Academic Opportunities in China 2010

Location

Ningbo is a major international port already well on the way to becoming one of the great world cities of the 21st century. Ningbo is located in Zhejiang Province on the south shore of Hangzhou Bay opposite Shanghai. Ningbo is one of the busiest ports in China and among the largest ports in the world. It is two hours by train from Hangzhou and three and a half hours by train from Shanghai. The world’s longest ocean bridge opened last year, linking Ningbo and Shanghai, and reducing driving time between the cities to approximately two and a half hours.

Transportation

Ningbo has a modern airport with direct connections to all major cities in China, including Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. The long-distance bus station has connections to all the major cities and towns in the area, and the city is connected to the national rail network. Ningbo itself has an extensive city bus system with stops at the University and good connections to major parts of the city.

Entertainment and Recreation

Entertainment in the city centre features Laowaitan, the old foreign Bund on the river, with restaurants and bars, and Tianyi Square with modern shops and restaurants. Ningbo also has theatres, parks, health clubs, international hotels with restaurants and fitness centres which are available to non-residents. Dining options include local seafood restaurants, restaurants featuring cuisine from other parts of China and international restaurants, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Brazilian, French, Indian and Lebanese.

Shopping

Ningbo has major international supermarket chains including:

• Tesco
• Metro
• Carrefour
• Wal- Mart

The Wanda World Shopping Mall near the University features a Wal-Mart, cinemas, restaurants and many other shops. The city also has colourful street markets to explore.

Culture

Ningbo Art Museum presents exhibitions of contemporary art and design in a truly world-class setting. The Ningbo Grand Theatre, a large modern performing arts centre, features traditional and modern performing arts.

Tianyige Library Museum near Moon Lake dates from 1516 and is thought to be the oldest surviving library building in China. Its collections dates back to the eleventh century and includes woodblock and handwritten copies of the Confucian classics. The library grounds feature rock gardens and bamboo groves.

Ningbo’s numerous temples include Baoguo Temple, the oldest wooden structure in Southern China.