According to historical records, the Moon Lake was first excavated in 636 of the Tang Dynasty (618-907). In 833, Magistrate Wang Yuanwei of Maoxian County (the present Ningbo) decided to build water conservancy projects. Under his leadership, channels and weirs were built and water from Lunshan Mountain was led through the waterways into the city and two lakes, the Sun Lake and the Moon Lake thus came into being. During the Northern and Southern Song Dynasties, Ningbo had gradually grown into a flourishing metropolis, and a city of strategic importance that was close to the then capital city (Hangzhou in the South Song Dynasty). As the waterways within the city had been successively dredged, a crisscross water network, with the Moon Lake as the heart, was formed. It was well known with its "three rivers plus six canals with a lake at the core".
In the past 800 years, the Moon Lake has been an important academic spot, well known in south China for its fine education tradition and the large number of talented people ever nurtured. He Zhizhang, a famous Tang poet, who called himself a "madman of Siming (Ningbo)", resided as a visitor at the lakeside after his resignation from the Court. The present He Memorial Temple by the Ludian Bridge on the Willow Islet , has been restored as original; and adjacent to it is the General Guan''s Temple (Guandi''s Temple), which is magnificent and splendid after being renovated.
In the Moon Lake Scenic Area, there are such place of interest as Fang''s Residence at the entrance of the Lake, the Qin''s Ancestral Hall (the present Ningbo Handicrafts and Arts Gallery), the Site of Koryo Embassy.
A large number of old constructions, such as the Baokui Lane, the Grand Fangyue Residence, the Flower and Fruits Garden Shrine, the He Memorial Temple, the Chaoran Pavilion, and Yintaidi Official Residence, are kept as ever after the renovation and restoration; they either set off one another in the fragrant grass and green trees, or scatter besides pavilions and terraces on the water. These old constructions, imbued with rich cultural flavor, enable one to have a taste of the styles and features of old buildings in East Zhejiang from the Ming Dynasty on to the Period of the Republic of China and to understand the traditional culture at the Lake Area. In a word, the whole scenic area embodies the features of watery regions of east Zhejiang, the styles of Jiangnan Gardens and connotations of history and culture.
Suggested Itinerary:
Stone Arch Bridge of the Moon Lake Park--Moon Garden--Yang''s Residence--Rock Gallery--Yuan''s House (Ceramics Gallery and Gallery of Feminine Attires)--Jiang''s Residence--Dafangyue Residence--Li''s Residence--Yintaidi Official Residence--Baokui Bridge--Baokui Lane--Bronze Statues--Yinfeng (Greeting Phoenix ) Street--Shuize (Water-gauging) Pavilion--Ningbo Costumes Museum.