Ningbo ranks 16th nationwide in population inflow

Ningbo was ranked 16th nationwide in terms of population increase, behind only Hangzhou in East China's Zhejiang province, according to a report compiled by domestic internet giant Baidu.

The report evaluated how attractive 300 cities in China were to new residents in 2020.

Ningbo surpassed several new first-tier cities including Beijing, Tianjin and Qingdao to become one of the top destinations for population inflow.

Statistics show that about 63 percent of the people who moved to Ningbo last year are aged between 18 and 34, ranking only behind Jinhua in Zhejiang. In addition, 17 percent of these new residents hold a junior college degree or above, behind Hangzhou's 26 percent.

The city was also ranked the second hottest tourism destination in the province. During the National Day holiday last year, Dongqian Lake, a scenic spot in Ningbo, overtook renowned scenic attractions such as Wuzhen, an ancient town in Zhejiang, in popularity, according to the report.

Experts attributed the rising popularity of Dongqian Lake to factors including accelerated tourism resource development and improved transportation condition.

At the end of 2019, the Hanling old street near the lake was opened to visitors. The city's metro line 4 that connects Cicheng Ancient Town and Donqian Lake was also put into operation last year.

Ningbo has seen a sharp increase in its population in recent years. Official data shows that a total of 530,000 people moved to the city in 2018 and 2019, a number equivalent to the permanent resident population of the city's Xiangshan county.