Writers and Poets Gather Amid Orange Blossoms to Paint a New Literary Picture of Huangyan

On April 18, 2025, the National Literary Field Visit to Huangyan officially began. Over 50 renowned writers and poets from across China gathered in Huangyan to trace its rich cultural heritage and use literature to tell the story of the “Thousand-Year Hometown of Chinese Mandarins”.

The first stop was the China Citrus Expo Park, where orange blossoms were in full bloom, filling the air with a sweet fragrance. Writers strolled through the orchards, immersed in a night tour that blended dance, calligraphy, poetry, and other art forms—showcasing the cultural charm of Huangyan as the “Origin of Citrus.” A local open-air play performed among the orchards brought to life traditional customs like “Blessing the Orange Harvest”, highlighting the region’s deep-rooted relationship with citrus cultivation.

Huangyan, known as the “Hometown of Chinese Mandarins,” boasts a citrus cultivation history of over 1,700 years. In recent years, the region has promoted integrated development of agriculture, culture, and tourism, providing continuous inspiration for literary creation. Poet Wang Shan remarked, “Huangyan’s citrus culture reveals a profound connection between literature and the land.”

The field visit also included stops at Jianyang Lake National Wetland Park and the Shabu Kiln Site. The wetlands' natural beauty and the ancient kiln's historical depth offered a unique blend of ecology and culture. Lu Xun Literature Prize winner Che Yangao shared that Huangyan’s harmony of nature and humanity sparked his poetic inspiration, while fellow laureate Shen Wei praised the kiln’s ceramic shards as “history in visible form.”

Bai Gengsheng, Deputy Chairman of the China Writers Association, concluded: “This visit allowed us to experience Huangyan’s distinctive cultural atmosphere. Going forward, I will share the literary spirit of Huangyan through my work and promote its story nationwide.”