Ningbo Old Bund (宁波老外滩), situated on the northern bank of Sanjiangkou (the convergence of Yongjiang River, Fenghua River, and Yuyao River) in Jiangbei District of Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, covers an area of nearly 49,000 square meters, serving as the gateway to the ancient city of Ningbo. It was one of China’s four major ports during the Tang Dynasty and served as the starting point for Jianzhen‘s eastward journey. In the Southern Song Dynasty, it was one of China’s three major ports and established the Maritime Trade Office specifically for foreign trade management. After the signing of the Treaty of Nanjing, Ningbo became one of the “Five Ports” opened for foreign trade and officially opened as a treaty port in 1844, 20 years earlier than Shanghai.
Along the riverside, buildings such as foreign consulates, Catholic churches, banks, and ship terminals are lined up, recording the entire history of Ningbo’s opening up. These buildings have a history of at least 100 years. Examples include the former site of the British Consulate built in 1842, the former site of the Patrol House built in 1864, the former site of Zhejiang Customs built in 1865, the Catholic Church built in 1872, the Jesuit Church of Jiangbei built in 1898, the headquarters of the invading Japanese navy built from 1903 to 1908, the Ningbo Post Office built in 1927, and the former site of the Mercantile Bank built in 1930. In addition, there are some residential houses such as the well-known old shop “Hongchangyuan”, the mixed Chinese-Western style mansion “Yanshi Mountain Villa”, and “Zhuzhai Residence”, all of which have a strong European architectural style, contrasting sharply with traditional Chinese residences.
During the day, Ningbo Old Bund is quiet, with a few tourists strolling on the streets, often seeing newlyweds taking wedding photos. At night, the street comes alive with bustling bars playing melodious songs, adding a charming ambiance. Walking along the riverside, admiring the enchanting night scenery of Sanjiangkou, and strolling with loved ones is romantic. In summer, the riverside of Yongjiang River is also a great place to cool off.
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 – 2 hours |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 24 hours a day |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0574-87661143 0086-0574-87381842 |
Location and Transportation
Ningbo Old Bund is located on the northern bank of Sanjiangkou (the convergence of Yongjiang River, Fenghua River, and Yuyao River) in Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province. The specific address is at the intersection of Jiangxia Street and Yongjiang Bridge in Jiangbei District. To get there, you can choose one of the following ways:
Bus: Take bus 1, 8, 13, 19, 20, 331, 352, 370, or 541 and get off at Laowaitan Stop (老外滩站).
Metro: The closest metro station to Ningbo Old Bund is Waitan Bridge (外滩大桥) on line 2. After getting out of the station from Exit C, walk about 200 meters to the east to reach the attraction.
