China Township offers rural living in a peaceful country setting
People who are looking to experience country life close to the St. Clair River in Michigan often move to China Township. Located between St. Clair and Marine City, China Township is home to several farms and ranches with miles of crops and open fields. “It’s a beautiful rural community,” says Linda Schweihofer, a local who has served as township supervisor for nearly 30 years. “Many people have chickens and smaller animals. They’re able to have horses, too, if they have enough acreage.” With recreational amenities, nearby rivers and houses of various styles and sizes, China Township is a quiet, easygoing community whose agricultural roots run deep.
A township park, golfing and rivers within walking distance
The Rattle Run Golf Club, located on the northwestern side of the township, features an 18-hole golf course, a pro shop, a driving range and a putting green. It also has a 4,000-square-foot clubhouse that can accommodate up to 100 people, along with a full-service bar and grill that serves sandwiches, salads and pizza. St. Clair Little League has nine diamonds for baseball and softball matches located north of Fred W. Moore Highway. The closest playground is at China Township Mitch & Rosella Yax Memorial Park, which also has sports fields for pickleball, soccer and baseball. Many enjoy canoeing and carp fishing at Belle River, which has an access point by King Road and flows southeast into the St. Clair River. “We’re very close to the river,” Schweihofer says. “All I have to do is go out my front yard, get on the road and start walking.”
Ranch-style homes, farms and cabins with acreage
China Township offers a mix of Cape Cod, Colonial and ranch-style homes spaced out along its rural roads. These often sell between $140,000 and $400,000, depending largely on the size of the home and property. Many lots have oak and pine trees, and larger properties sometimes have ponds and barns. A few contemporary, Victorian and larger split-level homes sell for between $400,000 and $800,000.
Two educational pathways through East China School District
Students in the township are zoned for East China School District, which has a virtual academy and a B on Niche. Palms and Belle River Elementary serve kindergarten through fifth-grade students and respectively earn a B and a B-minus. From there, students will move on either to St. Clair Middle or Marine City Middle School, both of which earn B ratings. B-rated St. Clair High School offers advanced placement courses, while Marine City High School offers STEM programs and earns a B-minus.
An interstate between Detroit and Port Huron
Residents in the township are car-dependent as there are no fixed-route bus services available in the community. Interstate 94 runs along China Township’s west side, making it easy for residents to drive less than 20 miles north to Port Huron or over 50 miles southwest to Detroit. The 24-hour Henry Ford Health River District Hospital is around 5 miles away in East China Township. Detroit Metropolitan Airport is over 65 miles away and has nonstop flights to more than 125 destinations on three continents.
Shopping and dining in St. Clair and Marine City
There are very few restaurants in the township proper. Lucky’s Market is a deli and beer shop that occasionally offers smoked salmon and whitefish specials. Helena’s Country Market serves homemade Polish cuisine such as pierogi, pork chops and golabki, and Tipper Farms offers fresh produce and pumpkins when they’re in season. Most residents will drive over 6 miles away for additional shopping and dining options in St. Clair and Marine City, with the closest grocery stores including Neiman’s Family Market and VG’s Grocery. “We’re close enough to some amenities, but we’re not sitting in a metropolis,” Schweihofer says. “If I want to go to a mall, I can get to one – I don’t necessarily need to have one in my backyard.”
Small events at the township hall and park
The community will occasionally host corn roasts at the township hall and car shows at the park. Locals also look forward to the annual Trunk or Treat event in October, which has hot dogs, candy and children’s activities, plus contests for the best costume and the best decorated vehicles.
