Muzhou

Muzhou

Muzhou is located in the middle of the Yuan River, about 7.5 kilometers upstream from the county town. It is an island surrounded by water on all sides, approximately 2 kilometers long and averaging 500 meters in width, covering an area of about 5.6 square kilometers. Though the island appears low-lying, it has never been submerged by floods throughout history, no matter how severe. Local legend says it is a wooden sandbar that can rise and fall with the water level—hence the name “Muzhou” (Wooden Island). The “Spring Rise at Muzhou” is one of the ancient Eight Scenic Spots of Chenyang.

The entire island is covered with orange trees. Thanks to its fertile soil, long hours of sunlight, and warm, humid climate, the “Chenxi Oranges” produced here in the 1950s gained international fame for their large size, juicy flesh, balanced sweet-and-sour flavor, fragrant aroma, and bright color. In 1958, the Central News Film Studio even came to the island to shoot a documentary.

In 2004, taking advantage of the island’s unique location dividing the river into two streams, a medium-sized hydropower station was built here with an installed capacity of 200,000 kilowatts. The once treacherous rapids of Muzhou have now become a serene lake, fragrant with orange blossoms and lined with rows of willows along the shore. In recent years, a beach amusement park has also been created on the back river of the island, offering a holiday retreat for leisure and relaxation. Muzhou has become a true garden paradise and is now one of the best destinations for vacation and leisure.