Introduction to Fenghuang Ancient Town, Xiangxi, Hunan
Introduction. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, Fenghuang in Xiangxi was "the land of the Miao and Man peoples of the Five Streams," belonging to the territory of the State of Chu. Through long historical evolution, Fenghuang in Xiangxi belonged to different counties and prefectures under various names, only finally being designated as Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in 1957. Fenghuang in Xiangxi is rich in natural resources, with boundless scenery of mountains, waters, and caves. Nanhua Mountain National...
This article has been compiled from historical materials in the "Zhangjiajie Tour Guide Network" (33519.com · City Overview section). Some administrative divisions, population, socioeconomic data, and policy information may be outdated and are for reference only; for the latest situation, please refer to official releases by the local government and scenic areas.
Introduction
During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, Fenghuang in Xiangxi was "the land of the Miao and Man of the Five Streams" and belonged to the territory of the State of Chu. Through the long course of historical evolution, Fenghuang in Xiangxi belonged to different counties and commanderies, and its name changed many times, until 1957 when it was finally established as the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, as it remains today.
Fenghuang in Xiangxi is rich in natural resources, with boundless scenery of mountains, waters and caves. Nanhuashan National Forest Park covers an area of more than 30,000 mu, with a beautiful ecological environment and a forest coverage rate of over 98 percent. There are more than 100 species of rare animals and plants, and everywhere is lush and green, with birdsong and fragrant flowers. Qiliang Cave is praised as the second wonder cave of China, combining the features of seclusion, wonder, beauty and steepness within its 12-kilometer length, mysterious and unpredictable, and captivating. The scenic Tunliang Mountain area with its charming scenery has mountains of a thousand shapes and cascading waterfalls like ten-thousand-foot hanging gauze. Scenic spots adorn the fantastically endless land of Fenghuang in Xiangxi, adding endless charm to it.
Fenghuang in Xiangxi has beautiful mountains and rivers, and is also a place that produces outstanding people. According to incomplete statistics, in the short 36 years from the 20th year of the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty (1840) to the first year of the Guangxu reign (1875), this place produced 20 provincial military commanders, 21 brigade generals, 43 deputy generals, 31 colonels, 73 guerrilla officers and other officers of the third rank and above. During the Republic of China period, Fenghuang in Xiangxi produced 7 lieutenant generals and 27 major generals. In contemporary times, Fenghuang in Xiangxi has brought forth a continuous stream of talent, including a group of generals, senior leading cadres, writers, calligraphers and painters, and arts and crafts masters. In particular, with the emergence of Xiong Xiling, the first democratically elected cabinet premier of the Republic of China, a statesman, philanthropist and educator; the famous writer and historian Shen Congwen; and the famous painter Huang Yongyu, Fenghuang in Xiangxi not only became famous throughout the country, but also gained worldwide renown.
The mountain city of Fenghuang nestles against the Tuo River, surrounded by mountains, with majestic and extraordinary passes. The mountains here are not high but are beautiful, and the waters are not deep but are clear. Peaks and ridges press close to one another, and rivers and streams wind around. The emerald-green river water winds past beneath the ancient city wall, and the green foothills of Nanhua Mountain are reflected in the middle of the river. A few fishing boats and pleasure boats dot the river, the evening drum and morning bell sound together among the mountains, and light smoke curls from the stilted houses along the riverbank, truly a unity of heaven and humanity.
The authentic Chu shaman culture, the uniquely charming Xiangxi Fenghuang local dialect, the distinctive Miao costumes, the eating habits of bitter, spicy, salty and sour, as well as the Nuo hall opera, a living fossil of primitive drama, the Yang opera full of local flavor, the Wencha lantern that gives off the fresh fragrance of the soil, and folk crafts of fresh and ancient style such as glass blowing painting, batik, paper binding and Miao silver ornaments, together form the uniquely characteristic ethnic and folk customs of Fenghuang in Xiangxi.
The ancient city of Fenghuang in Xiangxi currently has 68 cultural relic and ancient building sites, 116 ancient ruins, and more than 120 characteristic residential buildings of the Ming and Qing dynasties. There are also more than 20 ancient stone-slab streets from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The well-preserved Huangsiqiao Ancient City, the old county seat of the Tang Dynasty, is one of the most completely preserved stone cities in China. The Southern Great Wall of China, the "Xiangxi Border Wall," first built during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, has become a focus of attention both internationally and domestically.
The Origin of Fenghuang
During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, Fenghuang in Xiangxi was "the land of the Miao and Man of the Five Streams" and belonged to the territory of the State of Chu. Through the long course of historical evolution, Fenghuang in Xiangxi belonged to different counties and commanderies, and its name changed many times, until 1957 when it was finally established as the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, as it remains today.
Fenghuang Ancient City is a national historical and cultural city, and was once praised by the famous New Zealand writer Rewi Alley as the most beautiful small town in China. It is adjacent to Dehang Miao Village in Jishou, Mengdong River in Yongshun, and Mount Fanjing in Guizhou, and is a necessary route between the three places of Huaihua, Jishou and Tongren in Guizhou.
As a national historical and cultural city, Fenghuang's scenery organically blends natural and cultural qualities into one place, and the sense of weight seen through it may be precisely the essence of its charm that attracts visitors from all directions.
This "Fenghuang Ancient City," once called one of the most beautiful small towns in China by the New Zealand writer Rewi Alley, was built during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. This "pearl of Xiangxi" is truly "small," so small that within the city there is only one presentable east-west main street, yet it is a green corridor.
Origin
Legend says that after the divine bird "Phoenix" of Arabia (ancient India) reached five hundred years of age, it gathered fragrant wood and burned itself. It was reborn from the ashes, extraordinarily beautiful, and would never die again. This bird is the phoenix, king of the hundred birds of China. Southwest of Fenghuang there is a mountain that closely resembles a phoenix spreading its wings to fly, and so the place was named after it.
History
Fenghuang County has since ancient times been an area inhabited by the Miao and Tujia peoples. In the Ming Dynasty the Wuzhai Chief's Office was first established, and in the Qing Dynasty Fenghuang Hall was established, named after Fenghuang Mountain within its territory. In 1913 it was changed to Fenghuang County. In 2001, with the special approval of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, it became one of the national historical and cultural cities.
During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, Fenghuang was "the land of the Miao and Man of the Five Streams," and Fenghuang belonged to the territory of the State of Chu. According to research on cultural relics unearthed in the county, Han culture had already influenced this place at that time. When Qin unified the realm, it divided it into 36 commanderies, and Fenghuang then belonged to Qianzhong Commandery.
In the fifth year of Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty, Qianzhong Commandery was changed to Wuling Commandery. Therefore, during the Western Han and Eastern Han periods, Fenghuang was part of Chenyang County and belonged to Wuling Commandery.
During the Three Kingdoms period, Fenghuang first belonged to Chenyang County and Wuling Commandery, under Shu; later, after Liu Bei was defeated, Wu occupied the area, and Fenghuang still belonged to Wuling Commandery.
During the Western Jin, Fenghuang belonged to the territory of Tancheng County and was part of Wuling Commandery; during the Eastern Jin it was part of Wuyang County, also belonging to Wuling Commandery.
During the Northern and Southern Dynasties period, Fenghuang always belonged to Wuling Commandery.
When the Sui Dynasty unified the realm, Chenyang County was changed to Chenxi County. Fenghuang then belonged to Chenxi County, under the jurisdiction of Yuanling Commandery.
In the early Tang Dynasty it was the territory of Jinzhou. In the third year of Wude of Emperor Gaozu of Tang, Mayang County was established, and Fenghuang then belonged to Mayang County. In the third year of Chuigong of Empress Wu of Tang, Fenghuang was separated from Mayang County, and the following year Weiyang County was established, with the county seat at Huangsiqiao, which is today's Huangsiqiao Ancient City. Ancient Weiyang County belonged to Luyang Commandery of Jinzhou.
In the seventh year of Taiping Xingguo of Emperor Taizong of Song, Weiyang County was changed to Zhaoyu County. In the eighth year of Xining of Emperor Shenzong of Song, Zhaoyu County was abolished and Mayang County was reestablished, and Weiyang was again placed under Mayang County.
In the Yuan Dynasty the Wuzhai Office was established, under the Sizhou Pacification Office. This was the period of the tusi chieftain regime, governed by ruling figures of the county's ethnic minorities, and the Wuzhai Office was located in present-day Fenghuang county seat.
The Ming Dynasty inherited the Yuan system, establishing the Wuzhai Chief's Office and the Ganziping Chief's Office, both under the jurisdiction of the Baojing Xuanwei Office. In the third year of Yongle of the Ming Dynasty, the Ganziping Chief's Office was established, still under the jurisdiction of the Baojing Xuanwei Office. In the third year of Longqing of the Ming Dynasty, Fenghuang Camp was established at Fenghuang Mountain.
In the third year of Shunzhi of the Qing Dynasty, in order to suppress the Miao people, the Qing court adopted a series of military and political measures, establishing a Zhen'gan Assistant General at the Wuzhai Office. In the third year of Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, it became the seat of the Chen-Yuan-Yong-Jing Circuit. In the thirty-ninth year of Kangxi, the Yuanzhou Town Commander was moved to the Wuzhai Office city, and the Zhen'gan Assistant General was rotated to garrison Yuanzhou. In the forty-third year of Kangxi, as the Miao people submitted to governance, the tusi were abolished, and Fenghuang Camp was established at the present county seat, with a subprefect stationed at the original Fenghuang Camp site on Fenghuang Mountain. The subprefect was originally supposed to manage local administration, but at that time the tusi held great power, creating a situation in which both the native and circulating officials existed side by side. In the seventh year of Yongzheng, the Chen-Yuan-Yong-Jing Military Defense Circuit was established. In the first year of Qianlong, Yuanzhou was changed to a prefecture under military defense, and in the sixteenth year Fenghuang Camp was changed to Fenghuang Hall, with the subprefect promoted to assistant prefect. In the second year of Jiaqing, Fenghuang Hall was elevated to a directly administered hall, under the Hunan Provincial Administration Commission.
After the Revolution of 1911, the Qing Dynasty was overthrown, and on New Year's Day 1912, Fenghuang was restored.
In the ninth month of the second year of the Republic of China, Fenghuang Hall was abolished and changed into Fenghuang County, still the center of military and political rule in Xiangxi.
In 1949 Fenghuang County was liberated, initially under Yuanling Prefecture, in 1955 it was placed under the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region, and in 1957 it was changed to the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Region, as it remains to this day.
Architecture
Fenghuang Ancient City was first built in the forty-third year of Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty [1704], and after 300 years of wind and rain, its ancient appearance still remains. The ancient city towers of the East Gate and North Gate still stand. The bluestone-slab streets within the city, the wooden stilted houses by the river, and buildings such as Chaoyang Palace, Tianwang Temple, Dacheng Hall and Wanshou Palace all fully embody the characteristics of the ancient city.
Fenghuang Ancient City is divided into two districts, old and new. The old city nestles against the mountains and faces the water, with the shallow Tuo River passing through the city. The city wall built of red sandstone stands on the bank, and Nanhua Mountain sets off the ancient city towers. The towers are still from the Qing Dynasty, and from the rust-covered iron gates one can still make out their once-mighty appearance. Below the North Gate, across the broad river surface, lies a narrow wooden bridge with stone piers, so narrow that two people facing each other must turn sideways to pass. This was once the only passage out of the city.
Food
[Xiangxi Fenghuang Ginger Candy] Ginger candy is made by hand using a special formula. It originated in the Qing Dynasty and has a history of several hundred years. The main ingredients are: red and white granulated sugar, ginger, sesame, high-quality tea oil, mountain spring water and so on. This product is first-rate in quality and pure in taste, combining fragrance, crispness, sweetness and spiciness in one, with an endless aftertaste, and it also has the effects of warming the stomach, preventing and treating colds, stopping vomiting, relieving exterior symptoms, aiding digestion, relieving cough and reducing phlegm, and stimulating the appetite and promoting saliva...
[Fenghuang Blood Glutinous Rice Duck] Blood glutinous rice duck is one of the most distinctive local dishes of Fenghuang. In preparing it, top-grade glutinous rice that has been soaked in advance is placed in a bowl, and when the duck is slaughtered, the duck blood is dissolved into the glutinous rice and soaked evenly. After the duck blood coagulates, it is steamed, and after cooling, the blood glutinous rice is cut into small square pieces and then fried in rapeseed oil. When the duck meat is nine-tenths cooked, the blood glutinous rice is put into the duck meat to simmer, mixed with certain spices, until it turns golden yellow. The duck cooked with blood glutinous rice has both the fresh and rich flavor of duck meat and the delicate fragrance and soft glutinous texture of the blood glutinous rice. It tastes fragrant and rich, greatly increasing the appetite, and is truly a rare delicacy of the world.
[Stir-fried Fern with Last Year's Smoked Cured Meat] Smoked cured meat is a kind of dish commonly enjoyed by ordinary farming families. In the Tujia villages and Miao stockade villages of Fenghuang there is a custom of keeping last year's smoked cured meat, and cured meat is indeed a rare folk delicacy. Last year's cured meat refers to cured meat smoked and roasted in the current year that, after the Beginning of Spring, is taken down from the fire kang, washed of soot, wiped clean of oily dirt and grime, dried in a cool, windy place, and then placed well in the dry grain pile in the granary. Because grain absorbs moisture, when the cured meat is buried in the grain its moisture is absorbed clean by the grain, so it neither molds nor rots. When one wants to eat it, it is taken out from the grain, the smoky black coating is washed clean with boiling water, and it is steamed in a pot, cut into meat slices, and can be eaten dipped in oil chili liquid or cooked together with other green wild foods. The taste is very fragrant and delicious, and its nutritional value is very high. Eating last year's smoked cured meat helps strengthen the kidneys and tonify deficiency, and helps strengthen the stomach and free the intestines. It is an excellent delicacy for entertaining guests.
【Sour Soup with Tofu】 "If the Miao don't eat sour food, they'll stagger when they walk." This shows how important sour food is in the daily life and diet of the Miao people. Through long periods of war and frequent migrations, and because of their special historical circumstances, the Miao developed a custom of loving sour food. Cooking water tofu with pickled vegetables is a main dish of the Miao. It is simple to make yet endlessly flavorful. When preparing pickled vegetables with water tofu, the sour and salty flavors are well balanced; simmered a little longer, the taste becomes rich and savory, very appetizing to eat. Eating pickled vegetables with water tofu can strengthen the stomach, refresh the spirit, boost appetite, promote blood circulation, clear the stomach and aid digestion, and is good for health. It is a delicious dish served by the Miao of Fenghuang to honored guests.
【Miao-style Sour Fish】 In Miao villages, one of the most common and popular famous dishes is glutinous rice pickled sour fish. The skillful Miao girls and older women are experts at making glutinous rice sour fish. After the Start of Autumn, when the rice grains are forming in the high, cold mountain areas of the Miao ridges, the young Miao men catch basketfuls of lively, plump fish from the drained rice fields. After bringing them home, the housewives clean and prepare them, mix them with finely crushed glutinous rice flour, and place them in earthen jars to pickle. After a month, they can be taken out and eaten. Glutinous rice pickled sour fish can be eaten in several ways: stir-fried, deep-fried, fire-roasted or steamed, or stir-fried with red peppers, among others. But deep-frying is especially the best. Glutinous rice pickled sour fish is highly nutritious and is a superior delicacy served by the Miao to guests.
【Miao Fire-Roasted Foods】 Roasted ciba (glutinous rice cake):
A popular saying in Miao villages goes: "You may eat less meat, but you must not pound less ciba." After the ciba is pounded, it is placed in the main hall to dry. After ten days to half a month, the air-dried ciba is soaked in a wooden bucket or water vat, and it can be taken out whenever it is to be eaten. After soaking, the ciba is smooth and pure white. To eat it, place it in the fire pit and roast it over charcoal until it softens from the heat. After being roasted over charcoal, the ciba is both fragrant and chewy, with a pure taste, soft and clean. It is very tasty to eat. If the ciba is served with condiments such as honey or chili sauce, the flavor is even better.
【Farmhouse Vegetable Tofu】 Vegetable tofu is a common home-style and rustic dish of the Miao and Tujia people in Fenghuang County. After making tofu, the coarser remaining soy milk is kept, and when stir-frying it is usually cooked with cabbage. After the vegetable tofu is cooked, some pounded fire-roasted chili sauce is placed on top. It is fresh and tasty to eat, and is very beneficial for strengthening the body and stomach, promoting blood circulation, and speeding up digestion. Vegetable tofu is a famous dish commonly eaten by the Miao and Tujia, and can also be considered a delicacy.
【Sour Chili Stir-fried Shaluo Mushrooms】 In spring and summer after rain in the local area, a dark green ground mushroom—lichen (locally called shaluo mushroom)—grows on the rock walls of the mountain tops. After gathering, it is rinsed repeatedly with clean water several times. Then it is stir-fried until cooked with sour chilies pickled in a jar and garlic, and when taken out of the wok, a little chopped scallion is sprinkled on top to make a local specialty snack complete in color, aroma, and taste.
【Xiangxi Ciba】 The Tujia people have long had the saying, "On the twenty-eighth, pound the ciba." Whenever Spring Festival approaches, at the end of the twelfth lunar month, every household pounds glutinous rice ciba. According to local gazetteers: "Glutinous rice is pounded into a paste in a stone trough, then pressed into round shapes like a full moon. The large ones are 1 chi 5 in diameter, while ordinary ones are about 4 cun, and 3 to 8 fen thick." After the small ciba are made, the women who are the most skillful and best at making ciba make several large ones, weighing as little as three to five jin or as much as more than ten jin. These are called "breaking-the-basket ciba," symbolizing "an abundant harvest of all grains" and also showing the generosity of the Tujia people. Pounding glutinous rice ciba is a physically demanding task, generally done by young men. Two people stand facing each other, first kneading and then pounding, and even on icy and snowy days they work up a sweat. Making ciba is also very particular: the hands are coated with beeswax or tea oil, first the lumps are rolled, then pressed by hand or with a wooden board, and they must be made smooth and attractive.
【Xiangxi Cured Meat】 The Miao people have a habit of smoking cured meat from the previous year. Each year as the New Year approaches, after killing the New Year pig, the pork is cut into pieces of three to five jin, rubbed with salt and various spices, and pickled for three to five days. Once the salt and spices have penetrated the meat, it is strung with bamboo strips or rattan and hung over the fire pit to be slowly smoked dry. Well-smoked cured meat can generally be kept for more than half a year. If smoked with orange peel, the fat of the cured meat is red-tinged, bright red, with no soot visible, and the color looks even better. Before cooking the cured meat, it must be washed clean, boiled, steamed soft, and then sliced. It can be eaten directly dipped in sour soup with chilies, or stir-fried with condiments; the aroma is unique and the dish looks excellent as well.
【Fenghuang Pickled Radish】 The people of Fenghuang have a distinctive way of pickling radish. In the towns and countryside of Fenghuang, wherever people come and go, there will be stalls selling pickled sour radish. People of Fenghuang, regardless of gender or age, whether scholars or farmers, all like to eat pickled sour radish slices and sour radish stems dipped in bright red chili sauce. There are many methods for pickling sour radish, and each family has its own secret recipe, which they refuse to reveal to outsiders. Well-made pickled radish is sour with sweetness, sweet with fragrance, and with the added spiciness of chili, this flavor can only be tasted, not described.
Travel Taboos
1. Do not enter someone else's home with an open umbrella.
2. Do not casually step on other people's thresholds.
3. When visiting someone's home as a guest, men and women may not stay overnight in the same room.
4. When visiting a Miao home as a guest, do not step on their tripod, and do not sit in the main seat of the central hall (facing the shrine).
5. In Miao villages, try not to get too familiar with married women.
6. In Miao villages and Tujia mountain villages, do not whistle casually (it summons ghosts).
In addition, coins are not accepted within Fenghuang Ancient Town, so it is best to prepare some paper money before entering the ancient town.
Introduction to Scenic Spots
Boating on the Tuo River--
The Tuo River is the mother river of Fenghuang Ancient Town. It flows gently along the city wall, nurturing the sons and daughters of the ancient town for generations. Boarding a black-awning boat, listening to the boatman's work chants, and looking at the century-old Tujia stilted houses on both banks gives a uniquely charming experience. Going downstream and passing through the Rainbow Bridge, a picture of Jiangnan water towns unfolds before your eyes: Wanshou Palace, Wanming Pagoda, Duocui Tower... A feeling of being far from the mundane world arises spontaneously.
On the south bank of the Tuo River is the ancient city wall, built of purplish-red sandstone, elegant yet majestic. The wall has two gate towers, the East and North towers, which, having weathered many vicissitudes, remain magnificent.
The Tuo River is clear, and the channel by the city wall is very shallow, with a gentle, leisurely flow. You can see water plants swaying in the soft waves, and you can pole a long bamboo punt slowly upstream. The clusters of stilted houses built along the Tuo River, near the East Gate Rainbow Bridge and the North Gate Jumping Rock, stand spindly in the Tuo River like a landscape that will never return.
East Gate Tower--
The East Gate Tower is located in the east of the city, close to the Tuo River. Originally named "Shengheng Gate," it is one of the four great gates of Fenghuang Ancient Town.
The East Gate Tower was first built in the 54th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1715). The lower part of the gate is built of purplish-red sandstone, while the upper tower is built of ancient bricks. The gate is 3.5 meters wide and 4 meters high, in a semicircular arch. Both gate doors are wrapped in iron sheets and densely studded with round-headed iron nails, solid and sturdy. The city wall is built entirely of red sandstone blocks, finely cut and drilled to uniform specifications. The wall is 0.8 meters thick; the lower inner and outer sides are built of stone blocks with lime mortar, while the middle is filled with crushed stone and clay, compacted layer by layer. The filling at the top was changed to a three-in-one mixture of lime, pebbles, and loess, about 0.33 meters thick, topped with red sandstone blocks.
The tower is 11 meters high, with 8 embrasures above the main gate. It has a hip-and-gable roof with a waist eave and upturned flying eaves, exquisite and magnificent.
Former Residence of Shen Congwen--
Shen Congwen, originally named Shen Yuehuan, was a famous Chinese writer, historian, and cultural relics expert. His literary works have been translated into dozens of countries including Britain, the United States, Japan, France, and Switzerland, such as Border Town and A Study of Ancient Chinese Costume. He is hailed as the father of world regional literature.
He is not only the pride of the Chinese nation, but even more the pride of the people of Fenghuang. The more than 5 million words of works he created in his lifetime are a treasure of world literature and have also left valuable historical documents for later generations to study China and Xiangxi.
The former residence was first built in the 5th year of the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1866). It is a wooden courtyard house covering 600 square meters, divided into front and rear buildings with a total of 10 rooms. Mr. Shen was born here on December 28, 1902, and spent his childhood and youth here. In 1988, Mr. Shen died of illness in Beijing, and his ashes were buried at the foot of Tingtao Mountain in Fenghuang County. In the same year, the former residence underwent major repairs and was opened to visitors. It is now listed as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit.
Former Residence of Xiong Xiling--
The former residence of Xiong Xiling is located in a small alley on Wenxing Street in the north of the ancient town. Two hundred meters east of the residence is the beautiful Tuo River. The residence is a courtyard house in the ancient southern style with a wooden and tile structure. It is rather small but very refined. The four rooms still existing in the residence basically retain their original appearance and are rich in Miao flavor. The residence is a county-level key cultural relic protection unit.
On June 25, 1869 (lunar calendar), Mr. Xiong Xiling was born here and spent his childhood here. He was naturally intelligent and was called the "Hunan Prodigy." At fifteen he passed the imperial examination at the county level, at twenty-two he passed the provincial examination, and at twenty-five he passed the metropolitan examination, later being selected as a Hanlin scholar. In 1913 he was elected the first popularly elected Premier of the Republic of China. Because he opposed Yuan Shikai's restoration of the monarchy, he was soon forced to resign.
In his later years, Mr. Xiong devoted himself to charity and education, and in 1920 founded the famous Xiangshan Charity Kindergarten. On December 25, 1937, this man of the times passed away in Hong Kong at the age of 68. At that time the National Government held a state funeral for him.
Yang Family Ancestral Hall--
The Yang Family Ancestral Hall was first built in the 16th year of the Daoguang reign (1836). It is a wooden courtyard house with two stories, covering 770 square meters, composed of the main gate, stage, passage hall, side rooms, and main hall, forming a rectangular layout. The stage has a single-eave hip-and-gable roof, with ruyi-style bracket sets under the eaves. It is 16 meters high, and its four stage pillars are carved with dragons and phoenixes. The stage uses a through-tenon structure, while the main hall uses a raised-beam structure. The entire building is finely crafted and rich in ethnic characteristics. It is a county-level key cultural relic protection unit.
The Yang Family Ancestral Hall is located by the ancient city wall in the northeast of the county seat. It was built with donations from Yang Fang, Crown Prince's Junior Guardian, Marquis of Brave Valor, and Zhen'gan Commander-in-Chief, in the 16th year of the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty (1836). The ancestral hall is composed of the main gate, stage, passage pavilion, side rooms, main hall, and wing rooms, and is a typical courtyard-style building covering 770 square meters. The stage has a single-eave hip-and-gable roof and a through-tenon structure, 16 meters high, 7 meters wide, and 8 meters deep; under the eaves are jade-like bracket sets, and the stage pillars are carved with dragons and phoenixes. The main hall is a raised-beam structure, with cat-back arched gable walls, divided into three bays: one bright and two dark. Wing rooms are provided on both sides. The Yang Family Ancestral Hall is ingeniously designed and finely crafted. The windows, doors, and eave ornaments are all openwork carvings, and the overall building has distinctive ethnic characteristics and high architectural artistic value.
Southern Great Wall--
China's Southern Great Wall was first built in the 33rd year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1554 AD) and completed in the 3rd year of the Tianqi reign of the Ming Dynasty (1622 AD). The wall runs south from Tingzi Pass at the border with Tongren and north to Xique Camp in Jishou, with a total length of 382 li. It is called the "Ten-Thousand-Li Wall of the Miao Frontier" and is one of the ancient structures of massive scale in Chinese history.
Along the Southern Great Wall, border passes, military camps, and sentry posts were set up every three to five li to guard against Miao uprisings, such as Tingzi Pass, Wuchao Pass, Ala Pass, and Jingbian Pass. Today, along this line, watchtowers, artillery platforms, and border walls can still be faintly seen. It separated the Miao frontier of western Hunan into north and south. To the north was the "raw territory" of "uncivilized people," with the rule that "Miao shall not leave the frontier, and Han shall not enter the Miao villages," prohibiting trade and cultural exchanges between the Miao and Han.
The Southern Great Wall is a tangible historical and cultural relic. It embodies the characteristics of a dynasty, encompasses the political, economic, military, and cultural phenomena of that dynasty, and constructs the spiritual essence of that dynasty's methods of governance. It is vivid historical material for studying the conquest and rule of remote ethnic minorities during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Huangsiqiao Ancient Town--
The ancient city of Huangsiqiao is located 24 kilometers due west of the county seat. In ancient times it was called Weiyang City, first built in the second year of the Chuigong era of the Tang Dynasty (686 AD), and it has a history of more than 1,300 years. In the thirty-ninth year of the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty (1700), in order to pacify and suppress the ethnic minorities, the imperial court established here the Fenghuang Zhili Sub-prefecture and the Yuan-Yong-Jing Military Defense Circuit. In the fifty-ninth year of the Qianlong era (1794), the largest Miao uprising in history broke out here—historians call this uprising the Battle of the Mid-Qing, after which the Qing Dynasty headed toward decline. The ancient city of Huangsiqiao is part of the Southern Great Wall and was a frontline position in the conflict between the Miao and the Han.
The ancient city faces east with its back to the west and is a stone city built of bluestone. The stone materials used for the city walls are all large slabs of bluish limestone; the largest weighs about 2,000 jin, and the smaller ones still weigh over 1,000 jin. The stone surfaces are smooth and the craftsmanship is exquisite.
The city wall has a perimeter of 686 meters, measuring 153 meters from east to west and 190 meters from north to south, with a total area of 29,070 square meters. The wall is 5.6 meters high and 2.9 meters thick. The walkway on top of the wall is 2.4 meters wide, enough for horses to run. There are 300 crenellations of various sizes, and three gates open to the east, west, and north. In October 1983, the ancient city of Huangsiqiao was listed as a provincial-level key cultural relic protection unit.
Qiliang Cave--
Qiliang Cave is located four kilometers north of the county seat and is a typical carbonate rock cave. It is famous for four major features: wonder, elegance, vastness, and seclusion. The cave is more than 6,000 meters long and is divided into five major scenic areas: the Ancient Battlefield, the Gallery, Paradise, the Dragon Palace, and the Yin-Yang River. There are mountains within the cave and caves within the mountains, and all the caves are interconnected. It brings together fantastic rocks and ingenious stones, flowing springs and flying waterfalls in a single cave, and the thousands of stalagmites, stone pillars, and stalactites in every conceivable shape form one magnificent scroll after another.
A small stream flows through the cave. The current is gentle, and as the light falls on the rock walls, the wrinkled folds are reflected in the water, as dreamy and illusory as a fantasy.
Colorful neon lights shine on the stalagmites, stone curtains, and stone flowers in the cave, creating a world of dazzling splendor. Inside the cave there is a large hall, said to be a place where the Miao people gathered. In the hall stands a stone with a small hole; when one blows into the hole with a "wu wu" sound, the whole hall echoes with a deep horn call. This was how the Miao people of that time passed on orders.
Shanjiang Miao Village
Shanjiang Miao Village (also known as Zongbing Camp) is located in a valley 20 kilometers northwest of Fenghuang and is a small mountain village with a rich flavor of Miao life. In the Miao language, Shanjiang is called "Bagu," meaning Toad Cave, because there is a cave near the village with a great many toads, and so it got its name. The name Zongbing Camp comes from the fact that when the Qing Dynasty suppressed the Miao uprising, troops were stationed here and a zongbing (brigade-general) camp was set up. As for the name "Shanjiang," after Liberation a Shanjiang Reservoir was built on the mountain northwest of the village. The Miao village had suffered from a shortage of water, and after the reservoir was completed visitors came in droves, so people called "Bagu" Shanjiang, and over time the administrative name was accordingly changed to "Shanjiang." Shanjiang retains the old customs of the Miao family.
The dazzlingly bright Miao costumes, the uniquely charming gate-blocking wine, and the distinctive kagu drums, road-blocking songs, and bianbianchang market gatherings will make you feel refreshed and enchanted; there are also the traditional festivals—the moon-dancing and flower-dancing of the "Fourth Day of the Fourth Month," and the antiphonal mountain songs of the "Sixth Day of the Sixth Month"—which will stir your heart and leave you marveling in admiration.
Tuojiang Stilted Houses
The Tuo River is the mother river of Fenghuang. It flows gently along the city wall, nurturing the sons and daughters of the ancient city generation after generation. Boarding a black-awning boat, listening to the boatman's work chants, and gazing at the century-old Tujia stilted houses on both banks gives a quite distinctive charm.
Going downstream and passing through the Rainbow Bridge, a scroll of Jiangnan water-town scenery unfolds before your eyes: the Wanshou Palace, the Wanming Pagoda, the Duocui Tower... A feeling of being far from the mundane world arises spontaneously. On the south bank of the Tuo River is the ancient city wall, built of purplish-red sandstone, elegant yet still majestic. The wall has two gate towers, the East and the North, and though long weathered by time, they remain magnificent. The Tuo River water is clear, and the channel by the city wall is very shallow, with a leisurely, gentle current. You can see water plants swaying in the soft ripples, and you can pole a long bamboo punt slowly upstream.
The clusters of stilted houses built along the Tuo River are near the East Gate Rainbow Bridge and the North Gate Jumping Rock. Standing spindly on their slender legs in the Tuo River, they are like a landscape that will never return.
North Gate Ancient City Tower
The North Gate Ancient City Tower of Fenghuang Ancient City was first built in the Ming Dynasty. On the north side of Fenghuang, it is commonly known as the North Gate City Tower, and its original name was "Bihui." The North Gate Ancient City Tower was first built in the Ming Dynasty. In the Yuan and Ming dynasties, Fenghuang was the seat of the Wuzhai Chief's Office and had an earthen city. During the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty, the Zhen'gan Assistant Regional Commander was moved from Mayang to be stationed here for defense, and so in the thirty-fifth year of Jiajing (1556) the earthen city was rebuilt as a brick city, with four great gates opened, each covered with a tower.
By the Qing Dynasty, the ancient city's military status became increasingly important. Successively, the Fenghuang Sub-prefecture and the seat of the Zhen'gan Town Chen-Yuan-Yong-Jing Military Defense Circuit were established here, and the construction of the ancient city was also strengthened. In the fifty-fourth year of the Kangxi era (1715), the brick city was rebuilt as a stone city, and the North Gate was named "Bihui Gate," which has been preserved to this day. The North Gate Ancient City Tower is built of local red sandstone bars, with meticulous workmanship and fine carving. The gate opening is a half-moon arch and has two doors wrapped in iron sheeting. Large round-headed iron nails are densely riveted on them. The tower is built of blue bricks, with a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof, a post-and-lintel wooden structure, and a stone base with a rolled top. On the outward-facing side, the tower has two tiers of gun ports, four on each tier, capable of controlling a 180-degree field of fire outside the city gate. The North Gate Tower and the East Gate Tower are connected by the city wall. Facing the clear Tuo River in front, it served both a military defensive role and a flood-control function for the city, forming a solid barrier for the ancient city. Though it has gone through repeated wars, it still stands towering on the bank of the Tuo River.
Ticket Prices:
Fenghuang Eleven Scenic Sites Grand Package Ticket: includes the nine scenic sites inside the city and the two scenic sites outside the city, 226 yuan/person
Ticket for the Nine Scenic Sites inside Fenghuang Ancient City: 148 yuan/person. The nine scenic sites inside the city are: the first 5 scenic sites, the Rainbow Bridge Art Tower, Chongde Hall, Wanshou Palace, and the Ancient City Museum. The two scenic sites outside the city are the Southern Great Wall and Qiliang Cave.
Individual Scenic Site Tickets: Southern Great Wall Scenic Area: 45 yuan/person; Qiliang Cave Scenic Area: 60 yuan/person; Fenghuang Nine Scenic Sites + Miaorengu Miao Village Combined Ticket: 186 yuan/person
Tianxia Fenghuang Bonfire Evening Party: 188 yuan
Special Note: For the ticket to the nine scenic sites inside the city, even if you visit only one scenic site you still have to buy the nine-site ticket; the sites outside the city can be purchased separately.
Southern Great Wall 45 yuan/person; Qiliang Cave 60 yuan/person
Ticket Discount Policies:
Children 1.2–1.4 meters tall; students over 1.4 meters with a student ID; seniors over 65 with an ID card; disabled persons with a disability certificate: Eleven Scenic Sites 120 yuan/person; Nine Scenic Sites 80 yuan/person; Fenghuang Nine Scenic Sites + Miaorengu Miao Village Combined Ticket: 95 yuan/person
Children under 1.2 meters tall; seniors over 70 with an ID card; holders of a national press card: free
If you join a tour group, the ticket price will be refunded to the guest according to the discount, because travel agencies also buy tickets at a discount.
Famous Figures
The writer Shen Congwen;
The painter Huang Yongyu;
Xiong Xiling, Tian Shuxing, Zheng Guohong, Zeng Guofan
Xiao Jimei, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences...
Ethnic Minorities
Fenghuang Ancient City is a county where many ethnic groups live together, mainly composed of Miao, Tujia, Han, and Hui, as well as other ethnic groups who came to live in the county after Liberation when assigned to work here or for other reasons. Among them, the Miao, Tujia, and Han are the three main groups. The population of ethnic minorities such as Miao and Tujia is 280,000, accounting for 73.26% of the total population, while the Han population is 107,500, accounting for 27.74%. The Miao are the indigenous people of this county, and their distribution forms a pattern of large concentrations and small dispersions; the Tujia generally live mixed with the Han.
The Miao are the oldest ethnic group in Fenghuang Ancient City. In ancient times the Miao lived in the Yellow River basin. Their ancestor Chiyou once fought against the Yan-Huang tribes, and after defeat the Miao descendants retreated to the Jianghan and Dongting Lake areas and established the Sanmiao State. During the Shang and Zhou dynasties, Sanmiao was broken, and the Miao ancestors migrated to the "Five Streams" area of western Hunan, that is, present-day western Hunan and eastern Guizhou and other places, and from western Hunan they further migrated to various parts of the southwest. In ancient Chinese texts there are long-standing records of the Miao ancestors more than five thousand years ago—these were the clans and tribes known as the "Southern Barbarians" from the Yellow River basin all the way to the south of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. The Miao of western Hunan are mainly composed of the Gexiong and Geyi of the ancient Xiangdou tribe, fused with part of the ancestors of the two tribes Sanmiao and Panhu. The Miao have their own language, which is divided into three major dialects: western Hunan, eastern Guizhou, and Sichuan-Guizhou-Yunnan. Miao areas are mainly agricultural, with hunting as a supplement. The Miao's cross-stitch work, embroidery, brocade weaving, batik, paper-cutting, and ornament-making and other arts and crafts are magnificent and colorful, renowned at home and abroad. Among them, the Miao batik craft has a history of a thousand years. Miao costumes number more than 130 kinds and can compare with the costumes of any ethnic group in the world. The Miao are a people who can sing and dance well, and are especially famous for their love songs and drinking songs.
The Tujia have a long historical origin. According to research, the Tujia of Fenghuang Ancient City may be descendants of the Linjun Man Ba people. In ancient times the Tujia were distributed across the borders of the four provinces of Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan, and Guizhou, and always lived between the Yangtze River and the Yuan River, making them a relatively stable ethnic group. As an ethnic name, "Ba people" was once a unified entity of many tribes, and their ancestors are generally considered to be the "Southern Ape Man" of the Badong and Jianshi areas of present-day western Hubei and the "Changyang Man" of the Changyang area. According to Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian: Basic Annals of the Five Emperors, by the Han Dynasty they were called the Ba Commandery Southern Commandery Man, Wuling Man, Louzhong Man, Lishui Man, and Zhongmian Man (Tushan Man), and so on. In the Three Kingdoms, Western and Eastern Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties periods, they were called Wuxi Man, Xixi Man, Tianmen Man, Qianyang Man, Jianping Man, and so on. In the Sui Dynasty they were called "Yuezuo." In the Song Dynasty they were called the various Man of the North River. The History of Song: Biographies of the Man and Yi calls the people of the Man areas Tumin, Tuman, Tuguan, and so on. In the Ming and Qing dynasties they were called Tuyi, Tuman, and Tujia. Only in the late Ming and early Qing period did the Chinese terms "Tujia" and "Kejia" appear. The so-called "Tujia" is relative to "Kejia," and the so-called "Kejia" mainly refers to the Han. "Tujia" means "local people," while "Kejia" means "outsiders," and this only appeared after a relatively large number of Han moved into Tujia areas. Originally, the Tujia called themselves the "Bizi people," and the ancient Ba people also called themselves this way, but "Bizi" is not the same as "local people." "Bizi" is the self-designation of the Tujia and existed in ancient times, whereas "local people" is a Chinese term that appeared only after more Han moved into Tujia areas later on.
Fenghuang Ancient City - Traditional Festivals
Traditional festivals of Fenghuang Ancient City. The Dragon Boat Festival in the fifth month: every household wraps zongzi, and all units in the ancient city hold dragon boat races. The whole city turns out, dragons fight tigers, and the winners set off thunderous gongs and drums and endless firecrackers, while the losers naturally refuse to accept defeat and agree to come back next year. After the dragon boat race comes duck-catching; everyone goes into the water together, each showing their skills, refusing to yield to one another.
At the Mid-Autumn Festival in the eighth month, families reunite to eat mooncakes. Silvery moonlight spreads over the whole small town, and families gather together to share the joys of family life. Looking up at the moon, the moon is full and so are the people.
On the Double Ninth Festival in the ninth month, people climb high. The autumn air is crisp and refreshing; at this time purple ginger comes on the market, and duck tastes best. During the New Year there are lion dances, dragon lantern burnings, and firecrackers. At New Year, once midnight passes, every household sets off roaring firecrackers, lasting a full hour. On the first day of the New Year, the lions and dragon lanterns from every township come to the county town to pay New Year calls and perform, and all the townships compete uniformly to decide who is best, each bringing out its special skills, and it is extremely exciting.
Miao Market Day
When the Miao people of Fenghuang go to the Miao villages for market day, it is called 'ganchang.' A trip to Fenghuang without experiencing a market day doesn't really count as having been to Fenghuang. Not only is there an abundance of agricultural products at low prices, but all kinds of rare items with ethnic characteristics also appear from time to time — if you're lucky, you might even pick up a treasure or two. Moreover, the Miao town market is also a place where Miao girls compete in splendor; at a glance you'll see all kinds of ethnic costumes in a riot of colors, dazzling and vibrant. Township markets are held every five days, and there is one almost every day — don't miss it!
Liaojiaqiao
Market on the 3rd and 8th of the lunar month; Alaying: market on the 2nd and 7th of the lunar month
The largest market in the county, near the famous Huangsiqiao Ancient City and the newly discovered Southern Great Wall ruins.
Jixin
Market on the 5th and 10th of the lunar month
The second largest market in the county, with convenient transportation — the Jifeng Highway runs through the entire area.
Shanjiang
Market on the 3rd and 8th of the lunar month
La'ershan, a Miao market
Market on the 2nd and 7th of the lunar month, a Miao market
Heku
Market on the 1st and 6th of the lunar month, a Miao market
La'ershan, Heku, and Shanjiang are all Miao markets. Not only do people from nearby Miao villages come here for market day, but traders from Fenghuang, Jishou, Mayang, Songtao in Guizhou, Tongren, and Xiushan in Sichuan also come regularly to trade. It can truly be called 'three provinces trading at one market.' The variety of goods, the low prices, and the exquisite ethnic handicrafts are among the best of all the markets.
Fenghuang Ancient Town — Best Time to Visit
The best times to visit Fenghuang Ancient Town are:
April to October. (During this time the temperature is pleasant, around 25°C, suitable for travel.)
December to February. (This time is mainly for enjoying the snow scenery; temperatures are below 10°C, relatively cold.)
Transportation to Fenghuang Ancient Town from Across the Country
1. When coming to Fenghuang, you generally get off the train at Jishou Station. In the station square there are usually buses calling for passengers going to Fenghuang, with air conditioning, 15 yuan per person. You can also take a taxi (4 yuan per vehicle) to the South Bus Station, where there are air-conditioned shuttle buses departing every 20 minutes, 12 yuan per person. It's 52 kilometers along National Highway 209, taking 80 minutes to reach Fenghuang; the road conditions are fairly good.
2. From the direction of Wuhan, Shanghai, Kunming, or Chengdu, you can get off the train at Huaihua Station. Exit the station and take a taxi (4 yuan per vehicle) to the West Bus Station, where there are shuttle buses to Fenghuang, 22 yuan per person. It's 92 kilometers along National Highway 209, taking two and a half hours to reach Fenghuang.
3. Tongren Daxing (Fenghuang) Airport in Guizhou is 30 kilometers from Fenghuang. You can hire a car for pickup and drop-off, generally costing around 80 yuan.
4. Fenghuang county town is very small; generally you don't need to take a vehicle. Green taxis start at 2 yuan, and environmentally friendly electric shuttles cost 1 yuan per person. 5. Public restrooms in Fenghuang cost 1 yuan per person per use.
Buses from Jishou to Fenghuang depart every 20 minutes. The earliest departure is at 7:00 AM, and the latest is at 6:00 PM. The journey takes 90 minutes, and the fare is 12 yuan. Buses from Huaihua to Fenghuang depart every hour. The earliest departure is at 7:00 AM, and the latest is at 6:00 PM. The journey takes two and a half hours, and the fare is 22 yuan.
Travel Tips for Fenghuang Ancient Town
1. During golden weeks such as National Day and Spring Festival, it is advisable not to go to Fenghuang. At other times, it is suitable year-round, with spring and autumn being the best. Travelers with a romantic streak can visit Fenghuang Ancient Town in spring to enjoy the green mountains and clear waters, bathe in the natural ice-cold river pools of the Tuojiang River in midsummer, attend the Miao town 'bianbianchang' (a courtship gathering where young men and women express love) after the autumn harvest, or seek out the past along the cold, quiet flagstone streets of Fenghuang in deep winter.
2. The so-called eight major scenic spots in Fenghuang are nothing particularly special; it is recommended to simply walk around everywhere within Fenghuang Ancient Town. In addition, there are many fine Miao villages in the surrounding area that are worth visiting. Distinctive villages in Fenghuang include: Duoluo Village (Tujia), Shujiatang (Tujia), Longjiao (Miao village), Banjimen (Miao village), Laojia Village (Miao village), Huangmaoping (Miao village), Yingpan (Miao village), Shanjiang (Miao village)...
3. Taboos when traveling in Fenghuang: Do not enter someone's home carrying an open umbrella; do not step on other people's door thresholds casually; when staying as a guest in someone's home, men and women may not share a room; when visiting a Miao family, do not step on their tripod, and do not sit in the principal seat of the main hall (facing the shrine); in Miao villages, try not to get too familiar with married women; in Miao villages and Tujia mountain strongholds, do not whistle casually.
4. After getting off at the Fenghuang Bus Station, ignore the touts nearby and take a taxi directly to Hongqiao. Around Hongqiao there are guesthouses everywhere. In the off-season, you can go from one to another at leisure until you find one you're satisfied with.
5. From Jieyang to Fenghuang, you can take a train from Guangzhou. From Guangzhou to Jishou in Hunan takes about 16 hours, then from Jishou take a bus to Fenghuang, about 1.5 hours. Except on holidays and weekends, accommodation in Fenghuang Ancient Town is generally not tight. Tour groups usually stay in hotels, while independent travelers mostly stay in guesthouses in Fenghuang Ancient Town. The conditions of guesthouses in Fenghuang Ancient Town are limited; in all accommodation guides for Fenghuang, the guesthouses are generally only suitable for young people and students. Family guesthouses are very clean. By the river during peak tourist season, they cost 100 to 200 yuan; normally around 70 yuan. Guesthouses inside the ancient city wall but not by the river, with a private bathroom and air conditioning, cost 100 yuan per night for a standard room.
Transportation Details for Fenghuang Ancient Town
Fenghuang Ancient Town is located in the southwest of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in Hunan Province, bordering Songtao and Tongren counties of Guizhou Province to the west. Currently there is no airport or train station; the main access is by bus.
To reach Fenghuang Ancient Town by plane, you need to transfer at Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport or Guizhou Tongren Daxing Airport.
To reach Fenghuang Ancient Town by train, you need to transfer at Zhangjiajie, Jishou, Huaihua, or Tongren Station. Transfer details are as follows:
1. For those getting off at Jishou Railway Station: In the station square there are many buses calling for passengers going to Fenghuang Ancient Town, with air conditioning, 15-20 yuan per person, but these buses generally wait until full before departing. You can also take a taxi (5 yuan per vehicle) at the railway station to Jishou South Bus Station and take an air-conditioned shuttle bus to Fenghuang, departing every 15 minutes, 15 yuan per person. It's 52 kilometers along National Highway 209, taking about one and a half hours to reach Fenghuang Ancient Town Bus Station. After arriving, you can take a taxi or the ancient town bus to the ancient town or your pre-booked hotel (taxi starting fare 3 yuan, bus 1 yuan per person).
Chartering a car from Jishou Railway Station (taxi, can seat four people, can be chartered individually or shared with others) costs about 100 yuan per vehicle.
2. For those getting off at Huaihua Railway Station: Exit the railway station and take a taxi (4 yuan per vehicle) to the West Bus Station, where there are shuttle buses to Fenghuang, 30 yuan per person. It's 92 kilometers along National Highway 209, taking two and a half hours to reach Fenghuang.
3. Guizhou Tongren Daxing Airport is 30 kilometers from Fenghuang. You can hire a car for pickup and drop-off, generally costing around 100 yuan.
From Tongren to Fenghuang Ancient Town by bus costs 22 yuan per person, and you can arrive in Fenghuang in about one and a half hours.
4. Fenghuang Ancient Town is very small, so generally there is no need to take a vehicle. Green taxis start at 3 yuan, and the environmentally friendly battery-powered carts cost 1 yuan per person.
5. From Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang Ancient Town takes about four and a half hours, passing through Wangcun (Furong Town), Guzhang, and Jishou City before reaching Fenghuang.
There is a direct coach from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang, with one departure at 08:30 in the morning and one at 14:30 in the afternoon, with a ticket price of 60 yuan.
From Jishou to Fenghuang Ancient Town, buses run every 20 minutes, with the earliest departure at 7 a.m. and the latest at 18 p.m., taking one and a half hours, with a ticket price of 15 yuan.
From Huaihua to Fenghuang Ancient Town, buses run once an hour, with the earliest departure at 7 a.m. and the latest at 18 p.m., taking two and a half hours, with a ticket price of 33 yuan.
Since the official opening of the Changde–Jishou Expressway on December 18, 2008, the distance between this remote ancient town and the world has been greatly shortened. From the direction of Changsha to Fenghuang now takes only 5 hours, and there is no longer any need to detour through Zhangjiajie to reach Fenghuang Ancient Town.
External transportation:
1. When coming to Fenghuang from various places, you generally get off the train at Jishou Station. There are minibuses to Fenghuang at the train station square, with air conditioning, 10-12 yuan per person. Buses from Jishou to Fenghuang run from 6 AM to 8 PM, taking about 1 hour.
2. You can also take a taxi from Jishou Railway Station (about 4 yuan) to the South Bus Station and take a scheduled air-conditioned shuttle bus, which runs every 20 minutes, at 12 yuan per person. The entire journey is 52 kilometers along National Highway 209, and the road conditions are fairly good.
Internal transportation:
Fenghuang county town is very small, so generally you can just walk and do not need to take a vehicle. If you do take one, green taxis start at 3 yuan, and the environmentally friendly battery-powered carts cost 1 yuan per person.
Boat rides: There are private pleasure boats on Fenghuang's Hong Bridge or on the old street, priced at 10 yuan per person per ride. Bicycles: You can rent bicycles near Shen Congwen Square (that is, the county square) at places such as the "Pathfinder" bookstore. The price is about 15 yuan, and both single and tandem bikes are available.
Chartered vehicles: From Fenghuang to destinations such as the Southern Great Wall, Shanjiang, Banji, Huangsiqiao Ancient Town, Duluo Village, Shujiatang, and Tingziguan, if there are many people, you can charter a vehicle from the square in front of the long-distance bus station. Depending on the distance, each vehicle costs between 50 and 150 yuan.