Ningbo

This seafood restaurant enjoys a spotless reputation in Ningbo, and some say it even makes the cut as one of the top contenders for best seafood restaurant nationwide. Take a pick from the display on the ice and have your favourite seafood dish freshly prepared within minutes.

Located in a renovated ancient Chinese mansion, Feast Modern Restaurant offers local fare with a sophisticated twist. The menu is in Chinese, but very well-illustrated. This one is, indeed, a dining experience rather than just a meal — all in a 20th-century Shanghai-style interior.

Ganesha, an incredibly popular Indian eatery, serves curries and fresh, fluffy naan bread that keeps patrons coming back for more. Don't be put off by the modest interior; the famously delicious meals and incredibly friendly staff more than compensate for the simple surroundings.

With its many locations around Ningbo, Grandma's Home is a must-visit eatery serving authentic Zhejiang Dishes. You will be served with a wide variety of dishes in southern culinary style, which is light and delicate. Be aware that the menu is only in Chinese so better to go with a Chinese person who can order for you.

Discover the diverse world of plant-based cuisine at Zaozishu, a vegan and vegetarian restaurant in Ningbo's old town that will even tempt carnivores. Located in the heart of the old town, Zaozishu is easy to find and offers a refreshing take on meat-free dining.

For a taste of authentic Turkish cuisine in Ningbo, head to Blue Eye, a reputable restaurant with a diverse menu and English-speaking staff. Enjoy a variety of hot and cold mezze, kebabs, pide, hummus, salads, and many more delicious staples of Mediterranean and Turkish cuisine. Please note that alcohol is not served.

Ancient grains of rice were discovered at the Hemudu Site, once home to a Neolithic culture that inhabited the Ningbo area, which makes Ningbo the city with the longest history of rice cultivation. Rice is put to good use in countless ways here, tangyuan being, perhaps, the most famous of all. Tangyuan are essentially glutinous rice balls that come with all kinds of fillings. These can be sweet and salty, hot and cold, served dry or with soup. With all these different combinations, there is plenty of room for choice. Apart from tangyuan, nian gao, the year cake, which is made of rice, is also popular and can be served in all different kinds of shapes and cooked in hundreds of ways.