Hidden in Jiangnan: Find a tranquil ancient town in Minghe, Cixi, where time has flowed for thousands of years.
When visiting Cixi, Ningbo, consider exploring the tranquil and secluded ancient town of Minghe. Although a 4A-level scenic area, it remains undisturbed by crowds, its quietude preserving a thousand-year-old history. Compared to those famous water towns, I prefer its unadorned serenity and profound depth.
Townscape: Minghe, a water town named after an ancient family, is located south of Guanhaiwei Town in Cixi, Ningbo. Historically, it was not only an important birthplace of traditional Chinese medicine, enjoying the reputation of "the first town of traditional Chinese medicine," but also one of the three ancient salt fields in Zhejiang. Nestled among mountains and rivers, the ancient town has gracefully preserved its rustic street layout and elegant lifestyle; walking through it, time seems to slow down.
Walking Route: It is recommended to start from the visitor center archway, passing Jinxian Temple, Lakeside Square, Ruan Family Gate, and the five rooms of the Silver Shop, walking along the main street. You can visit Peng Gong Ancestral Hall, the Traditional Chinese Medicine Museum, and the Herbal Medicine Museum, before returning to the starting point. Wandering along the cobblestone streets and past old buildings, it's the perfect time to slow down and quietly soak in the breath of this ancient town.
**Flavors of Ningbo:** Here you can savor authentic Ningbo flavors: soft and glutinous rice cake dumplings, fragrant pine flower dumplings, crispy and sweet bean curd candy, and home-style yet flavorful roasted vegetable rice cakes, as well as snacks like fried dough sticks, pickled chicken, fermented rice wine, and fried tortoise cakes. Each dish is simple yet flavorful, a true blend of sweetness and savoryness in the town's life.
**Accommodation Tips:** Several elegant guesthouses and inns are scattered throughout the ancient town. We recommend choosing one that catches your eye and experiencing the town's different tranquil beauties at dawn and dusk.
**Address:** No. 999, Yuhuang Road, Cixi City, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province
**Transportation:** Driving is recommended. Parking is available nearby for flexible itinerary planning.
**Finally:** Minghe isn't the kind of scenery that immediately takes your breath away. Its beauty lies in the slow-flowing daily life, the everyday life etched in the streets and alleys, and the passage of time. If you're also looking for a place where you can walk quietly and truly experience life, why not come here, listen to a story told by a flowing stream, and savor the simple flavors that time has bestowed upon you?