Lying in the east of Zhejiang, Ningbo sits at the mid-point of the Chinese coastline, towards the south of the Yangtze Delta. It covers an area of 9365 square kilometers (3616 square miles), of which 1033 square kilometers (399 square miles) constitutes the city's bustling urban centre.
Ningbo is one China's oldest cities, and has witnessed the rise and fall of numerous dynasties. It also represents the birthplace of Hemudu Culture, which itself has a history of over 7000 years. These early civilizations lived and thrived in the area, and have contributed greatly to make Ningbo what it is today; an economically-developed, modern city with a profound cultural foundation.
Ningbo is a city with strong Buddhist connections and boasts a number of visually-impressive, historical temples. The 1700 year-old Asoka Temple houses the rare Buddhist relics of Sakyamuni, who is the founder of Buddhism; the Tiantong Temple, with a history of over 1600 years, is renowned for its fantastic scenery and subtle architectural style; and the Baoguo Temple boasts one of the best-preserved wooden structures of its type in China. Other Buddhist temples in the city include the Qita Temple, the Tianfeng Pagoda and the Xiantong Pagoda.
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