Artistic renewal transforms Ningbo's ancient fishing town

Night view of the Phase 2 of Xiangshan Shipu Fishing Port Ancient Town. [Photo/Tide News]

The Phase 2 of the Shipu Fishing Port Ancient Town in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, has reopened, marking a new chapter for this historic maritime site.

The project transforms the area into a vibrant cultural and tourism destination, blending local heritage with modern creative energy. Fenglinwan Shipu Academy, one of the first establishments to open, aims to serve as a dynamic cultural space, combining Shipu's unique local features with creative bookstore experiences and products.

Visitors were immersed in the "Mountain-Sea Night Drama and Fishing Light Renewal Week" event, where the streetscape came alive with striking art installations — floating giant inflatables, colorful balloons, and imaginative decor in ancient alleys.

A standout performance by the Dream Carriage Troupe offered a steampunk-inspired show with dramatic costumes and performers on three-meter-high stilts who roamed the streets, creating a vivid and immersive spectacle. Modern dance pieces evoked fishermen's lives, blending traditional chants with piano sounds to connect past and present.

The opening ceremony featured a symbolic lighting moment: guests turned a large ship's helm together, triggering a cascade of cold fireworks that lit up the night sky. Thousands of lights then illuminated the town, with golden columns tracing shapes reminiscent of countless fishing boats setting sail.

The Phase 2 development honors the town's historical layout and architecture while activating it for today's visitors. It includes three scenic plazas and a themed network of "One Street, Eight Alleys", offering sweeping views of the harbor, mountains, and sea. With boutique hotels, specialty restaurants, cultural exhibitions, and music bars, the project stands as a new cultural landmark showcasing Ningbo's rich ocean heritage.