an increase of 29.4%. By the end of 2006, 10034 joint-venture enterprises had been set up in Ningbo, with a total investment of US$ 8.75 billion, US$ 4.43 billion contractual utilization of foreign capital and US$ 2.43 billion actual utilization of foreign capital. By the end of 2006, 11060 foreign business programs have been approved in accumulation, and the turnover of outsourcing and labor cooperation was US$ 970 million, which increased by 48.3%. At the end of 2006, 650 foreign enterprises and organizations were approved abroad, distributed in 68 countries.

Opening up in 2006,the Permanent Show Center of Ningbo International Trade Mart is located in the CBD of eastern new district of Ningbo, with an area of 60 ha. and 1300 standard booths in the show center. By now, the famous companies like Oulin, Fuda, Land, Ximuo, Qidi, Huayu, Minfeng, Lanbao, etc., have settled in the center.

Ningbo Economic & Technical Development Zone (NETD)

Ningbo Economic & Technical Development Zone, founded under the approval of State Council in October, 1984, with an area of 29.6km2, is one of the earliest and largest development zones established in China, and one of the economic zones with most opening economic strength. In 2006, there were 135 foreign-invested programs approved in NETD, with a contractual capital of US$1.05 billion and an actual capital of US$ 610 million. Totally, the NETD has brought in 614 foreign-invested programs, with a contractual capital of US$ 4.06 billion, and an actual capital of US$ 2.32 billion. Among these programs, 179 ones have a scale of more than US$ 10 million. In the NETD, the by-port industrial cluster of energy, petrochemical, iron & steel, auto, paper making, stainless steel, and the hi-new technology industrial cluster of precision machine, electron information, bio-Pharmaceutical, new material, have been founded. NETD aims to be a key integral part of Northeast Asia’s international shipping center, an important manufacturing base in East China, and a regional logistic hub and a new modernized seaside urban district.

Ningbo Free Trade Zone (NFTZ)

Ningbo Free Trade Zone was established under the approval of State Council in November 1992 with a planning area of 2.3km2. NFTZ enjoys special policies of “exempt from tax, exempt from license, bonded tax” and has economic functions of international trade, import & export processing, bonded warehousing & distribution, merchandise exhibition etc. Now, NFTZ, the only free trade zone in Zhejiang Province, is one of the opening areas with most freedom in Mainland China. After more than 10 years’ construction, the investment environment of NFTZ is much better, and its economy grows quickly. By the end of 2006, 5900 enterprises have been brought into the NFTZ, among which 930 are foreign-funded involving an investment of US$ 4.85 billion. And the total volume of export and import reached US$ 3.88 billion in accumulation. This zone has formed a series of industrial groups, such as computer industry group, microelectronics and photoelectronic industry group, software industry group, precise mechanism industry, and international trade, storage & logistics enterprises group. And it has been a modern regional logistic and exhibition center, a key point of hi-tech development in Yangtze River Delta and an important distributing center for import & export.

Ningbo Export Processing Zone (NEPZ)

Approved by the State Council, Ningbo Export Processing Zone (NEPZ) was established in June, 2002, covering an area of 3 km2. As a special economic zone, it is preferential in policy, convenient in customs clearance and management, operating in the way of “inside the territory, outside the customs” characterized with the favorable policy of ‘exempt from tax, exempt from license, bonded tax” as well as zero tax in purchase, processing and export. NEPZ provides 24-hour service, including “declaration once, examination once and check once”. By the end of 2006, 49 processing items had been introduced into NEPZ, with US$ 1.15 billion in total, and contractual utilization US$ 730 million, and have preliminarily formed an industrial chain on information and home electrical appliance, headed by Qimei Electron.

Ningbo Boned Logistics Zone (NBLZ)

NBLZ located in the 4th phase container terminal of Ningbo port region, with a planning area of 0.95 km2 was approved in August 2004 by State Council, and put into use from August, 2005. The Bonded Logistics Zone, enjoying the relevant policies for Free Trade Zone, has 4 main functions, which are international transit, global sourcing, entrepot trade and international delivery. The taxes of import and export are imposed according to relevant policies for Ningbo Export Processing Zone. Companies in the zone can procure both in domestic market and international market, and engage in businesses like storage, circulation and processing, delivery, transition and entrepot trade inside the zone.

The Daxie Island Development Zone (DIDZ)

With a total area of 30.84 km2, Daxie Island lies in the north of Beilun New district, Ningbo. In July 1993, the State Council approved CITIC to exploit Daxie Island under the same policies for the national level economic and technical development zones. After 14 years’ construction, the infrastructure in Daxie of traffic, administrative and commercial area, residential living quarters, etc., have been greatly improved. The industrial park has been formed and the investment environment is also much better. A new district of a modern port-city is emerging along the east China seashore. At present, DIDZ possess 29 different kinds of terminals, which handled 47.59 thousand tons of cargo in 2006.

Daxie has invested ¥18.28 billion in fixed assets and brought in 220 enterprises, including BP of Britain, MCC of Japan, and Sinopec, etc.

Ningbo National Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone (NNHIDZ)

Ningbo National Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone, located in the eastern part of Ningbo urban district, set up in July 1999, with a planning area of 18.9 km2. The park was promoted as the National Hi-New Technology Development Park in January, 2007, enjoys the current policies for the National Hi-New Technology Development Park. The gross product of 2006 is ¥196 billion, with ¥195.5 billion turnover, ¥23 billion profit tax, ¥56.1 billion value of export by consignment, respectively increased by 28.1%, 31.8%, 23.8% and 34.3% compared to the previous year. NNHIDZ will adhere to the core idea of “innovation, pioneering and industrialization”, speed up to cluster the organs of science and research, intellectuals with high quality and hi-new industries. By building “Five Platforms” on technological innovation and implementing “Ten Projects”, NNHIDZ will try to realize conversion from clustering to radiation, and contribute to be the important technology innovation base of Zhejiang Province, the leading innovative zone and the hi-new technology industrial demonstration zone in south of Yangtze River Delta.

Overseas Relations

Ningbo has actively developed strong ties with many countries since further opening up to the outside world. Foreign friends from over 130 countries and regions have come to visit Ningbo. The city of Ningbo has successively established sister-city relations with 12 countries, and friendly exchange relations with 10 countries.

Overseas Ningbonese

Ningbo is the home to many overseas Chinese. Over 300,000 people of Ningbo origin and their offspring reside in 67 overseas countries and regions. Many of them are industrial and commercial tycoons, renowned scientists, leaders of mass organizations, leaders of communities and noted public figures. They cherish deep love for their hometown and continue to provide an important bridge between Ningbo and the countries where they settled. Since Deng Xiaoping issued the indirection of mobilizing the overseas Ningboese all over the world to construct Ningbo, they have donated over ¥l billion to initiate over 2,200 projects in their hometown. There are now 72 overseas Ningbonese have been awarded the title of “Honorable Citizen of Ningbo City”. All the overseas Ningbonese serve as bridges and ties between Ningbo and the world.

Foreign Friendly Relation Cities to Ningbo

Ningbo-Hongkong Economic Cooperation Symposium

Sponsored by Ningbo Municipal People’s Government and Hongkong Trade Development Council, Ningbo-Hongkong Economic Cooperation Symposium has been held in Ningbo and Hongkong in turn since 2002, which raised the cooperation level and expanded the cooperation fields between two places. In the last 5 years, we have signed 75 programs, utilized US$ 520 million contractual capital and capitalized US$ 150 million. A handle of agent service and logistic programs settled in Ningbo, and the investment in manufactory programs keeps a good tendency. Meanwhile, a number of private enterprises have been listed on HongKong stock market. ‘2007 Ningbo-Hongkong Economic Cooperation Sym-posium will be held in Hongkong in September. Main activities are: Promotion conference on central district of Ningbo, Symposium on cooperation between two cities in logistics, by-sea industries, education, international finance service, product original design, scientific innovation, and Recommendation on tourist and cultural industries.

Social Life

Science & Technology

Innovative abilities in science & technology have been promoted continuously. Ningbo has been listed as one of the pilot cities of the National Torch Innovation Plan, affording 220 different kinds of sci-tech programs at state level, increase 2 state enterprise technological centers, 12 provincial enterprise technological centers, and 8 municipal key laboratories. Local innovative system in Ningbo improves gradually, and now Ningbo possesses 365 hi-new technological enterprises and 163 project technology centers at the municipal level and above. The ability of area innovation is improved greatly. In 2006, Ningbo was awarded National Science & Technology Progress Award, and National Tech & Invention Award. And the volume of application for patent has reached 10413, 6056 of which have been approved, respectively increased by 34.1% and 51.9%.

Education

Ningbo has long been praised as “the State of Civilization”. In the Tang Dynasty (618-907), schools sponsored by state had appeared here. It firstly started modern schools as well as the academy for girls. Its scientific and educational undertakings have been fairly developed in China. There are 92 academicians of Ningbo origin who serve in the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering Sciences. Ningbo supports 15 institutions of higher education with over 121,000 college students in register. And the gross enrolment rate in universities is an impressive 44%. There are 2,344 full-time schools of various kinds with a student body of 1.201 million. The University of Nottingham Ningbo is the first university substantially cooperated with foreign universities in China. Compulsory education covers the whole city population. The kindergarten enrolment rate reaches 133%. 96% of the junior middle school graduates are furthering education in senior middle schools. Eleven counties and districts, and 131 among the 133 towns and villages were praised for distinguished achievements in education. 257 schools were selected as models in education.

Culture

The cultural undertakings in Ningbo are booming. The construction of cultural infrastructure is improving steadily. A number of cultural facilities, such as grand theaters, concert halls, and museums, have been set up. The Ningbo Museum is now under construction. Literary and art creation has made an important breakthrough, as is reflected by works such as the famous Ningbo Opera Dian Qi, and Yue Opera King Ashoka. 300 art performances are held at least every year in Ningbo. Public cultural activities are numerous, ranging from net cafes, audio & visual products to publication. The number of cultural industries increases 20% every year, becoming a highlight in the overall economic growth of Ningbo. There are 22 national culture protection units, 34 provincial units, 240 municipal and county units, and 67 museums, memorial halls and exhibition halls. Ninghai Pingdiao, Fenghua Cloth Dragon, Zhujin Wood Carving, and Legend of Liangzhu were listed as national intangible cultural heritage projects. The Sea Silk Road of Ningbo and Shanglinhu Porcelain Kiln Remains of Yue are on the national preparative list and waiting to apply for the world cultural heritage status.

Hygiene

There are 1,854 healthcare organizations in Ningbo, providing 20,000 hospital beds and a total of 35,000 medical staff. A basic urban and rural healthcare system has been established of different levels, reasonable structure and functional capabilities. 143 community healthcare centers and 1, 095 community service clinic have been established, covering the whole urban population of Ningbo. “A 10-minute fast medical aid system” has been established for people in downtown areas. Over 90% of the medical care units in the rural are within about 20 minutes’ walking distance from the targeted population.A new rural cooperative medical system has been basically set up, benefiting about 3.61 million people, which means 94.5% of the city population participate the system. The average life-span of urban residents of Ningbo reaches 76.61 years. All clinical blood comes from blood donation.

Sports

Physical undertakings flourish in Ningbo. There are over 6,344 gymnasiums and stadiums, and about 2,300 body-building centers in Ningbo. 95% of the communities and 60% of the villages have one fitness center at least. In 2006, the city of Ningbo held 25 national or international competitions or sport activities. Athletes from Ningbo won 9 gold medals, 3 silver medals and 5 bronze medals in international and Asian competitions, and 26 golden medals, 17 silver medals and 28 bronze medals in national competitions. During the Doha Asian Games, three women athletes from Ningbo won four golden medals, two silver medals and two bronze medals. Ningbo held more than 25 national and international competitions, including the Chinese Women Volleyball Competition in Beilun, CBA and WCBA. The establishment of Fubang Bayi Men’s Professional Basketball Club marked the settling down of the team in the city. The gross sports lottery sale of 2006 topped ¥730 million, increasing from 2005 by 31 % and ranking 3rd following Beijing and Tianjin.

News Media

Municipal news media includes Ningbo Daily, Ningbo Evening News, South-east Trade News, Ningbo Radio Station, Ningbo TV Station and China Ningbo Website (www.cnnb.com.cn, a comprehensive news web site). Ningbo Daily Group is the only media group that integrates newspaper, news website, publishing and a bookstore. The Ningbo Concert Hall is also run by the group. Ningbo Book Market, also a project of the group, is now under planning. The Ningbo Radio &TV Group is a comprehensive media group that runs a broadcasting station, a TV station, cable net transmission, a digital TV company, the Ningbo Grand Theatre and Ningbo Broadcasting and TV Paper, covering news broadcasting, advertising, program making and broadcasting, internet, newspaper and tourism. The two groups are the driving force behind the development of the media of Ningbo.

City Construction

A new general layout of the city and the planning of the new eastern urban district, Yuyao and Cixi, have been finished. Construction of main districts such as Yinzhou, Zhenhai, Beilun and Dongqian Lake Tourism & Holiday Resort developed rapidly. More effort is being put in infrastructure construction. The Five-streets and Four-bridges Construction Project, Zhilan Bridge and the Sun Lake Park have been completed. Construction of the western part of the round-city expressway has started. The water supply rate in downtown areas reached 0.38 billion tons.

Living Condition

The living space per capita of urban and rural residents are 24.9m2 and 51.9 m2 perspectively. 350,000 m2 of economical houses were built. People whose disposable living space is less than 12 m2 are eligible for help from the government.

Per Capita Living Space for Urban Residents

25    -<m2)                  
20 15      .    .     7.13 7.63 18.4
10    -                   
5     -                   
0                                              

Social Security

1.699 million people have benefited from a basic insurance system. The average pension per month was ¥1139, ranking first in the province. 1.27 million urban residents have benefited from the city medical insurance. 3.61 million people are benefiting from the rural cooperative medical insurance system, the rate reaching 94.5%. 16,000 urban residents are benefiting from the social security system for people under the lowest living conditions. Charity organizations of municipal and county level have raised a fund of ¥250 million.

Income & Expenditure

The annual per capita disposable income of urban dwellers averaged ¥19,674 with an increase of 13%. The average consumption expenditure of people in urban areas was ¥12,665, increasing from 2005 by 7.7%. Every 100 urban families own an average of168.8 color TV sets, 73.8 PCs, 138.5 air conditioners, 8.8 cars, and 174.8 mobile phones. The annual average per capita net income of rural residents reached ¥8,847, increasing from 2005 by 13.3%. Every 100 rural families own an average of 161.4 color TV sets, 59.7 washing machines, 86.3 refrigerators, and 62 air conditioners.

Per Capita Disposable Income of Urban Residents

The Environment

246 companies have passed the ISO 14001 evaluation. Smog pollution has been controlled in 27 districts, covering an area of 402.5 km2. The green coverage rate and per capita green area reached 37.32% and 11.52m2 respectively. The rate of days with high air quality in a year was 89.9%. The environmental noise and traffic noise of urban area are 58.3 db and 68.3 db respectively. Ningbo was listed as one of the cities most suitable for living in China. A report on the quality of people’s life in cities shows Ningbo ranked 4th in China.

Places of Interest & Cultural Heritage

Ningbo is famous for its natural scenery, historic and cultural heritage. As one of the first batch of the China Tourism Cities, it boasts 22 state-level cultural heritage units among the 255 protected historic and cultural sites including the Neolithic Hemudu Culture ruins dating back 7,000 years; Tianyi Library, the oldest private library in China; Baoguo Temple, the oldest wooden structure in Southern Yangtze River, Shanglinhu Porcelain Kiln Remains of Yue; Tuoshanyan Water Conservancy Project; Remains of the Zhenhai Coastal Defense and Chiang Kaishek's Former Residence in Xikou, Fenghua. Besides, there are Tiantong Temple, the second of China's top 5 temples of Zen Sect of Buddhism, King Asoka Temple noted for the preservation of one parietal bone of Sakyamuni, and Xuedou Temple. Xikou Scenery Area, Tengtou Ecological Tourism Area, Tianyi Museum and Songlan Mount Seashore forTourism& Holidays, Younger Zoo, Jade World Resort, Siming Mountain Scenery Area, Fishing Village of China and Five-Dragon Pool Scenery Area are national 4-A scenery sites. There are also a number of industrial and agricultural tourist spots at state level, such as Ningbo Tengtou, Geely Auto Manufactory, Ningbo Dahongying Cigarette and Tiangong Fazenda. There are 176 travel agencies and over 204 star hotels. In 2006, the city hosted 542,000 overseas tourists, with an increase of 23.6% from 2005, and generated US$340 million, increased from the previous year by 35.6%. The year 2006 saw 26.85 million domestic tourists with an increase of 14.2 % from 2005. The tourism of Ningbo in 2006 earned ¥28.96 billion and increased from 2005 by 21.5%. The total tourism revenue in 2006 was ¥31.6 billion.

Baoguo Temple

It is now the oldest and best preserved wooden Buddhist temple in the Southern Yangtze River. Built in the East Han Dynasty (A.D. 25—220), it was originally named Lingshan Temple and was rebuilt through the effort of Emperor Xizong of the Tang Dynasty after it was destroyed, and was renamed Baoguo Temple, according to the plaque of Baoguo (meaning defending the country), presented by the emperor. The present palace was rebuilt in 1013 and is undoubtedly an architectural wonder because not a single nail can be found in the building and the whole thing is miraculously devoid of bird nests, insects, spiders and dust.

Tianyi Library

It is the oldest private library existing in China. Retraceable records show it was built about between 1561 and 1566. Tianyi Pavilion was named after a sentence from Yi Jing, meaning that fire can be controlled here in hopes of preserving the library forever. In 1772, following the construction and managing system of Tianyi Pavilion, the government of the Qing Dynasty built seven other pavilions, two of which are named Wenyuan and Wenlan, to preserve Si Ku Quan Shu. Over 300,000 volumes of books, among which there are 80,000 volumes of rare editions, are preserved in the library.

The Neolithic Hemudu Culture Ruins

It is one of the most important cultural relics of the Neolithic Age in China, proving that the Yangtze River was not only the birthplace of the Chinese culture, but also the place first cultivated for rice growing on the earth. The ruins cover a total area of 4,000 km2, with 4 meter-depth of culture sediments. Over 7000 relics ranging from bones, stones, wood, pottery, rice and wooden building have been unearthed, which provides rich data for research into agriculture, textile, art and the origin of the Eastern Civilization.

Shanglinhu Porcelain Kiln Remains of Yue

This is the birthplace of Chinese porcelain kiln of Yue and is listed as one of the applicants for the world cultural heritage status in February, 2006. There are more than 120 ancient kilns built thousand years ago, making the whole place look like a porcelain museum with pieces of porcelains piling up and scattered everywhere.

Tuoshanyan Dam Project

With a history of over 1,000 years, it is praised as one of the Four Greatest Irrigation Projects in ancient China, along with Zhenguoqu, Lingqu, and Dujiangyan. Tuoshanyan has a total length of 134.4 meters and a width of 4.8 meters, and was built with stone bricks of 0.2-0.35 meter width. It is rated as an irrigation and flood-control miracle in the water in the world.

Remains of Zhenhai Coastal Defense

Situated by the East China Sea and at the entrance of the Yongjiang River, the relics are the most important defense gateway and military fort used for coastal defense in Zhejiang.

Chiang Kaishek's Former Residence

Located in Xikou, Fenghua, the complex is an important heritage in contemporary Chinese architecture and witnessed the ups and downs of Chiang Kais-hek and Chiang Jingguo and some major historical events in Chinese history.

Qing'an Guild Hall

Covering an area of 5,000 square meters, it is one of the eight most well-known Tianhou Palaces existing in the country and an important base for studying the Chinese Mazu Culture. It’s called “The First Build Hall in Southern China”. The house adopts traditional Chinese construction style, with all the gates, pavilions, stages and living rooms laid out symmetrically.

The Miaogouhou and Hengsheng Stone Memorial Arch-ways

Sitting on hillside and made with Meiyuan Stone and Yi’ao Stone, two uniqie local stone materials, they are the oldest existing stone archways ever found in China and are of an magnificent and ingenious style.

The Dongqian Lake Carved Stones

These stones on tomb passages are the remains of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). The site has the largest number of tomb stone carvings made with the most exquisite carving skills of the time, and provides valuable materials for the study of the painting art, archeology and sculpture of the Southern Song Dynasty.

The Old Residence of Mr. Yu

A construction model combining Chinese traditional style with the western style, the complex is the former residence of Yu Qiaqing, an important figure in the financial history in contemporary China and a representative of the famous Ningbo financial businessmen.

Yongfeng Warehouse

With a total excavated area of 9,600 square meters, this is the warehouse of the Qingyuan Yamun in the Yuan Dynasty, and was the first one of its kind found in China. About 800 chinaware artifacts made in the southern and middle districts of China during the Song and Yuan dynasties have been excavated from the site - a compelling evidence that Ningbo once played a pivotal role in transportation and foreign trade.

Qianyie Hall (Money Shop)

Established by the banking investors in 1864 and adopting both eastern and western style, Qianye Hall is the only one of its kind that survived hundred years of history, providing people of today a best example of the “money shops” in ancient times. Qianye Hall occupies an area of about 1,500 square meters and was the financial transaction center of Ningbo for a long period of time. The famous “posting” accounting was initiated by Qianye in the Qing Dynasty and had great impact on the financial business at the time.

The Jiangbei Catholic Church

Built in 1872 and covering 4846.4 square meters, this is the best reserved church in Zhejiang and is of the highest level in the province. Adopting a noticeable Gothic style and combining some traditional Chinese architectural elements, the church is a good example showing integration of the Eastern and Western architectural art. The bell tower of the church is dubbed “the First Bell Tower of Zhejiang”.

East Zhejiang School Relics

The relics of this school are scattered in the downtown areas of Ningbo, Yuyao and Fenghua, and some other places such as Bai yunzhuang, the graves of Huang Zongxi, Wan Sitong, and Quan Zuwang. East Zhejiang School, emphasizing studies of all historical materials and practical use of academic foundings was one of the most brilliant regional academic schools in the history of China. The school was founded by Huang Zongxi, and Baiyun zhuang was the place, where Huang Zongxi preached the doctrines of the school for the longest period of time and trained the “18 Most Accomplished Disciples”, making the school widespread not only in Eastern Zhejiang but also in other places in China and even abroad.

The Twin Towers of the Tianning Temple

Built in A.D.851, it is the only living example of the twin-tower construction style in the Tang Dynasty. Vestiges of the East Tower can only be found in its base. The five-storey West Tower, with a height of 12m, is a well-preserved art piece.

Asoka Temple

Built in A.D.282, or the third year of Taikang in the Western Jin Dynasy, the temple is the only one in China that is named by King Asoka, and houses a dagoba. Asoka Temple has a magnificent scale with a simple structure, and has 600 halls, rooms, and pavilions, including the main hall, the Buddhist sarira hall, the Great Mercy Pavilion, a hall for preaching Buddhist doctrines, the abbot’s hall, and the Chenkui Pavilion, the Cheng’en Hall. The temple also houses well-preserved steles inscribed by masters.

Tiantong Temple

Reputed as one of the five greatest Zen temples in the world, the temple was first built by a monk called Yi Xing in the first year of Emperor Yongkang in the West Jin Dynasty. It is not only an important place for the Linjizong cult, but also the origin of Caodongzong cult, a main branch of the Buddhism in Japan. Perched at the foot of hills, the temple covers an area of 76,400 square meters and has a lot of well-preserved steles of precious writing left by Emperor Shunzhi, Kangxi and Yongzheng in the Qing Dynasty.

Cicheng Ancient Building Complex

The complex is one of the few well-preserved counties that are of great archeological value in Southern China. The Confucius Temple in the complex is the best-preserved temple of its kind in eastern Zhejiang Province. The house of the noble families in the Ming Dynasty, doors decorated with the Chinese character “Fu” (福), Former Residence of Feng built in the Qing Dynasty, are the best examples representing the construction style at the time, showing excellent workmanship and a generous use of choice materials. The colored pattern drawing of the Former Residence of Fengyue is of important value in the study of the history of Southern China colored drawing art once prevalent in the Song Dynasty.

Ninghai Folk Theatrical Stage

Ten stages with caisson ceiling of ancestral temple, chosen from more than 120 ones in Ninghai, were built during the years from Emperor Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty to the Republic Period of China, reflecting the historical and cultural elements at the time. The perfect structure of caisson ceiling which integrates aesthetics conception, carving and colored drawing, reflects the perfect craftsmanship of the local handicraftsman and the unique custom of Ninghai.

Former Residence of Wang Shouren

Ningbo was the birthplace of Wang Shouren, a famous philosopher, politician, educator and representative of Perspective of Poetry Studies in the Song Dynasty. Covering an area of more than 4,600m2, the building is of a simple construction style. Wang Shouren was born in Rui Yun Pavilion, in 1872, and grew up here. He came back to the residence many times after he became an academic celebrity. His The Study of Heart and Mind plays an important role in the study of the Chinese philosophy. Wang was the author of many classics, among which the Wang Yangming Collection can still be found.

Site of Anti-Japanese Revolutionary Base In Eastern Zhejiang Province

The site includes historic sites in the communist revolution, like Site of Eastern Zhejiang CPC Committee, Site of New Fourth Army Guerrilla Column of Eastern Zhejiang, Site of People’s Congress of Eastern Zhejiang, Branch School Luxun College, etc., is the base for National Patriotism Education, and was listed on Classic Tourism Sites of the Historic Sites in the Communist Revolution.

Future Development

Ningbo has great potentials for further development. According to the general requirement of “improve scientific development, and construct harmonious society”, Ningbo will go on to carry out the strategy of “six combinations” in an all-round way, that is, combination of rural and urban areas, industrial integration, integration of ports, bridges and sea, combination of production, living and ecology, and combination of economic and social development. It’s speeding up to found “Safe Ningbo”, Cultural City and a city under legal system, and trying to promote the harmonious development between urban and rural areas, enhance the industrial comprehensive competitive strength, exert the driven function of ports and bridges, and improve the internationalization level, heighten the sustainable development capacity, upgrade the life quality of people, and boost the construction of modern international port city in to a new stage.

In the next 5years, Ningbo will try to keep economy developing well and quickly, optimize the structure, improve benefits and cut down the cost. By the end of 2011, Ningbo will realize local GDP ¥500 billion, with an increase of 11% yearly, GDP per capita ¥86,000, revenue income ¥100 billion, and the income per capita of urban residents and rural residents reach ¥30,000 and ¥13000 respectively. Ningbo will build itself an international deep-water pivotal port, important national port of foreign trade, important manufacturing base and modern logistic center in Eastern China, and establish the station of economic centre in the South of the Yangtze River Delta. At that time, the society of Ningbo will become more harmonious and developed, the family property will increase universally, the public service system will be more mature, the environment will be greatly improved, and Ningbo will be more stable and orderly, the human habitat environment will be much optimized. The culture will be more prosperous, people's ideology and moral qualities, the scientific and cultural qualities and health qualities will improve greatly. Civilization in urban and rural areas will upgrade. Ningbo will form good moral vogue in the whole society, and try to keep the title of National Civil City. Democracy and legal system of the city will continue to be enhanced, and benefits of people will be respected and guaranteed completely. The economy, politics, culture and society will smoothly develop under the law and regular system.

Ningbo External Liaison Organizations

Information Office of Ningbo Municipal People's Government

Address: No. 61 Xianqian St., Ningbo
Post Code: 315000
Tel: 0086-574-87182776, 87182764
Fax: 0086-574-87279508
http://www.cnnb.com.cn

Foreign Affairs Office of Ningbo Municipal People’s Government

Address: No. 91 Jiefang North Rd., Ningbo
Post Code: 315000
Tel: 0086-574-87186507
Fax:0086-574-87186518
http:// www.nbfao.gov.cn

Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Ningbo Municipal People's Government

Address: No. 91 Jiefang North Rd., Ningbo
Post Code: 315000
Tel: 0086-574-56128000
Fax: 0086-574-87270637
http:// www.nb96.gov.cn

Taiwan Affairs Office of Ningbo Municipal People's Government

Address: No. 91 Jiefang North Rd., Ningbo
Post Code: 315000
Tel: 0086-574-56128017
Fax: 0086-574-56128018
http:// www.nbtb.gov.cn

Ningbo Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Bureau

Address: No. 190 Lingqiao Rd., Ningbo
Post Code: 315000
Tel: 0086-574-87178014
Fax: 0086-574-87328288
http:// www.nbfet.gov.cn

Ningbo Tourism Bureau

Address: No. 35 Changchun Rd., Ningbo
Post Code: 315012
Tel: 0086-574-87303141
Fax: 0086-574-87291266
http:// www.travel.nb.gov.cn

Ningbo Inspection & Quarantine Bureau of Exit & Entry of the P.R.C.

Address: No. 9 Mayuan Rd., Ningbo
Post Code: 315010
Tel: 0086-574-87112893
Fax:0086-574-87112693
http:// www.nbciq.gov.cn

Ningbo Administration of Customs of the P.R.C.

Address: No. 19 Mayuan Rd., Ningbo
Post Code: 315010
Tel: 0086-574-87139114
Fax: 0086-574-87002999
http:// www.nbedi.com

Ningbo Port Co. Ltd

Address: No. 496 Yanjiang East Rd., Zhenhai, Ningbo
Post Code: 315200
Tel: 0086-574-87695125
Fax: 0086-574-87695629
http:// www.nbport.com.cn

Ningbo Economic & Technical Development Zone

Address: Ningbo Economic & Technical Development Zone
Post Code: 315800
Tel: 0086-574-86780092
Fax:0086-574-86780118
http:// www.netd.com.cn

Ningbo Free Trade Zone

Address: 15/F, Free Trade Zone Plaza, Ningbo
Post Code: 315800
Tel: 0086-574-86884850
Fax:0086-574-86883518
http:// www.nftz.gov.cn

Ningbo Export Processing Zone

Address: 15/F, Free Trade Zone Plaza, Ningbo
Post Code: 315800
Tel: 0086-574-86884850
Fax:0086-574-86883518
http:// www.nftz.gov.cn

Ningbo Daxie Island Development Zone

Address: Daxie Island Development Zone, Ningbo
Post Code: 315812
Tel: 0086-574-86768777
Fax: 0086-574-86768850
http:// www.citic-daxie.com

Ningbo National Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone

Address: No. 599 Jiangnan Road, Ningbo
Post Code: 315040
Tel: 0086-574-87901663
Fax: 0086-574-87901409
http:// www.nbhtp.gov.cn

Dongqian Lake Tourist & Holiday Resort

Address: Dongqian Lake
Post Code: 315121
Tel: 0086-574-88366237
Fax: 0086-574-88373012
http:// www.dqlake.gov.cn