The mandarin orange from Huangyan district, Taizhou in East China's Zhejiang province, enjoys a reputation as one of the tastiest fruits in China. [Photo/taizhou.com.cn]

Taizhou in East China's Zhejiang province is renowned for its oranges, namely Huangyan mandarin oranges and Yongquan sweet oranges. In early autumn, these succulent delicacies are sought after for their fragrant scent and sweetly sour juice.

Oranges in Taizhou usually hit the market in mid to late October, and the early-ripe variety in mid-September. The early-ripe oranges of Gongchuan have a juicy interior, irresistible tenderness, and peel so thin that it doesn't even need to be removed before eating.

Yu Xian'ou, director of Zhejiang Yu's Citrus Professional Cooperatives, has a Gongchuan early-ripe orange cultivation area spanning about 500 mu (33.33 hectares) and an annual yield of 800,000 jin (400,000 kilograms), which generates nearly 1.5 million yuan ($210,296) each year.