Explore the Ancient Town of Cixi, Ningbo: A Trip to Minghe Ancient Town

🌈Highlights: Minghe Ancient Town in Cixi, Ningbo is a Jiangnan water town that has been preserved by time. It is not as crowded as Wuzhen or Zhouzhuang, but it has more water town elements. It is a hidden gem and free to visit. It feels like walking into a quiet painting. The ancient town is built on a mountain and by a lake. There is a river in the town, and the town was built because of the river. The daily life of the original residents is preserved, and there is no commercialization. The town is full of life, and you will be immersed in it and never want to leave. 🚗Transportation: • Self-driving: Navigate to Minghe Town Central Primary School in Ningbo. There is a large free parking lot at the entrance, which is convenient and fast. • Public transportation: Take Metro Line 2 to Datongqiao Station, Exit F, walk 422 meters to Hongmei Xincun Station, transfer to Bus 378 to Longshan Bus Center Station, and then take Cixi Bus 206/You 1 to Minghe Bus Station. Walk 200 meters to the unpopular entrance of the ancient town - Minghe Square. 👍️Must-see attractions: • Jinxian Temple: A thousand-year-old temple facing the water and backed by the mountain, known as "the beauty of the mountain and the lake", is the soul of the ancient town. • 24 Jian Zouma Building: Built by Ye Cifeng, the son of Ye Xinpei, a national medicine tycoon during the Jiaqing period, it has 7 rooms, 2 alleys, and 2 floors, with 24 rooms. The corridor is wide enough for horses to pass through, and the construction is exquisite. • Old Street: Minghe Ancient Town is mainly composed of three long streets: Shangjie, Zhongjie, and Xiajie. Zhongjie is the most prosperous, about 1.5 kilometers long. It was a prosperous commercial area in the history of Sanbei, full of traces of time. • Bank: A Qing Dynasty building, covering an area of about 1,855 square meters, with three entrances, each with five rooms, in a narrow and long shape. It is a good place to learn about the commercial history of the ancient town. • Xiao Wu Fang: Built by Ye Tianlin, a national medicine tycoon in Minghe, for his six sons, Xiao Wu Fang is the best-preserved of the six houses of the Ye family, covering an area of about 1,700 square meters, showing the grandeur of the ancient town. 🚩Queue tips: Minghe Ancient Town is a hidden gem and free to visit, so there are relatively few tourists, and there is no need to worry about queuing. However, there may be some crowds during holidays, so it is recommended to plan your trip in advance and avoid peak hours. 👍️Reasons to visit: • Hidden gem and free: Compared with popular ancient towns such as Wuzhen and Zhouzhuang, Minghe Ancient Town is a hidden gem and free to visit, allowing tourists to enjoy the charm of Jiangnan water towns more leisurely. • Historical heritage: The ancient town has a rich historical heritage and is a good place to learn about the culture and history of Jiangnan water towns. • Natural scenery: The ancient town is built on a mountain and by a lake, with beautiful natural scenery, making it a paradise for photography enthusiasts. • Life: The ancient town preserves the daily life of the original residents, with no commercialization, allowing people to experience the most authentic life in Jiangnan water towns. 📅Travel tips: • Recommended route: Central Primary School → Minghe Square → Old Street → 24 Jian Zouma Building and other core areas of the ancient town → Jinxian Temple → South along Baiyang Lake → Minghe Park → Central Primary School. This route covers the main attractions of the ancient town and is suitable for walking tours. • Time planning: It is recommended to spend half a day to a day to fully experience the charm of the ancient town. • Best season: Spring and autumn are the best seasons to visit the ancient town, with pleasant weather and beautiful scenery. 🍜Food tips: • Water sugar ball: A traditional Jiangnan snack with a sweet taste, a must-try for tourists. • Sanbei bean crisp candy: Bean crisp candy is a traditional specialty of Ningbo, with a crispy texture and a sweet but not greasy taste. • Rice cake dumplings: Rice cake dumplings are one of Ningbo's specialty snacks, with a soft and glutinous outer skin and a rich filling, with a delicious taste. • Pickled chicken and pickled meat: Pickled chicken and pickled meat are traditional dishes of Ningbo, with a delicious taste and a strong wine aroma. • Bayberry crisp: Bayberry crisp is one of Ningbo's specialty pastries, with a crispy texture and a sweet and sour taste. • Green glutinous rice cake: Green glutinous rice cake is one of Ningbo's traditional snacks, made of glutinous rice flour and mugwort, with a soft and glutinous texture and a fragrant aroma. • Specialty handmade noodles: There are many handmade noodle shops in the ancient town, with chewy noodles and delicious soup, making it a good place for tourists to taste local food. 🏨Accommodation tips: • Ancient town inns: There are many inns in the ancient town for tourists to choose from, with moderate prices and elegant environments, making it a good place to experience the life of the ancient town. • Surrounding hotels: If you want to stay outside the ancient town, you can choose hotels or homestays in the surrounding area, with relatively affordable prices and convenient transportation. 💗Other tips: • Clothing suggestions: It is recommended to wear comfortable and easy-to-move clothing and shoes for walking tours of the ancient town. • Photography tips: The natural scenery and cultural landscape of the ancient town are very suitable for photography, so it is recommended to bring a camera or mobile phone to capture beautiful moments. • Precautions: When visiting the ancient town, please pay attention to protecting cultural relics and respecting local customs. At the same time, pay attention to personal property safety and avoid carrying too much cash and valuables.