[2025 Ningbo Attraction] Travel Guide for Baoguo Temple Scenic Area (Updated Mar)

#travelinginchina I went to Baoguo Temple in Ningbo and it was a really good experience! The temple is in a forest and has pretty carvings and buildings. Inside the temple there are nice gardens, quiet courtyards, and big statues everywhere. I loved this temple! It felt peaceful and calm. I felt like I was exploring a new place, finding new things to see. The temple was a good experience as always to see new places and explore all different designs and temples.

I didn't make any plans before coming to Ningbo. I just wanted to find a quiet place with few people and wander around for a few days. My impression of Ningbo still lingered on Tianyi Pavilion and Gang Ya Gou from many years ago. Unexpectedly, this trip, starting with a bowl of incredibly delicious seafood noodles, turned into a seven-day adventure that left me wanting more. The subway and buses were so convenient, perfect for a solo traveler like me to explore at my own pace~ DAY 1 Qita Temple-K11 Art Mall-Anlan Club-Qianye Club-Tianyi Square DAY 2 Baoguo Temple-Cicheng Ancient Town DAY 3 Tianyi Pavilion-Moon Lake Park DAY 4 East Qian Lake DAY 5 Ningbo Museum-Nantang Old Street DAY 6 Tiantong Temple-Ayuwang Temple-Drum Tower-West Pagoda of Tianning Temple DAY 7 Moon Lake Park Even without visiting the attractions, just wandering around Moon Lake Park, finding a cafe to relax in when tired, felt very pleasant. Ningbo truly brought me many pleasant surprises.

The Baoguo Temple Ancient Architecture Museum, located on the hillside of Lingshan Mountain in Jiangbei District, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, is a specialized museum focusing on the protection, research, exhibition, and promotion of ancient architectural culture. The history of Baoguo Temple can be traced back to the Eastern Han Dynasty. It was originally the residence of General Piaoji Zhang Yi and his son Zhang Qifang, which was later converted into a temple named Lingshan Temple. The temple was destroyed in 845 (the fifth year of the Huichang period of the Tang Dynasty) and rebuilt in 880 (the first year of the Guangming period of the Tang Dynasty). It was then bestowed the name "Baoguo Temple" by Emperor Xizong of Tang. The existing Daxiong Hall was rebuilt in 1013 (the sixth year of the Dazhong Xiangfu period of the Northern Song Dynasty) and is one of the oldest and best-preserved wooden structures in the Jiangnan region. • Daxiong Hall: Also known as the Beamless Hall, it is the oldest existing wooden structure in southern China and is known as the "First Ancient Building in Southern China". The hall is constructed using a mortise and tenon structure, without a single nail, yet it has remained stable for thousands of years. In addition, the hall also exhibits peculiar phenomena: "no insect infestation, no birds nesting, no spider webs, and no dust on the beams". • Other buildings: The Baoguo Temple ancient architectural complex also includes the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Guanyin Hall, and the Sutra Depository, which are distributed along the central axis, showcasing architectural styles from different periods. The basic displays of the Baoguo Temple Ancient Architecture Museum are arranged along the central axis of the ancient architectural complex. Through physical objects, pictures, and texts, the museum showcases the construction background and architectural features of the Daxiong Hall, as well as its relationship with the *Yingzao Fashi* (Building Standards). In addition, the museum also has a wedding customs hall and a brick carving exhibition room, displaying precious cultural relics such as Ningbo bridal sedan chairs, "thousand-worker beds", and Qing Dynasty brick carvings. • Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 8:00–17:00 (April 1 to November 30), 8:30–16:30 (December 1 to March 31), closed all day on Monday. • Ticket prices: Adult tickets are CNY 20. Children, seniors, active military personnel, etc., can enjoy free or discounted ticket prices.

I came to Ningbo specifically for the first batch of national treasures, Baoguo Temple. The mountain gate is accompanied by a trickling stream, and the scenery is so beautiful that you don't feel tired. The overall Song Dynasty style of the main hall is lacking, but the wooden structure inside the hall is well preserved, and you can feel the true Song Dynasty style. The location of the Hall of Heavenly Kings is the location of the mountain gate in the Song Dynasty. The two ancient stone pillars in front of the hall are relics of the Tang Dynasty, so don't miss them.

🍁Autumn is in full swing, and Ningbo in late October has a unique charm. Today, let's check in at Baoguo Temple in Ningbo. 💫Baoguo Temple was first built in the Eastern Han Dynasty and was originally called Lingshan Temple. In the fifth year of the Huichang period of the Tang Dynasty, Buddhism was abolished, and the temple was abandoned. It was later rebuilt and renamed Baoguo Temple, and in the first year of the Zhiping period of the Song Dynasty, it was given the name "Jingjin Institute." 💫The main hall of Baoguo Temple is the oldest and most complete wooden structure in southern China, built in the sixth year of the Dazhong Xiangfu period of the Northern Song Dynasty (1013). It is an important example of the "Yingzao Fashi" and has survived for a thousand years with little change in its form. Standing in the main hall, you can truly feel the exquisite craftsmanship of the artisans from a thousand years ago.😎 🌟The caisson in the main hall is amazing! Above the "Jingjin Institute" plaque is a large caisson, with a small caisson on each side, which is a unique example of Chinese wooden architecture.👍 💪The 16 columns are all melon-ribbed columns, which are another form of round columns in ancient Chinese wooden architecture, very aesthetic, and the only surviving example of Song Dynasty composite columns. Moreover, the columns are tilted to varying degrees, some of which were built this way, and some of which were caused by earthquakes.🤔 🎯There are 10 types of dougong on the outer eaves, inner eaves, and ceiling, using large timber, making the whole building look particularly grand. 🌳Outside the mountain gate are two Tang Dynasty scripture pillars, with the canopy missing and the inscriptions not very clear, but the carvings are exquisite. 💡Baoguo Temple is now an ancient architecture museum, with excellent science popularization! There is science popularization of various structures in the main hall, and several halls in the back have also been turned into ancient architecture science popularization venues. Few ancient buildings can achieve this level of science popularization.👏 🎁Walking to one side of the main hall, there are souvenirs for sale, and you can buy a scaled-down model of the mortise and tenon structure inside the main hall, which will surely touch ancient architecture enthusiasts. 🙏Although Baoguo Temple is not famous as a religious temple, it also has a sense of tranquility and solemnity. In autumn, there are few tourists, and Baoguo Temple is hidden in the green forest, quiet and serene. 💫Location: Anshan Village, Hongtang Street, Jiangbei District, Ningbo Self-driving navigation: Ningbo Baoguo Temple Scenic Area Ticket Office/Parking Lot (Parking fee: CNY 10/time) 🎫Ticket: CNY 20/person, closed on Mondays. If you want to collect paper tickets, you can buy them at the scenic area ticket window, not online. After entering the scenic area, there is a free Baoguo Temple map machine on the left.