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| Zhaobao Mountain | |
|---|---|
| 招寶山 | |
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  Location of Zhaobao Mountain within China | |
| Coordinates | 29°57′37″N121°42′31″E / 29.9603816°N 121.7086245°E /29.9603816; 121.7086245 |
Zhaobao Mountain (simplified Chinese:招宝山;traditional Chinese:招寶山;pinyin:Zhāobǎo Shān;Wu: Cio-Pau Sae) also known asZhaobao Mount orZhaobao Hill. Located on the north bank near the mouth of theYong River at the east end of the town ofZhenhai 12 miles (19 km) northeast of the city ofNingbo.
The Zhaobao Mount Scenic Area includes walking trails on and around the hill with numerous sites to explore during a visit. These include the 57.6-metre-tall (189 ft) seven-story Aozhu Pagoda, the 2,000-foot-long (610 m) 10-foot-thick (3.0 m) Weiyuan City Wall built during theMing dynasty, and the even older Zhenhai Seawall originally built in 897 CE during theTang dynasty. Sanskrit rock carvings, including a Buddhist prayer chant, are one of the oldest features of the hill. The Tianhou Temple is dedicated to the Heavenly Empress (see alsoMazu) and the Guanyin Pavilion is dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy (see alsoGuan Yin).The mountain is named after the sea god Zhāobǎo Qīláng, a forerunner of the more recent sea deityQianliyan, a subordinate of the goddessMazu.
At the foot of the hill is the Zhenhai Coastal Defense Museum. Exhibits include the war against Japanese pirates during theMing dynasty, theBattle of Zhenhai in 1885 (see alsoSino-French War), and the modern Chinese navy.
The scenic area can be accessed by bus 541 from Ningbo city. The ride takes approximately 50 minutes.
Standard tickets are 60 yuan per person ($8.44 USD).
The area was briefly occupied by British forces in 1842 and ended with ratification of theTreaty of Nanking.