Ningbo part one

Tianyige, now accessible only with one entrance ticket, houses over 300,000 books, the largest collection ever since it was established some 400 years ago. I believe nowadays for most visitors, the attraction comes from not the books, but the mysterious and legendary past of the place.

Here, host will represent how people in the old times print books. This is called engraving printing method.

First step, getting the ink ready. Starting from the center, and going in circles like this, otherwise, you cannot get the ink on all the characters.

To play with one or two pages maybe entertaining, but to print books page by page definitely requires discipline and devotion back then.

It is said Mr. Fanqin arranged many books to be printed here after retiring from the Defense Minister post.

Among the original collection of Tianyi Ge, the most valuable items are the annals of counties and the list of those who passed the imperial exams in Ming Dynasty.

Right next to Tianyi ge is Qing鈥檚 Ancestral Hall, a place definitely worth some lingering especially during the show time.

This is a classic performance of Yong Ju, the traditional local opera of Ningbo.

Sometimes what the story is about is not that important as long as there is the sweet smile, pleasant melody and, a grand performing stage like what we have here at Qin鈥檚 Ancestral Hall.