Tianyige Library, Ningbo

Ningbo’s best known tourist attraction is Tianyige Library . It is tucked away in the vicinity of Moon Lake. Built in 1516 and said to be the oldest surviving library building in China, it was founded by Ming official Fan Qin. His collection went back to the eleventh century and included woodblock and handwritten copies of the Confucian classics, rare local histories and lists of the candidates successful in imperial examinations.

You can visit the library’s garden and buildings, some of which contain small displays of old books and tablets.
It’s quite a charming place and the gold-plated, wood-paneled buildings, the bamboo groves, pool and rockery still preserve an atmosphere of seclusion, contemplation and study.

This Post Has 8 Comments

  1. Hope

    I am so happy to have discovered your blog. I’ve added you to my favorites! I enjoyed reading this post and your photos so much!

  2. Suzi-k

    wow, what a stunning place. For us who get excited about our historic stuff that is not even 200 years old, the sense of ancient culture here is mind boggling!

  3. Faye Pekas

    That second shot is breathtaking. Amazing building. Amazing that it could be so old and not crumbled.

  4. Karin

    These shots are stunning. I love the angle on the first one and the second shot is pure bliss. It sounds like such an interesting place too!

  5. Firefly

    Hope: Welcome to my blog and thanks for adding me. I “hope” to see you again.Suzi-k: When I used to guide people from Europe and Asia would laugh at me when I go on about the 200 year old history of our oldest building in Port ElizabethFaye pekas: It just shows what can be done when people look after their history and heritageKarin: The pics could have been so much better, but it was raining so I had to shoot from under my brolly. With a bit of sunshine the place would have been so much more magical.

  6. Ann

    I am so envious, I would so love to go to China, just waiting for my lottery win…lol, even from under your brolly you’ve got a bunch of terrific shots, BRilliant !!

  7. Firefly

    Ann: On my own steam I would probably never have had the opportunity. I would like to go back some day as I really enjoyed the culture and there are photo opportunities galore.The area got the edge of the typhoon that hit Thailand which meant a couple of days of rain and me being forced to shoot from under the brolly.

  8. Firefly

    Ann: On my own steam I would probably never have had the opportunity. I would like to go back some day as I really enjoyed the culture and there are photo opportunities galore.The area got the edge of the typhoon that hit Thailand which meant a couple of days of rain and me being forced to shoot from under the brolly.

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