Tianyi Pavilion is now China's oldest existing private library. [Photo/CFP]

Sandwiched between the ocean and mountains, Ningbo city in East China's Zhejiang province is a time-honored coastal city with some popular historic and cultural attractions.

In 2018, Ningbo joined the "1-trillion-yuan GDP club" in 2018 – Chinese cities with annual GDP exceeding 1 trillion yuan ($156.3 billion). Tourism has made a remarkable contribution to its economic development.

Tianyi Pavilion: The country's oldest existing library

Tianyi Pavilion is most tourists' first stop in Ningbo, it was originally built in 1561 under the supervision of Fan Qin, a high-ranking official during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It's now China's oldest existing private library with a collection of over 300, 000 ancient books and copies, 80,000 of which are considered rare, spanning 5,000 categories. It's also regarded as one of the three best-preserved ancient family libraries worldwide.

Tianyi Pavilion Museum was established in 1994, has become a must-see attraction in the city. Based on Tianyi Pavilion, the museum also includes Eastern Garden, the Chens' Ancestral Hall, the Qings' Branch Ancestral Hall, Calligraphy and Painting Hall and the Local Chronicles Hall.

It was given a National Cultural Relics Preservation Unit designation by the State Council in 1982 and listed as a National 5A Level Tourist Attraction by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2018.

The 26,000-square-meter site is more than a scenic spot. Apart from its profound influences on libraries and books in China, it's also a window for tourists to get close to the culture and history of the area.