Ningbo Moon Lake Park

Ningbo Moon Lake Park

• A captivating urban park where strolling through old residences such as the Lu Mansion and He Mijian Ancestral Hall offers a delightful sense of charm.

Attraction Introduction

Moon Lake is a crescent-shaped body of water in downtown Ningbo. During the Song and Ming dynasties, it was a scenic gathering place for literati to discuss philosophy and literature; today, it is the city’s most vital green lung. Though not as renowned as Hangzhou’s West Lake, Moon Lake holds a similarly iconic status in Ningbo. The lake is dotted with courtyards and ancient homes, making weekend walks especially serene.

Scattered across Moon Lake are islands such as Fangcao Islet, Liuting, Song Island, and Chrysanthemum Islet—some connected by bridges, others now merged with the mainland. The winding lakeshore paths, elderly locals playing chess under willow trees, and historic buildings framed by woods create a striking contrast with the bustling streets nearby. Liuting Street cuts through the lake, dividing it into northern and southern sections, dotted with numerous relics and traditional houses. Many of these old homes are used as offices and are not open to the public, though some have been converted into exhibition halls. The lakeside is entirely open without fences, allowing visitors to wander freely without a set route.

The most concentrated attractions are on the lake’s northern and eastern sides. Starting from the northeast corner, you’ll find a small pavilion in the water housing a “Shuize Stele” with the character “Ping” (meaning “level”), a relic from the Song Dynasty used for measuring water levels. Nearby is the most famous site, the Goryeo Embassy Ruins, where an exhibition hall showcases the history of exchanges between Mingzhou (Ningbo’s ancient name) and Korea, featuring a modest collection of artifacts and informative displays. Adjacent to it, the Dafangyue Mansion hosts free public art exhibitions, making it the hub of Moon Lake’s exhibition activity. The Lu Mansion near the lakeside was once home to father-and-son revolutionaries Lu Hongchang and Lu Chengzhang, who played key roles in Ningbo’s liberation during the Xinhai Revolution. The residence was influential in the late Qing Dynasty but now only its exterior can be viewed.

The Yintai Mansion, closer to Yingfeng Street, is a rare, fully preserved old home open to the public for free. Each room is exquisitely furnished with period-appropriate furniture and household items, offering a vivid glimpse into the lifestyle of a wealthy family in ancient times.

The middle section of Moon Lake features Liuting Street, now the lake’s central hub and a major urban thoroughfare. The quiet and unassuming He Mijian Ancestral Hall along the street commemorates the poet He Zhizhang and now serves as office space. Nearby, the bustling Guan Di Temple and the Buddhist Laymen’s Forest—both reconstructed structures dating back to the Ming Dynasty—form the “Three-in-a-Row at Liuting.”

At the northern end of the southern area lies an Academy Grove, predominantly planted with ginkgo trees. The southernmost Song Island is home to an old, classically styled school—the former campus of Ningbo No. 2 Middle School. On Zijin Lane along the southern lakeshore, the Lin Mansion is a rare surviving Qing Dynasty residence in downtown Ningbo, adorned with over a hundred exquisite brick carvings. Now repurposed as the Mingzhou Jia’er Cultural Complex, it’s a private club that hosts calligraphy and painting exhibitions.

Besides exploring on foot, boating on the lake is also a pleasant experience, with ticket booths available in both the southern and northern sections. Additionally, the nearby Tianyi Pavilion Museum is worth a visit.

Address: No. 183-2, Xianxue Street, Haishu District, Ningbo City

Type: Urban Park & Lake

Recommended Visit Duration: 1–2 hours

Opening Hours:

8:00–17:30 (April 21–October 21), 8:00–17:00 (October 22–next April 20)

Ticket Information:

Free admission.

Yuehu Subdistrict: Established in 1992, Yuehu Subdistrict is located in the heart of Ningbo, stretching from Jiefang Road in the east to Changchun Road in the west, bordered by the five-star Nanyuan Hotel to the south and Zhongshan Road to the north. It was formed by merging the former Xianxue, Huxi, and Cangqiao subdistricts. Covering an area of 2.07 square kilometers, it has 16,492 resident households and a population of 41,775, divided among seven community committees. The area boasts a rich historical and cultural heritage, including Asia’s oldest private library—Tianyi Pavilion, known as the “Library of the South”—and the long-standing Buddhist sanctuary, the Laymen’s Forest. … More details about Yuehu Subdistrict ++