Orange Isle

Orange Isle is located in the center of Xiangjiang River in Changsha City of Hunan Province, about 2 km (1.2 miles) from the East Gate of Mt. Yuelu. As the biggest inland island in China, it is honoured as the 'First Island in China'. Abounding with sweet and delicious oranges, people gave it the name Orange Isle, or Juzi Island in Chinese. It has a distinctive scenery in  every season. Spring is the best time to watch gulls foraging along the Xiangjiang River. In summer, the bright sun endows Juzi Island with enthusiasm and vigor. When autumn comes, ripe oranges and pomelos give off  enjoyable smells, dispersing across the island. In winter,  snow makes the island a white fairyland. The winter scenery of Orange Isle is one of the eight best known sceneries in Hunan Province.

According to records, Orange Isle was silted up by sand and stones in 305 A.D. and was composed of four smaller islands . As time passed, the four parts were connected  and developed into one large island. In 1925, Chairman Mao Zedong, the founder of the People's Republic of China, revisited the place and wrote a famous poem, 'Changsha Tune – Spring in a Pleasure Garden', to praise it and express his willingness to build a new country, which made Orange Isle known worldwide. In 1960 a park was established on the island and two years later was opened to the public, named Orange Island Park. Since then the park has been improved greatly, attracting more and more visitors to appreciate the scenery and learn the dreams described in Mao Zedong's poem. Below are the most famous attractions in Orange Island Park from north to south:
 In a Southeast Asian style, Beach Park is abundant with a variety of  subtropical plants, such as the Canary Island date palm and  the California fan palm, creating a tropical atmosphere. With an area of 20 hectares (50 acres), it is divided into three parts, Beach Square, Grassland Sports Square and Indoor Sports Leisure Center. The entertainment activities are diverse, including camping, beach and water sports, and  star gazing using a telescope.
 When the water soars into the air from the fountain it can reach as high as 100 meters (330 feet), almost the same as a 30-storey building, and is as splendid as a waterfall. Even if you are on the bank, you can feel the coolness that the mist brings. The fountain is opene on weekends and holidays.
 Mao Zedong’s Statue is based upon the image of 32-year-old Mao in 1925. Built with reinforced concrete, it has a granite surface. With a length of 83 meters (91 yards), a width of 41 meters (45 yards) and a height of 32 meters (35 yards), the statue aims to show Mao Zedong's positive image and encourage  young generations.
 Over 100 meters (110 yards) from Mao Zedong's Statue, the River Watching Pavilion covers an area of 263 square meters (315 square yards). The pavilion was originally the Ancient Dongting Palace. As time has passed, great changes have taken place,but you can still stand in it to watch the river flowing toward the east without a break.
 The Witness Tree has grown on Orange Isle for about 180 years. Because the tree witnessed the early revolutionary activities of Mao Zedong from 1913 to 1923, it is called the Witness Tree. It is recorded that Chairman Mao often sat under the tree and discussed how to save the country with his friends.
 The Thinking Platform is another witness to Mao Zedong's stories. It is right in this place that Mao Zedong, facing the roaring Xiangjiang River and thinking about the country's fate, wrote the famous poem 'Changsha Tune – Spring in a Pleasure Garden'. In honour of that moment, people built the Thinking Platform where he stood.
 The fireworks show is only available on holidays like New Year’s Day, May Day, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid Autumn Day and Chinese National Day, and it lasts for 20 minutes.

To have the best view of the fireworks, you are recommended to go to areas along the river, such as Middle Xiangjiang Road and Poet Du Fu's Pavilion.
 

1. Take metro line 2 to Juzizhou Station. The station is right on the island.
Note: During Fireworks Show , the metro will not stop at this station after 19:00.

2. Take Bus 26, 109, 117, 118, 132, 152, 308, 315, 317, 318, 325, 401, 407, 417, 811, 913 or Tourist Bus Line 3 to Juzizhou Daqiao Xi, and then walk west for 10 minutes to the isle.
 

Entrance Fee	Free Beach Park: CNY 50
Sightseeing Bus	CNY 40 Note: You can take the bus 5 times on the way.
Opening Hours	All day

 See also Top 10 Things to Do in Changsha