Huangyuan Tourist Resort

Huangyuan Tourist Resort

Huangyuan is located in the Songhua River, about 11 kilometers west of Songyuan City, and is an island in the middle of the river. It consists of three islands of varying sizes, with the central one being the largest and the northern and southern ones smaller, covering a total area of approximately 120 hectares.

Huangyuan was formed by alluvial deposits from the Songhua River. The sand dunes on the island undulate in waves. To prevent wind erosion and stabilize the sand, large areas of poplar trees have been planted artificially, resulting in a forest coverage rate of over 90%, transforming the wind-formed dunes into fixed dunes. During normal water levels, the island stands 2 to 4 meters above the water surface, and even during high water periods, it remains above water.

This island got its name, Huangyuan (meaning "sturgeon enclosure"), from the historical practice of keeping sturgeons here. The sturgeon, anciently known as "shàn" (a type of fish), belongs to the Acipenseridae family and is commonly called "huángyú" (sturgeon) by locals. It is regarded as the king of fish. Known for its large size, delicious taste, colorful skin, and noble name, it has long been an imperial tribute. Sturgeons can grow up to 7–8 chi (approximately 2.3–2.7 meters) in length, with the largest weighing several hundred jin (over 100 kilograms), resembling catfish in shape. Emperor Kangxi once praised them in a poem: “There’s even a giant tail pressing against the boat’s bow, weighing so much that an ox-drawn cart wheel nearly breaks under the load. In the cold water when ice forms, their flavor becomes even better, making a mockery of the vaunted carp and crucian carp of the south.” Because the fish were prone to injury, death, and spoilage after summer fishing and could not be sent as tribute, they were first kept and fed in enclosures before being transported to the capital in winter. Thus, the Huangyuan enclosure was established. Surrounded by water on all sides and roughly oval in shape, it covers an area of about 500 hectares. Animals on the island include pheasants, ducks, and more. A variety of birds inhabit the area, and the vegetation mainly consists of planted poplar forests, along with some wild shrubs. The island is abundant in medicinal herbs such as mushrooms, astragalus, and leucoseptosporia. Huangyuan Island has many beautiful legends, providing an excellent cultural foundation for developing it into a natural recreational island integrating sightseeing, entertainment, and vacation.

Although sturgeons are now extinct, the large pits where they were once kept still remain. The existing pits are 250 meters long, 30 meters wide, cover an area of 7,500 square meters, and are 5 meters deep. The western shore of Huangyuan is lower in elevation, featuring a large sandy beach. Under the sunlight, the beach glimmers like a golden land floating on the water, suitable for water activities. The riverside wetlands are home to birds such as river terns, grey cranes, and ducks.

Huangyuan is relatively close to downtown Songyuan and is accessible by both water and land routes. Especially by water, where visitors can take cruise boats to enjoy the scenery along the riverbanks, making it the preferred choice. Due to its convenient transportation, every weekend and during public holidays, residents of Songyuan—whether traveling in organized groups, with family, or with classmates and friends—flock to Huangyuan for leisure.