Source: Linhai Writers’ Association
Author: Su Shaokang

It is wonderful that oranges in Yongquan can be eaten with peel. They are famous across the country and their fragrance drift for thousands of miles.

In the old town Yongquan, there is a famous temple called Yanen, where prayers are beating wooden fish and reciting scriptures, as a paradise in the world; in Lantian, there are nine scenes, one of which is the Nanping School, where a royal minister had studied (It has been famous for a thousand year). In the south is the sweet and pure source of Lingjiang, in the north is the green and leisurely Niutou Mountain. Intelligence and tranquility in the south of the Yangtze River are focused here, so the mountains are green and waters is beautiful; the mercy of After-Huang (that is After- earth, and the Ruler refers to earth and heaven) is shown here, so the soil is rich and orange is sweet.

Tangerine is a treasure, which was viewed as glorious tree by Quyuan; and given by Lu Ji to his mother for filial piety. Since Quanyong is a lucky place, there should be many jewels and jades. “Shape of the orange is neat, color is pretty, juice is plentiful and residues are missing, the flesh is soft and peel is thin, quality is superb and flavor is special”, remarked the experts. The plant was first introduced in the age of Three Kingdoms, and the fruits were tribute to emperors in Sui and Tang Dynasties; the fruits were ripe in thousands of hectares and the flowers were booming in all directions. There is a rare variety called Yanyutou, which would melt in your mouth without any residue, believed to be from heaven. The dried peels can remove moisture; the fibers can free channel and dissolve phlegm. The flesh can regulate the flow of vital energy and moisten lung; the core can dredge liver and reduce inflammation. They are so mellow that their fragrance linger between teeth and moisten lungs; they are so fresh and strong that their juice is plentiful and refresh us.

Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty once came here in plain clothes and praised that they were tributes in the world; even Wangmu ate the fruit in her dream and viewed them as rare in heaven.

Oh! Tangerine in my hometown, with “base construction, scientific management, industrialized development, and branding operation”, we will build a big and strong tangerine town of china.

Lyric by Suzi: lingjiang River is surging and orange is fragrant. The nectar is pleasant after taste.

Introduction of the author: Suo Shaokang, Standing Member of the All China Cifujia Association, Vice President of the Linhai Writers’ Association. He has written six works such as “Popular Interpretation of Dao De Jing ”. Besides he wrote 80 pieces of odes and travel notes in classical Chinese. He has representative native odes (“Ode to Duqiao” and “Ode to Taizhou”), representative landscape odes (“Ode to Jiu Tai Gou”, “Ode to Holy Valley in Qiongtai” and “Ode to Eighteen Pools of Dragon-king”) and representative fruit odes (“Ode to Tangerine of Yongquan” and “Ode to Red Bayberry in Qingtan”; the latter is being monumentalized).