Ningbo's long-standing reputation for everyday warmth was reaffirmed on Dec 9, as the city was named one of China's Happiest Cities for the 16th time at the 2025 Happiest Cities Forum in Chengdu.

This year's list also honored Yinzhou, Yuyao, Cixi and Ninghai at the county-level and urban-district level — recognition that reflects how deeply the culture of kindness runs through the wider Ningbo region. The city's sense of happiness is not built on grand gestures but on countless acts of quiet generosity that shape daily life.

Among them is the anonymous donor known only by the pseudonym "Shun Qi Zi Ran", which means "let things take their own course", who has quietly contributed nearly 18 million yuan ($2.54 million) over the course of 27 years. There is also Qian Haijun, a nationally recognized "Role Model of the Times", who has spent three decades carrying his toolbox from community to community, repairing lights and helping residents in need. And there are nurses like Liao Shengfang, whose cheerful greetings and patient care offer comfort to those feeling unwell.

Ningbo's spirit is also carried by students who step in to save lives, retirees who teach in remote villages, volunteers who help families with school pickups, and community groups who knit sweaters, serve free meals or offer warm tea to outdoor workers.

In Ningbo, happiness is not a slogan — it is way of life sustained by ordinary people, day after day.