Ningbo Guide is the creation of Craig, a foreign resident of Ningbo. He first came to Ningbo in June 2003, and has been living in the city full-time since April 2004. At the time, there was very little information available, and and even less on the internet - only the Ningbo government website. The only way to get around town (for people unfamiliar with the city) was to collect a library of business cards, and present them to taxi drivers. However, it was difficult to discover new places, or know the prices, or know which places were good and which places were boring. Every city in China seemed to have its own city guide, except Ningbo. Craig collected information and took pictures for months, finally making Ningbo Guide website available to the public in May 2005.

Ningbo Guide magazine launched in June 2007. It is a monthly publication aimed at Ningbo's English-speaking community. The magazine is available at all 5-star hotels, at all foreign restaurants and bars, and many other locations in Ningbo and surrounding cities.