Tianyi Pavilion in Ningbo | Asia's Oldest Existing Library
🌱 Tianyi Pavilion, located in Haishu District, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, is China's oldest existing private library, Asia's oldest existing library, and one of the world's three earliest family libraries.
🎈 Built during the mid-Ming Dynasty, between the 40th and 45th years of the Jiajing era (1561-1566), it was constructed under the supervision of Fan Qin, a retired Right Vice Minister of War of the Ming Dynasty. Many exhibition halls display books collected by the Fan family from all over the country. Covering an area of 26,000 square meters, it has a history of over 400 years.
📍 Address: 10 Tianyi Street, Haishu District, Ningbo City
🕒 Opening Hours: 8:30-17:30 (Last entry at 17:00), Closed on Mondays (except holidays)
💰 Ticket Price: CNY 30 for a cultural feast
🚇 Transportation: 560m from Exit D of Ximen Station on Subway Line 1
🎈 Main Buildings:
1️⃣ Baoshu Building: The main library of Tianyi Pavilion, a brick and wood structure with a hard-top double-story design, facing south. It covers an area of about 26,000 square meters and is 8.5 meters high. 🏯
2️⃣ Zunjing Pavilion: Originally located in Ningbo Prefecture School, built during the Guangxu period. It was moved into Tianyi Pavilion during its reconstruction in 1935. It houses imperial books and Confucian classics. ⏱️
3️⃣ Dongming Thatched Cottage: Fan Qin's library before Tianyi Pavilion was built. Fan Qin's courtesy name was Dongming, hence the name. Also known as "Yiwu Cottage," it was rebuilt in 1980. ❤️
4️⃣ Mingzhou Stone Tablet Forest: Contains 173 stone tablets. The earliest are from the Song Dynasty (8 pieces). Most are from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, accounting for 36% and 40% respectively. 🪦
5️⃣ Fan Family Residence: Originally the east hall of the Fan residence, it was the home of Fan's descendants. The existing building was constructed in 1829. It now displays the history of the Fan family's private collection period. ☀️
6️⃣ Sima Residence: Fan Qin's residence, named after his official position. It houses replicas of Fan Qin's official robes and the Fan family genealogy. 🔥
7️⃣ Mahjong Origin Exhibition Hall: Originally the ancestral hall of Mr. Chen Zhengyao's family. It displays the history of mahjong, its relationship with Ningbo, and showcases mahjong tiles from around the world. 🀄
8️⃣ East Garden: Covers about 6,000 square meters. Attractions include rockeries, Ming Pool, long corridors, stone tablet forest, White Goose Pavilion, Eight Lions Pavilion, Ninghui Hall, East Hall, etc. 🍀🍀
9️⃣ South Building: Located south of Tianyi Pavilion's library, covering 3,400 square meters. It's an important part of Tianyi Pavilion's first phase expansion project. 💯
🔟 Calligraphy and Painting Gallery: Located west of Qin Temple, it has six buildings: Yunzai Building, Boya Hall, Zhoujin Hall, Hualian Hall, Zhuangyuan Hall, and South Pavilion. 📚
🌼 Stamp Collection
【Baojing Hall】4 free stamps, others require payment (inside the scenic area)
【Tianyi Bookstore】2 free stamps (outside the scenic area)
【Tianyi Pavilion Yuehu Visitor Center】1 free stamp (outside the scenic area)
🔥 Tips
1⃣ Wear comfortable shoes as visiting Tianyi Pavilion involves climbing stairs
2⃣ Remember to keep quiet and avoid littering in Tianyi Pavilion
3⃣ Free maps are available at the entrance, just scan the QR code to follow the official account. QR codes on the map provide audio guides ☀️
4⃣ After visiting Tianyi Pavilion, you can check out the City God Temple nearby. It's just one subway stop away and offers free admission. There's also a commercial street for shopping.
5⃣ Do you know where mahjong originated? Mahjong evolved from the leaf cards (madiao cards) of the Tang and Song Dynasties. Modern mahjong was created by Chen Yumen, a Ningbo official from the late Qing Dynasty!
Stepping into Tianyi Pavilion, one truly understands the profound cultural heritage of Jiangnan. The pavilion, built by the ancient Chinese dynasty, houses a thousand-year-old collection of books. Its green tiles and black walls encapsulate the elegance of the Ming and Qing dynasties, while its wooden bookcases embody the essence of Chinese scholarship. Built by Fan Zhongyan to preserve books, the pavilion has been dedicated to protecting the continuity of Chinese culture. Through centuries of trials and tribulations, the pavilion still exudes a rich literary atmosphere. Strolling through the garden, winding paths lead to secluded spots, reflections in the ponds linger on the eaves, and traces remain on the stone paths—everywhere you look, you see the serene beauty of time's passage. Standing before the pavilion, one can almost hear the soft rustling of pages and glimpse the unwavering devotion of generations of book protectors. This pavilion, a repository of the past and present, a scroll containing the universe, is not only the cultural root of Ningbo but also a gentle haven for the transmission of Chinese civilization. A visit here fills one with reverence and profound appreciation.
We took our kids there specifically for summer vacation, and the experience was fantastic! It's a masterpiece of Jiangnan garden design, full of ingenuity and creativity. A guided tour is a must; the "maze zoo" in front of Tianyi Pavilion is especially fun.
The site is of national second-class national value. The Ming and Qing dynasty architecture is average, but the brick carvings, gold lacquer, and wood carvings are beautiful. The collection of books and the stories behind them are worth learning. The security guards are very familiar with the layout of the courtyard and can effectively guide tourists. The milk tea is just average.
To Ningbo, Tianyi Pavilion is the most important attraction that must be visited. From the number of characters, history and culture, and books, we have learned and studied. Now we have upgraded to a museum. The elderly can go to see historical buildings. Learning can be more education. The overall architectural garden is very beautiful.
Listen to "Long Time No See" and go to Ningbo to find old dreams In Eason Chan's "Long Time No See", "Will you suddenly appear in the coffee shop on the corner?" This line of lyrics touched the hearts of many people. When I heard this song, the old streets of Ningbo came to my mind. Yuehu Shengyuan in Ningbo is the first stop of my dream search. Many buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties are preserved here. Walking among them, it seems to travel back to the old times. Every stone road and every ancient bridge are telling stories of the past, just like what the song sings, with the taste of years of precipitation. Tianyi Pavilion, the oldest library in Asia, also carries a profound cultural heritage. Here, I quietly flipped through ancient books and felt the weight of history, just like meeting an old friend I haven't seen for many years. Everything is so familiar and kind, just like the feeling of reunion after a long separation in the song. At night, I came to the Old Bund. The lights are brilliant and lively, which is completely different from the tranquility of the day. Sit down at a street bar, order a glass of wine, and listen to the resident singers singing various classic songs, including "Long Time No See". In a state of tipsiness, I couldn't help but sigh that because of a song, I came to this city and started this unique and wonderful journey. Have you ever set foot on the land of a strange city because of a song? Welcome to share your story in the comment area. If you think this article is good, don't forget to like and collect it!
The Tianyi Pavilion Museum is divided into two parts. One part is the history and story of the Tianyi Pavilion's collection of books, which allows you to understand the methods of collecting and protecting rare books through generations, the contribution of Tianyi Pavilion's books to society, and the hardships of Tianyi Pavilion's collection of books. The other part is the expanded ancient buildings. The local government gathered the scattered buildings together and then formed a Jiangnan garden with rockery, pavilions, towers and ponds. The whole visit takes 2 hours.
Collection Features Tianyi Pavilion is one of the largest private libraries in Asia, with a large collection of ancient rare books. The collection is rich in variety, including local chronicles, lists of Jinshi and family trees. The library uses camphorwood boxes and rue to prevent insects, and bluestone floors to prevent moisture. The precious cultural relics collected include bamboo slips and Wangong sedan chairs from the Qin Shihuang period.
Ningbo Tianyi Pavilion Museum is a must-visit attraction. When you walk in, you will be attracted by its architectural style and scale. The classical elegance, exquisite gardens, and simple buildings are like a paradise. It is said to be the largest private library in my country. It is really worthy of its reputation when you see its huge scale. There is also a mahjong hall worth visiting at the back. Every scene in the park has its past, and it seems like yesterday. Other attractions include Zunjing Pavilion, Dehe Hall, Ancient Theater, etc. I recommend it! Tickets are 30 yuan/person