Orange Isle · History and Modern Times

In 1904, Changsha was forced to open as a treaty port, and the fate of Orange Isle changed accordingly. Japan and the United Kingdom successively built consulates on the isle. Within just a few decades after the opening, in addition to the Japanese and British consulates, nearly 20 public buildings and villa-style houses were constructed on the isle, including the Changsha Customs Tax Office, Changsha Salt Office, foreign trading companies, and churches. These buildings accounted for 40% of the total area of the isle. The blend of Western-style architecture and traditional Chinese residences made this place a unique junction of modern Sino-foreign exchange. Most of these old buildings, which witnessed the rise and fall of Changsha, have disappeared over the course of history. Today, only modern buildings such as the Mobil Trading Company and the old Customs Office remain, silently telling the story of that turbulent history. The Mobil Trading Company (Photos 1-4), built in 1924, mainly dealt in "foreign oil" and is a two-story American-style building. It faces north to south, with a red brick and wood structure, a hip-and-gable roof covered with large red tiles, and a chimney rising from the fireplace. It is a blend of Chinese and Western styles and is one of the best-preserved modern buildings on Orange Isle. After restoration, the old site has now been transformed into the Lezhi Bookstore. The area surrounding the Mobil Trading Company serves as a Wedding Garden, providing fashionable and romantic couples with a place to take wedding photos and hold outdoor weddings (Photos 5-12). Photos 13-14 show the view eastward from the center of Orange Isle toward the tall buildings of Changsha city. Photo 13 features the Orange Isle Bridge spanning the Xiang River.