Ningbo & Putuoshan - Zhejiang Province

While Ningbo may not be as famous as some of its more celebrated neighbours, such as Shanghai, it has a long and important history as one of China’s main foreign trade ports. The coastal location and foreign influence, both historical and modern (The University of Nottingham has a campus here), have turned Ningbo into a prosperous modern city.

Ningbo is also the access point for Putuoshan. One of the four sacred mountains in Chinese Buddhism, Mount Putuo is located on an island off the eastern coast close to Ningbo. The spiritual home of GuanYin, the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, this little island houses many small temples and monasteries, and features an impressive golden statue of GuanYin looking out over the South China Sea. It is easy to feel at peace on this popular but serene island, with its picturesque beaches and spiritual atmosphere.