Ningbo: The most comfortable Zen forest hiking route this year
Less than 1 hour's drive from Ningbo, the Zen mountain and water ancient path on the coast of the East China Sea is composed of several ancient paths and forest trails, with a route of nearly 10 km passing through the Beilun forest secret realm rich in negative oxygen ions. The ancient path, oxygen absorption, and scenery along the way are the characteristics of this hiking route.
The hiking route starts from a large free parking lot in Shangfu Village, Beilun District, and proceeds counterclockwise. After passing through the ancient village of Shangfu Village, it reaches the entrance of this small forest, the Liwaifeng Forest Trail. From the trail, cross the stepping stone bridge into the forest, where you will be surrounded by green trees, bamboo forests, pavilions, tables, and chairs, as well as the peak of Jiufeng Mountain in the distance.
Ruiyan Temple is one of the highlights of this hiking route, which also gives the entire route a long-lasting Zen meaning. The ancient temple is not large, but its location is beautiful, with mountains and peaks, green mountains as a screen, and the pagoda and pavilions reflecting each other, as if floating on the water. The deep meaning of the scenery makes people sigh, "There is true meaning in this, but I have forgotten the words."
The second highlight is the Wushiling Ancient Path on the return journey, which is close to Hong'ao and the sea of camellias in Hong'ao. The sea of flowers in winter is surprising, and the sea of flowers with green mountains and city skyline as the background gives people the illusion of stepping into the colorful spring. The sea of flowers in Hong'ao, intertwined with villages and houses, gives a sense of happiness with the beauty of mountain flowers in the human world.
Hiking guide
Self-driving: Navigate to Shangfu Village, Beilun District, Ningbo City. There are plenty of paid parking spaces in the village, CNY 10 per car.
Public transportation: Take Metro Line 1 to Xiapu Station, Exit A, and transfer to Bus 705 to Shangfu Village. The one-way trip takes 1.5 hours.
1 Hiking route details: 11 km loop, 478 m ascent, about 4 hours. Reference hiking track
! Almost the entire route is a low-ascent parent-child leisure hiking route on the ancient path. Cars can drive to the entrance of the Liwaifeng Forest Trail, which can save about 3 km; there is one supply point, Ruiyan Temple.