ABOUT US – 关于我们
HelloNingbo is the FIRST PRIVATE ENGLISH WEBSITE about the city of Ningbo in Zhejiang province (Eastern China). Launched in 2005, HelloNingbo was created when not much information in English about the city (places, events) was available.
At that time, many expatriates living in Ningbo were looking for help in their daily life and could not easily find answers to their questions and needs. Patrick Donovan (达尔文), HelloNingbo Founder who had known the same situation, started a website with the goal of sharing information he had gathered little by little and which he thought could help other foreigners living or planning to come to Ningbo.
Throughout the years HelloNingbo became more and more popular and after 6 years online, hundreds of thousands people had visited and benefited from the site.
Mid-2011, it was decided to rebuild Helloningbo from scratch, giving it a new concept, a better design with new photos and totally fresh/updated information. Finally in April 2012 the new HelloNingbo went live. It will take time though to review again so many places and add the new ones but quality and HelloNingbo are both long-term projects…
Mid-2011, it was decided to rebuild Helloningbo from scratch, giving it a new concept, a better design with new photos and totally fresh/updated information. Finally in April 2012 the new HelloNingbo went live. It will take time though to review again so many places and add the new ones but quality and HelloNingbo are both long-term projects…
Previous design of HelloNingbo (2006-2011)
- Why a new HelloNingbo version in 2012?
I am celebrating my 10 YEARS IN NINGBO and from the time I launched the first version of HelloNingbo until now, both Ningbo and readers’ needs have changed a lot. Although we can nowadays find much more information in English, I wish to offer a different style and more personal view of Ningbo. I also wanted a NEW DESIGN that suits the latest mobile devices as well as some totally new sections, new photos, etc…
So we restarted everything from scratch which was a very long process but I guess the result is worth it and hope readers will like it…
So we restarted everything from scratch which was a very long process but I guess the result is worth it and hope readers will like it…
- So what makes HelloNingbo unique?
It is the first time an online city guide is giving so many useful details about every places listed in its directory.
Below are 8 NEW AND EXCLUSIVE OPTIONS. Just see for yourself, you might be amazed!
Below are 8 NEW AND EXCLUSIVE OPTIONS. Just see for yourself, you might be amazed!
1 – ORIGINAL PICTURES
Each place is introduced by a slideshow displaying large photos. All these PICTURES ARE ORIGINALS taken by our team with professional cameras (Canon EOS / Nikon). Unlike some photoshopped advertising photos, what you see is what is there.
Each place is introduced by a slideshow displaying large photos. All these PICTURES ARE ORIGINALS taken by our team with professional cameras (Canon EOS / Nikon). Unlike some photoshopped advertising photos, what you see is what is there.
2 – FULL CHART
For each place listed, we not only offer an address, telephone or fax numbers but a FULL CHART with many more specifications such as the nearest bus station, bus lines, opening hours, surroundings, etc…
For each place listed, we not only offer an address, telephone or fax numbers but a FULL CHART with many more specifications such as the nearest bus station, bus lines, opening hours, surroundings, etc…
3 – HISTORY and KEY FACTS
When the place we list is part of an important group (like international superstores, restaurant chains, etc), we publish a “HISTORY and KEY FACTS” section. This makes the content even richer and allows readers to discover or better know the place they are interested in.
When the place we list is part of an important group (like international superstores, restaurant chains, etc), we publish a “HISTORY and KEY FACTS” section. This makes the content even richer and allows readers to discover or better know the place they are interested in.
4 – CUSTOM MAPS
Every place introduced can be easily located, thanks to 2 mini CUSTOM MAPS with English. One offers a large view so that the spot can quickly be located from Ningbo city and one offers a zoomed view to conveniently find the way once close to the spot.
Every place introduced can be easily located, thanks to 2 mini CUSTOM MAPS with English. One offers a large view so that the spot can quickly be located from Ningbo city and one offers a zoomed view to conveniently find the way once close to the spot.
5 – TAXI CARDS
Each site has its own TAXI CARD dedicated to non-Chinese speaking visitors who can then freely travel anywhere. This card can be shown to the driver via smartphone or any other mobile device.
Each site has its own TAXI CARD dedicated to non-Chinese speaking visitors who can then freely travel anywhere. This card can be shown to the driver via smartphone or any other mobile device.
6 – EXCLUSIVE REVIEWS with RATINGS
HelloNingbo also offers EXCLUSIVE REVIEWS with RATINGS so that visitors can share our experience, know in advance what to expect and go for the place which best suit their needs.
HelloNingbo also offers EXCLUSIVE REVIEWS with RATINGS so that visitors can share our experience, know in advance what to expect and go for the place which best suit their needs.
7 – PHONETICS WITH TONES
Every place listed has its name written in PINYIN PHONETICS WITH TONES which is seldom the case in other websites. But pronouncing tones correctly is essential in Mandarin to be understood. This helps foreigners, even with a limited knowledge of Chinese. They can start wandering around and ask basic things without a translator.
Every place listed has its name written in PINYIN PHONETICS WITH TONES which is seldom the case in other websites. But pronouncing tones correctly is essential in Mandarin to be understood. This helps foreigners, even with a limited knowledge of Chinese. They can start wandering around and ask basic things without a translator.
8 – BOTH IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE
Because HelloNingbo is not only open to expatriates but also to English-speaking local readers wishing to better know the foreign lifestyle in Ningbo, BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE are used in crucial parts of the site like navigation, reviews and other sections. These translated sections are there to help for a better understanding.
Because HelloNingbo is not only open to expatriates but also to English-speaking local readers wishing to better know the foreign lifestyle in Ningbo, BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE are used in crucial parts of the site like navigation, reviews and other sections. These translated sections are there to help for a better understanding.
- Is your content original or are you just gathering content from other sites?
HelloNingbo only publishes ORIGINAL ARTICLES AND PHOTOS. Nowadays many sites only offer automatic aggregated content or find too much “inspiration” from other sources but we believe fresh and original content is essential.
We do have visited or stayed in every place listed on HelloNingbo website. Just like any foreigner living in Ningbo, we go to a place and see how it is like. Then we take notes and keep them until we are back at different periods of the year and get even more details for our review.
It takes time to write fair and reliable content but I guess this is why HelloNingbo has been so popular throughout the years.
We do have visited or stayed in every place listed on HelloNingbo website. Just like any foreigner living in Ningbo, we go to a place and see how it is like. Then we take notes and keep them until we are back at different periods of the year and get even more details for our review.
It takes time to write fair and reliable content but I guess this is why HelloNingbo has been so popular throughout the years.
- Are your articles first written in English or Chinese? Who is translating?
Articles are first written in English then translated in Chinese by Kathleen Zhang, a native from Ningbo. Kathleen is graduated from Chinese language and culture Department with high honors (Master of Education) and she is also fluent in English.
Kathleen has traveled abroad and is familiar with foreign cultures which is essential to understand the proper meaning a foreign author wants to express.
During the last 10 years, she has worked as Translator, Interpreter and Mandarin Consultant for western companies. She is currently a Chinese Coordinator for an International school.
Kathleen has traveled abroad and is familiar with foreign cultures which is essential to understand the proper meaning a foreign author wants to express.
During the last 10 years, she has worked as Translator, Interpreter and Mandarin Consultant for western companies. She is currently a Chinese Coordinator for an International school.
- Why don’t you open a comment section for readers?
This is a complex part to manage which usually brings very poor results. Let me explain. Of course we know many faithful and talented writers wishing to share their true feelings but a website can be accessed by spammers who use open-to-public spaces like forums, comments section, etc, to post totally irrelevant content.
But there is even more underhanded spam coming from marketing (and unethical) companies organizing campaigns to praise or disparage businesses (competitors) just by using these open reviews/comments spaces?
So finally what is the benefit for the reader who is totally lost, not knowing which side to trust? Should he book the “wonderful and charming” hotel? Or skip the “terrible and stay away from” SAME hotel?
This is why, HelloNingbo favors PROFESSIONAL, FAIR and UNBIASED REVIEWS written by its team like many world well-known travel-guide companies do, such as Michelin or Frommer’s.
But there is even more underhanded spam coming from marketing (and unethical) companies organizing campaigns to praise or disparage businesses (competitors) just by using these open reviews/comments spaces?
So finally what is the benefit for the reader who is totally lost, not knowing which side to trust? Should he book the “wonderful and charming” hotel? Or skip the “terrible and stay away from” SAME hotel?
This is why, HelloNingbo favors PROFESSIONAL, FAIR and UNBIASED REVIEWS written by its team like many world well-known travel-guide companies do, such as Michelin or Frommer’s.
- Who are your readers?
We have very different type of readers but they all have a keen interest in Ningbo. Some of them are located outside China (US, Middle East, Europe) mostly planning to come over to Ningbo for business purposes.
It can be business travelers coming for a week or expatriates coming over for a long-term contract. In this case, wives or family members also go through HelloNingbo website, wishing to know how life is in Ningbo, as they might come over and be part of the adventure too.
Other readers are foreigners already living here and local Chinese persons able to speak/read English. These persons often work in the import-export field and deal with foreign customers. With HelloNingbo they wish to better know/understand the foreign lifestyle but are also often surprised to discover places they did not know, even though they are locals!
In 2011, our web statistics showed that about 70% of our readers (foreign and local) were located in Ningbo while 30% were outside (5% outside Ningbo, 25% outside China). Our statistics also showed that HelloNingbo has already been browsed from 148 countries (yes! you read well, 148!) but we hope to have even more!!
It can be business travelers coming for a week or expatriates coming over for a long-term contract. In this case, wives or family members also go through HelloNingbo website, wishing to know how life is in Ningbo, as they might come over and be part of the adventure too.
Other readers are foreigners already living here and local Chinese persons able to speak/read English. These persons often work in the import-export field and deal with foreign customers. With HelloNingbo they wish to better know/understand the foreign lifestyle but are also often surprised to discover places they did not know, even though they are locals!
In 2011, our web statistics showed that about 70% of our readers (foreign and local) were located in Ningbo while 30% were outside (5% outside Ningbo, 25% outside China). Our statistics also showed that HelloNingbo has already been browsed from 148 countries (yes! you read well, 148!) but we hope to have even more!!
- Any message to your readers?
Well, I wish everyone visiting this site a wonderful stay in Ningbo and hope HelloNingbo will make their life in this city even MORE BEAUTIFUL and ENJOYABLE…
For Press interviews, TV reports and details about Patrick DONOVAN, HelloNingbo Founder, click here: Who is Daerwen?
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