1. Overview
Tianyi Pavilion & Moon Lake Scenic Area (天一阁·月湖景区), located in Ningbo’s Haishu District, is a 5A-rated UNESCO cultural site spanning 1 km². It combines:
- Tianyi Pavilion: The world’s oldest surviving private library (built 1561–1566), housing 300,000 ancient volumes, including rare Ming Dynasty texts.
- Moon Lake: A 1,300-year-old scholarly hub dubbed "Zhejiang’s Cradle of Culture", with 50+ heritage sites like temples and academies.
2. Tianyi Pavilion: A Bibliophile’s Legacy
- Founder: Fan Qin, a Ming Dynasty official, designed the library with fireproofing (e.g., "天一池" pool for water supply) and ventilation systems.
- Architecture: Two-story wooden structure with "Nine Lions & One Elephant" rockeries. The name "Tianyi" derives from "Heaven’s Water" philosophy (防火灾).
- Collections:
- 638 manuscripts contributed to the Qing Dynasty’s "Siku Quanshu" encyclopedia.
- 24,000+ Ming local chronicles—a global rarity.
- Modern Role: Digitized 30,000 texts (2010) and hosts the China Book Culture Festival.
3. Moon Lake: Scholarly Elegance
- History: Built in Tang Dynasty (627–649), it flourished under Song Dynasty scholars like Wang Anshi.
- Landmarks:
- Ten Isles & Seven Bridges: Poetic landscapes from the Northern Song.
- Goryeo Embassy: A 12th-century diplomatic site on the Maritime Silk Road.
- Cultural Impact: Birthplace of the "Zhejiang School of Thought", influencing Confucianism.
4. Visitor Experience
- Tickets: ¥30 (adults), ¥15 (students), free for seniors/kids.
- Hours: 8:30–17:30 (summer), 8:30–17:00 (winter); closed Monday mornings.
- Activities:
- Boat rides on Moon Lake (suspended during typhoons).
- 24H Smart Library with audio guides.
- Transport: Metro Line 1 (Ximenkou Station) or buses #9/#26/#512.
5. Why Visit?
A "living museum" of China’s intellectual history, where literature, architecture, and nature converge. Ideal for cultural travelers and academics.
