3. Drum Tower

The most striking feature of any drum tower in China, apart from style and size, is the bell tower at top, where timekeepers once wakened whole cities with punctual, strong gongs. The bell tower in Ningbo is no exception. The three-story structure atop the city gate also served as a wartime lookout post.

The bell tower forms part of the ancient city wall that once ringed Ningbo. Some historic heritage sites can still be seen around the area. Among the remnants are portions of the old grain storage house used in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Several historic stone tablets recount the life of centuries gone by.

The bell tower commands a stunning presence in what has become a bustling commercial area of Ningbo. It is within easy walking distance of shopping centers, restaurants and parklands. Modernization, however, has not come at the expense of cultural heritage. Many of the buildings embrace the traditional architecture of gray-tiled roofs and elaborate exterior wooden carvings.

Shopping and dining amenities are a mix of old and new. International coffee houses and Western restaurants sit alongside more traditional Chinese cuisine. Small wonder that this is a popular tourist area where people chat, relax and drink tea.

4. Ningbo Museum

Ningbo Museum represents the city's ambitions to emphasize its modern cultural traditions.

Designed by Wang Shu, the first Chinese winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2012, the museum building itself would be worth seeing even if it was empty.

Its gray walls use old Chinese tiles to build a special ancient water town atmosphere, while the trapezoid shape of the building creates a modern feel.Taking a walk on the rooftop of the three-story museum is a relaxing experience before or after viewing the exhibits inside its walls.

Opened in 2008, the museum focuses on local seafaring history and traditional customs. The building houses more than 8,000 historic and cultural items, including bronzes, porcelains, jades, gold and silverware, carvings and paintings. The exhibitions span prehistoric to modern times.

Principal galleries in the museum feature artefacts, photographs and models depicting local history and folk customs. The history section on the second floor reflects the importance the sea played in Ningbo's history and the cultural influences of seafaring commerce. Exhibitions trace the rise of the Eastern Zhejiang scholars, who contributed to the city's development as a center of knowledge and art.

A section of the museum on local culture shows the city's rise as a commercial center, with wax models and mock buildings used to depict a traditional old street in Ningbo. The cultural area also includes the origins of some of Ningbo's most enduring cuisines. The third floor of the museum includes an exhibit displaying old bamboo artefacts donated by Qin Bingnian, son of the famous collector Qin Kangxiang.