Your quick-hit guide to the WTA 500 hard-court stop headlined by the sport's newest World No. 1.
The 2026 BNB Ningbo Open runs from October 17–25, 2026, and this year's headliner is brand-new WTA World No. 1 Elena Rybakina — a three-time Grand Slam champion (2022 Wimbledon, 2026 Australian Open, 2026 US Open) arriving fresh off her US Open title. Ningbo is also where her 12-month climb to No. 1 began, so expect a hero's welcome at Yinzhou Tennis Center.
Official ticket sales opened on September 16, 2026. This is the first-timer's guide for anyone who wants to go watch.
🎾 Tickets — How to Buy
1) Exclusive official ticketing app: 久事体育 (Juss Sports) App
Also accessible as a WeChat (微信) or Alipay (支付宝) mini-program — handy if you don't want to install another app.
2) Authorized third-party platforms (all Chinese-language, but usable with a translator app):
- Damai (大麦网)
- Piaoxingqiu (票星球)
- Maoyan Ticketing (猫眼票务)
- Kangebisai (看个比赛)
- Ctrip Travel (携程旅行)
3) Social commerce channels: Search 莓塔甄选 (Meita Zhenxuan) directly inside Douyin (抖音) or Xiaohongshu / RedNote (小红书) to buy through their in-app storefronts.
Ticket prices start at 80 CNY (≈ 11 USD).
💡 Local discount tip: If you're paying inside the Damai (大麦网) app, try searching 宁波体育消费券 (Ningbo Sports Consumption Voucher) — select match days support the voucher.
🎟️ What Each Ticket Gets You
Not all tickets are created equal at Ningbo (Yinzhou) Tennis Center. Here's the access breakdown before you check out:
- Center Court Ticket — Access to all courts, including Center Court, Grand Stand, and Court 6. The full-house pass.
- Ground Pass (Outer Court Ticket) — Access to the Grand Stand and Court 6 matches. Best value for fans who want to catch early-round action across multiple courts.
Match schedule — Center Court:
Match schedule — Grand Stand:
🎁 Bonus for 48 CNY Ground Pass buyers: Once your order is confirmed, the system automatically issues a 48 CNY voucher for the official merchandise store. It's redeemable on souvenirs only — not valid for food, drinks, or on-site services.
💸 Refund Policy
Plans change — here's the refund window:
- From opening day → Sept 23, 23:50 — Fully refundable, no fee.
- Sept 24 → Oct 14, 23:59 — Refundable with a 20% processing fee.
- From Oct 15 onward — No refunds.
🚕 Getting to the Venue: Ningbo (Yinzhou) Tennis Center
The tournament is held at 宁波（鄞州）网球中心 (Ningbo Yinzhou Tennis Center) in Yinzhou District.
Venue address: 199 Wenhua Road, Yinzhou District, Ningbo (宁波市鄞州区文华路199号).
Option 1: Metro (Best Choice)
Taking the metro is the easiest way to dodge road closures and match-day traffic around the venue.
- Line 5 (地铁5号线) — Get off at Yinzhou District Government Station (鄞州区政府站) or Qianhu South Road Station (钱湖南路站).
- From either exit, it's a 15–20 minute walk to the tennis center, or you can hop on a local shuttle bus, grab a shared bike, or take a short taxi ride.
Option 2: From Ningbo Lishe International Airport (宁波栎社国际机场)
- By metro: Take Line 2 (地铁2号线) toward 聪园路方向 (Congyuan Road) → transfer at Shiqi Station (石碶站) to Line 5 heading toward 布政方向 / 东钱湖方向 (Buzheng / Dongqian Lake) → get off at Yinzhou District Government Station (鄞州区政府站).
- By taxi / ride-hailing: ≈ 16–18 km, roughly 25–30 minutes off-peak.
Option 3: From Ningbo Railway Station (宁波站, High-Speed Rail)
- By metro: Take Line 4 (地铁4号线) toward 东钱湖方向 (Dongqian Lake) → transfer at South Higher Education Park Station (南高教园区站) to Line 5 → one stop to Qianhu South Road Station (钱湖南路站) or Yinzhou District Government Station (鄞州区政府站).
- By taxi / ride-hailing: ≈ 10–12 km, roughly 20–25 minutes off-peak.
🚗 Driving & Taxi Tips
- Navigation address: Just type 宁波（鄞州）网球中心 into DiDi (滴滴), Amap (高德地图), or Baidu Maps (百度地图).
- Heads-up on traffic control: During the tournament, 文华路 (Wenhua Road) and 学府路 (Xuefu Road) around the venue may be under temporary traffic control, and on-site parking is limited.
- Smart move: Park at a nearby shopping complex such as 鄞州印象城 (Yinzhou Incity) or 万达广场 (Wanda Plaza), then finish the trip by metro or ride-hail.
Quick Tips Before You Go
- Bring your ID / passport — tickets in China are real-name registered, and matching ID is required at the gate.
- Go cashless — set up Alipay (支付宝) or WeChat Pay (微信支付); both accept international Visa / Mastercard top-ups via their Tourist Card feature.
- Dress for Ningbo October — daytime highs sit around 20–23°C (68–73°F) and evenings drop to 13–15°C (55–59°F). Bring a light jacket for night sessions, and a compact umbrella — mid-October can bring the occasional coastal shower.
- Arrive early on weekend match days — security and bag checks can build up, especially for Center Court sessions with Rybakina & Co. on the schedule.
- Language: Signage at the venue is bilingual, but taxi drivers may not read pinyin — screenshot the Chinese address 宁波市鄞州区文华路199号 to show them.