NINGPO, a department in the province of China, comprising the city of that name, the Chusan group of islands, and the cities of Tsike, Funghwa, Chinhai, and Tsiangshan. The port of Ningpo is situated at the confluence of two small streams, in lat. 29° n., long. 121° 22' e., 12 m. from the sea, on an alluvial flat of extreme fer tility, intersecte4 a of rivulets and canals. Its walls are in circumfer ence, about 25 ft. high, 22 ft. wide at the base, and 15 at the top, with six double gates.
As is the case with all the cities in this part of China, Ningpo is permeated by canals communicating with a moat nearly surrounding the walls, and with the adjacent country, In one part of the city they expand into basins, and receive the name of lakes—the Sun lake and Moon lake. In the former is an island devoted to temples, and accessible by bridges. These specimens of those aerial stone edifices which adorn this part of China—are required to sustain little more than their own weight, as the roads here are all mere footpaths, and no wheeled vehicles are found. One of the rivers is crossed by a bridge of boats 200 yds. long. The entire city is well paved; the streets are wider than those of most Chinese cities, and the display of shops is indicative of wealth and luxury. Nowhere, save at Hanchau, are such extensive and beautiful tem ples to be found. The most elegant and costly of these is dedicated to the queen of heaven; the goddess being the daughter of a Fulikien fisherman, the people of that mari time province are her more special votaries. Elaborate stone sculpture, exquisitely fine wood carving, and a profusion of gilt and tinsel show that no expense has been spared to honor the popular goddess.
The center of the city is ornamented with an elegant seven-storied hexagonal tower— the heaven-bestowed pagoda, 160 ft. in height. A spiral flight of steps within the walls
of the tower lead to the summit, from which the gazer beholds a splendid scene; merable villages dot the plain, which is reticulated by silvery water-courses, replete with evidence of successful commerce and agriculture. The population of the city is about. 300,000; that of the plain, about 2,000,000. On many of the hills which environ these cities, green tea is successfully cultivated; while the mulberry, the tallow-tree, and numer ous other stimulants of industry abound. Two crops of rice are procured annually front the fields; while the fisheries of the rivers and adjacent coast give employment to. a numerous class of the population. Ice-houses close to the river give the banks a pic turesque appearance; the ice is used for curing fish. Ningpo has an extensive coasting trade; but no considerable foreign trade has been developed, owing mainly to porterages on the inland water-communications, and to the proximity of Shanghai, where no such. obstructions exist. The district city of Chinhai, at the mouth of the Ningpo river, is also a port. A. walled town, containing about 30,000 inhabitants, 10 m. to the e. of Chinhai, is Iiingtang, the nearest of the Chusan archipelago. Tinghai is the district. city of the island of Chusan, which is 20 m. long, from 6 to 10 wide, and 51 in circum ference. It is mountainous, with fertile valleys in a high state of cultivation. It has an excellent harbor. Tinghai was garrisoned several years by her majesty's forces from 1841, and was again temporarily occupied by the allied forces in 1860.-1)r. Macgowau's Lectures.