Orange Isle (Chinese: 橘子洲; pinyin: Júzi Zhōu) is an isle in Xiang River, Changsha, Hunan, China.[1][2] It also known by other names, such as Ju Isle (橘洲; Jú Zhōu) and Shuilu Isle (水陆洲; 水陸洲; Shuǐlù Zhōu; 'Water-and-land Isle'). It has a length of 5 kilometres (3.1 mi), a width of 40 to 140 metres (130 to 460 ft) and a total area of 370,900 square metres (91.64 acres).[3][4] It was also a national AAAAA (5A) level tourist attraction and a national key scenic spot.[5]
![]() Orange Isle in 2006 | |||||||
![]() ![]() Orange Isle ![]() ![]() Orange Isle | |||||||
Geography | |||||||
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Location | Xiang River, Changsha, Hunan | ||||||
Coordinates | 28°11′03″N 112°57′41″E | ||||||
Area | 91.64 acres (37.09 ha) | ||||||
Length | 5 km (3.1 mi) | ||||||
Width | 40–140 m (130–460 ft) | ||||||
Administration | |||||||
China | |||||||
Demographics | |||||||
Population | 100 (administrators) | ||||||
Languages | Mandarin, Xiang | ||||||
Ethnic groups | Han Chinese | ||||||
Additional information | |||||||
Chinese name | |||||||
Simplified Chinese | 橘子洲 | ||||||
Traditional Chinese | 橘子洲 | ||||||
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The first known instance of Orange Isle being documented appeared in 305 B.C., during the Yongxing era of the reign of Emperor Hui of Jin during the Jin Dynasty (266–420).[6]
During the Tang dynasty (618–907), poet Du Fu wrote a poem Visiting Daolin Temple and Yuelushan Temple (岳麓山道林二寺行; 嶽麓山道林二寺行; yuè lù shān dào lín èr sì xíng), which mentioned Orange Isle. It had been on the list of The Eight Views of Xiaoxiang - River and Sky: Sunset Snow.
Orange Isle was opened in 1904, during the late Qing dynasty (1644–1911).[6]
From 1911 to 1949, many foreign embassies and consulates were built on the isle.[1][6]
During Mao Zedong's early years, he lived in Changsha. He and his friends He Shuheng, Xiao Zisheng, Cai Hesen, Xiao San and Xiang Jingyu would swim in the Xiang River.[7]
Since the 2010s, the Orange Isle Music Festival has been hosted on the isle.[8][9][10][11]
On 20 December 2009, the Youth Mao Zedong Statue was built on the isle.[12][13]