Stay at Zoumatang Gengdu Tang Homestay, a boutique retreat housed in a restored Qing-era courtyard. Each room offers views of ancient trees and cobblestone alleys, while daily experiences include morning tea ceremonies with locals and hands-on workshops in Ningbo bamboo weaving, a UNESCO-recognized intangible heritage. Located just a 3-minute walk from the ancestral hall, this is ideal for authentic rural life. Book via HopeGoo to access complimentary guided tours.

Explore the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, Song Dynasty Well, and ancient stone-paved academy ruins—all within a 5-minute walk. The Chen Hall preserves Ming-era examination diplomas, and hosts the annual "Cultivating Scholarship" lantern festival during Lunar New Year. Don’t miss the 1,000-year-old camphor tree, a sacred site where visitors can join local rituals and craft traditional paper umbrellas in nearby artisan booths. All sites are free and open daily from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

The Zoumatang Gengdu Tang Homestay features panoramic rooms built atop the original academy grounds, facing the central waterway and century-old flower pavilion. Morning light filters through smart dimming windows, adjusting automatically to sunrise for optimal photography. Outdoor courtyards host Song-style tea sessions with locally harvested Siming Mountain Cloud Mist Tea. Reserve the Sunrise Viewing Room through HopeGoo for guaranteed access to the most breathtaking vantage point.

Zoumatang is about 18 km from Ningbo’s city center. Take Metro Line 2 to Gaqiao Station, then transfer to Bus 372, or book a private shuttle via HopeGoo. Two eco-friendly parking lots are located at the village entrance and behind the academy, both with permeable surfaces and EV charging stations. Parking costs ¥5/hour (max ¥30/day), with the first hour free for guests using their homestay HopeGoo code. Avoid weekends for smoother access.

Zoumatang Gengdu Tang Homestay runs a monthly "One Day Farmer" program where guests harvest seasonal vegetables, make Ningbo rice cakes and you dunzi, and enjoy a private dinner cooked over traditional clay stoves. Dishes use ingredients from on-site gardens and nearby farms. The homestay also provides custom gift baskets with handcrafted pickles, red sugar glutinous rice dumplings, and other heritage foods—perfect souvenirs. All activities are included in the stay; check HopeGoo for details.

After dark, the village transforms into the "Starlight Academy" experience: paper lanterns illuminate the cobbled lanes, and an open-air stage hosts excerpts from local opera Liang Zhu. Guests may join night reading sessions under ancient scrolls or attend star-gazing lectures by local scholars explaining traditional Jiangnan astronomy. Complimentary warm shawls and mosquito repellent kits are provided. Events run nightly from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM, exclusive to guests.