Main port of call on old maritime Silk Road

Ningbo's glorious past as a port is a source of pride to local residents.

The city has a long history as a port. Relics of wooden oars, ship models and canoes discovered at the Hemude Archaeological Site indicate that Ningbo inhabitants were engaging in maritime activities as least 7,000 years ago.

And historical records show that during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), Ningbo was among the five main maritime ports of ancient China. In fact, Ningbo became the most important port in China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), as it was the hub of the maritime Silk Road that linked China and the West.