Zhaobao Mountain is located at the estuary of the Yongjiang River. Although the mountain is less than 100 meters high, it is rich in cultural landscapes. There are Aozhu Tower, Baotuo Temple and many coastal defense fortifications from the Ming and Qing dynasties on the mountain. If you come with children or are interested in military affairs, experiencing the 4D land, sea and air battles in the military experience area is also very interesting. The main cultural landscapes in the scenic area are all around the top of the mountain. The roads on the mountain are very easy to walk, and climbing the mountain is very leisure. Starting from the scenic area service department, near Jiajingfang, there are three footpaths leading to the top of the mountain, allowing you to appreciate different mountain shapes. Among them, the middle one directly leads to Weiyuan City and Baotuo Temple on the top of the mountain, and it is also relatively easy to walk, so it has become the main uphill path. Not far up the mountain, you will encounter a stone tablet from the Yuan Dynasty – the First Mountain Stele. Tourists often take pictures here as a commemoration of ‘been here’. Continuing forward, you will see a thousand-year-old seawall, which is a relic of the coastal defense project in the Qing Dynasty. Looking from afar, the seawall is like a small Great Wall. The sea under the seawall back then has long turned into ‘mulberry fields’, but the building still stands today, which shows the superb construction technology at that time. After passing Qiziping, you come to Weiyuan City on the top of the mountain. This is a stone castle built to resist Japanese pirates. In the Qing Dynasty, Weiyuan Fort once achieved a victory on the sea defense line at that time. Also because it is built on the top of the mountain, the entire building looks very imposing. Standing under the city seems to be able to feel the scene of billowing smoke in those years. Although many of the stele forests of the Ming and Qing dynasties on the left side behind Weiyuan City were destroyed during the ‘Cultural Revolution’, carefully studying the contents of the inscriptions can also help you understand a lot about the history of Zhaobao Mountain. Not far ahead is Baotuo Temple. Because it enshrines the ‘Guanyin who refuses to leave’ moved from Mount Putuo, it has become a famous Buddhist place where believers gather. You can pray for your relatives and friends here. Behind the back door of Baotuo Temple, the scenery here is very good. You can see Jinji Mountain on the other side of the Yongjiang River, and even the ‘command platform’ on the top of the mountain. As for the Zhaobaoshan Bridge spanning both banks, the cable-stayed bridge is very imposing, and the economic development zone on the other side is also full of vitality. Descending the mountain along the footpath on the west side, you can see the towering Aozhu Tower from afar. This tower is not only the symbol of Zhaobao Mountain, but also the commanding height of Zhenhai. After renovation, today’s Aozhu Tower has set up some exhibitions inside the tower, where you can understand the ‘be the champion’ culture, see the statue of Guanyin, and appreciate the calligraphy works of celebrities in Zhenhai. However, compared with these boring exhibitions, climbing the tower to overlook the vast sea level is even more tempting. If the weather is fine, you can also see the Zhoushan Islands in the distance. In front of Aozhu Tower, there is only one downhill path. Following the path down the mountain, you will return to Jiajingfang. If you are interested in military affairs, in the China Air Defense Expo Park (free, closed on Mondays) to the east at the foot of the mountain and the military experience area to the west, you can not only see historical exhibitions about Zhenhai’s coastal defense and displays of airplanes, tanks and the like, but also play 4D simulation projects (separate payment).
At Zhaobao Mountain, you can pilot fighter jets to soar through the blue sky, command aircraft carriers to defend the maritime borders, or drive tanks on long-range raids. Immerse yourself in the battles of land, sea, and air in a realistic environment, and satisfy your military cravings.
Operating Hours: The site is open all year round from 08:30 to 16:00. Preferential Policies: Children: Free for those under 1.2 meters in height; half-price for those between 1.2m and 1.5m in height. Elderly: Free for those aged 70 and above; half-price for those aged between 60 and 69. Students: Half-price with a valid student ID (excluding adult education and graduate students). Ningbo Residents: Half-price with a Ningbo residence permit (issued by Zhenhai Public Security Bureau). Zhenhai District Residents: Free with a personal ID card from Zhenhai District or an outstanding scientific and technological personnel certificate. Military Personnel: Free with an officer’s or soldier’s ID. Disabled Persons: Free with a disability certificate. Faculty and Staff: Free with a certificate of 30 years or more of seniority as a teacher. Journalists: Free with a press card. Senior Cadres: Free with a certificate issued by the Zhenhai District Committee. Model Workers: Free with a model worker certificate issued by the district or city level. Blood Donor Volunteers: Free with a Zhejiang Province unpaid blood donation honor certificate. Firefighters: Free with a national fire rescue certificate. Additional Information: The above information is for reference only; please check the day’s disclosures at Zhaobao Mountain for specific details. Must-see tips: There are paid guided tours available within the scenic area.
