Huangshawu Citrus

Huangshawu Citrus

　　Nanbeihu Scenic Area lies on the northern edge of China’s citrus cultivation zone. According to the Song Dynasty’s “Hanhui Annals,” the area has a history of over 700 years in growing oranges. The citrus-growing region is concentrated around Nanbeihu Village and the nearby Huangshawu Mountain Village. In particular, “Huangshawu,” covering an area of about one square kilometer, is densely planted with orange orchards and is hailed as the “Northern Zhejiang Orange Garden,” often referred to as a “paradise on earth.” A local poet, Lu Bingren, wrote in his poem “Viewing the Orange Groves in Huangshawu”: “The scenery in Huangshawu is truly fine, / With thousands of trees bearing golden oranges. / Pavilions stand amid autumn breeze, / As every passerby exclaims, ‘How fragrant!’”

　　 　　“Picking oranges beneath the eastern fence, / I glimpse the southern mountain with ease.” Huangshawu is surrounded by mountains on three sides and faces the sea on one, creating a unique microclimate that is warm in winter and cool in summer. In spring, the orange blossoms are in full bloom, filling the air with fragrance for miles; in autumn, the fruit-laden branches turn the hills golden, making it the best place for visitors to admire, taste, and pick oranges. Varieties include Benshan Honey Orange, Red Orange, Tangerine, Citron, Fuzhou Orange, Seedless Orange, and Mandarin, among which the Benshan Honey Orange is the most renowned for its golden color, sweet-tangy flavor, thin peel, thick juicy flesh, and annual yield of over a thousand tons.

　　 　　The high-quality, pollution-free citrus is the result of scientific management and advanced agricultural techniques. Experts from the Zhejiang Citrus Research Institute are hired year-round as advisors to promote innovative technologies. Compound fertilizers replace single chemical fertilizers, ensuring natural, pesticide-free produce with higher sugar content—according to tests by the Provincial Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the sugar content can reach up to 17 degrees. Biological agents are used extensively, with trace elements sprayed multiple times a year to help the citrus absorb nine key nutrients including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium.