Skip to main content

China Attractions

Fenghuang Ancient Town Travel Tips

Fenghuang is a small county in West Hunan Province, which is famous for Fenghuang Ancient Town. Fenghuang Ancient Town attracts many tourists for a visit every year with its pretty view and unique ethnic customs.

When is the best time to visit Fenghuang Ancient Town?

...

Fenghuang is a small county in West Hunan Province, which is famous for Fenghuang Ancient Town. Fenghuang Ancient Town attracts many tourists for a visit every year with its pretty view and unique ethnic customs.

When is the best time to visit Fenghuang Ancient Town?

Fenghuang has distinct seasons, but it is suitable to visit all the year round because tourists could have different experience in different seasons.

Spring: The temperature in spring is about 20℃ and it is always a fine day in Fenghuang. All the plants turns green and flowers are blooming. Tourists could the most beautiful view of Tuojiang River with morning mist in the early morning.

Summer: Summer is the high season. There will be too many tourists traveling to Fenghuang Ancient Town. It is the most crowded season for this small town. It is noisy at the bank of Tuojiang River with singing in the bars or the streets. The bar street is always packed with crowds. If you like hustle and bustle, you could choose to visit in this season. But if you prefer tranquil ancient town, we do not suggest you travel to Fenghuang in summer.

Autumn: It is a harvest season, when the temperature drops. Tourists will have a different experience if they could catch up with the Catch Autumn Festive in this area at the beginning of autumn.

Winter: The ancient town in snow is beautiful. If you could accept the cold weather in Southern China, you could choose this season.

Is there any bank for me to withdraw money?

Tourists do not need to bring too much cash for safety when they travel to Fenghuang. Although it is a small town, there are a lots of banks, such as China Construction Bank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China Postal Savings Bank, Agricultural Bank of China, ect, which also have ATM in the downtown of the bank itself. Tourist could only prepare a UnionPay bank card before the tour. Then withdraw necessary money in Fenghuang.

But tourists need to know that only some large hotels, shopping center or entertainment places are installed POS machine for payment, all the guesthouses, inns or small hotels do not accept payment by UnionPay card or credit card.

Besides, tourists could know coins are not acceptable in Fenghuang. Therefore, please prepare enough banknotes when you travel in this area.

How to prepare a Fenghuang Tour?

Generally speaking, one day and one night in Fenghuang is enough. If possible, we suggest tourists to arrive at Fenghuang Ancient Town at noon time or in the afternoon of the 1st day. In this case, tourist could walk around the ancient town and have enough time to enjoy the nice night view of the town and Tuojiang River.

Next morning, you could get up early, to view and take beautiful pictures of Tuojiang River. After that, if you time is enough, you could take a half day tour to visit a nearby Miao Village, although it is not that necessary. Then take the afternoon transportation for departure.

What else should I pay attention to when I travel to Fenghuang?

1.Please prepare enough banknotes when you travel to Fenghuang as coins are not acceptable.

2.Prepare an umbrella in case of rain

3.The internet is available in some hotels or inns in the ancient town. Besides, there are cybercafes in the town.

4.If you have several devices which needs to charge or you need to charge the batteries more frequently, we suggest you bring a small plugboard as there are usually few outlets in the room of guesthouse or inn.

5.Do not believe anyone who are trying to recommend a guesthouse, inn or tours to you enthusiastically at the bus station and taxi stops.

6.Be careful with your belongings while you are strolling in the bustling street.

7.The toilet in Fenghuang is not free, but at CNY1 per person per time.

8.Look at your money more carefully when you are buying to avoid your notes changed to counterfeit money quickly by the payee.

9.There are many Miao ethnic village in Fenghuang. Some are good for a visit, but some are not worth for a visit, although most of them do not keep the original minority features. If you do hope to visit a Miao village, we suggest to choose one of those villages recommended by the local tourism bureau.

Yueyang Pavilion

The Yueyang Pavilion is an ancient architectural treasure which is located on the shores of Dongting Lake in Yueyang City, Hunan Province. It is one of four famous Chinese pavilions. The other three are the Tengwang Pavilion in Hubei Province, the Yellow Crane Tower in Jiangxi Province and the Pe...

The Yueyang Pavilion is an ancient architectural treasure which is located on the shores of Dongting Lake in Yueyang City, Hunan Province. It is one of four famous Chinese pavilions. The other three are the Tengwang Pavilion in Hubei Province, the Yellow Crane Tower in Jiangxi Province and the Penglai Pavilion in Shandong Province.

The Yueyang Pavilion is a three storey, rectangular building which reaches 15 meters (about 49 feet) high and is constructed entirely from wood. Surprisingly, no nails or beams have been used in its construction. This is a rare feature in classical architecture. Pillars have been included in the construction to ensure the strength of the building. Four pillars made of 'Nanmu' wood support the entire pavilion; twelve pillars of catalpa wood support the eaves of the first storey and a further twelve pillars have been included to support the second storey. The roof is built using unusual curved lines which are similar to the shape of a helmet used by a knight of ancient times.

Seen from a distance, the Yueyang Pavilion seems like a giant bird which is in flight. The red building with its yellow glazed roof tiles is a splendid and colorful sight. Views here are spectacular. You will see the pavilion glowing in the sunshine together with the drifting clouds as reflections on the glimmering surface of the Dongting Lake. You will also see the white sails of passing boats contrasting with the blue sky. Couplets and carved screens are hung on the wall inside the building providing the visitors with the history of this pavilion.

The age of the pavilion is disputed. However, it is generally believed that it was built more than 1,700 years ago. During the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280) the rudimentary form of the building was that of a parade (ceremonial) pavilion. During the Western Jin (265-316) and the Northern and Southern Dynasties (386-589), it was used by the military with the name of 'Baling Tower'. It was not until the Tang Dynasty that it was renamed as the Yueyang Pavilion. The pavilion was damaged in the chaos of wars and was rebuilt in the Song Dynasty (960-1127). Since then, it has become a tourist attraction and a place of inspiration for both poets and writers. It was made very famous during the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) by the works of Fan Zhongyan who was a great politician and writer.


Admission Fee:  CNY 80
Opening Hours:  07:00 to 18:30 (May 1 to September 30)
07:30 to 18:00 (October 1 to April 30)
Bus Route:  take bus no. 10, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 31, 50, tourism bus line 2 and 15, and get off at Yueyanglou Park Station.

Brief introduction for the Ancient Town of Fenghuang

  The ancient town of Fenghuang is located in the southwest part of the western Hunan Autonomous Prefecture. It is named so because one of the mountain is shaped like a flying phoenix which in Chinese is called Fenghuang. Fenghuang ancient town has a history of ...

  The ancient town of Fenghuang is located in the southwest part of the western Hunan Autonomous Prefecture. It is named so because one of the mountain is shaped like a flying phoenix which in Chinese is called Fenghuang. Fenghuang ancient town has a history of over one thousand years. It is surrounded by mountains and Tuojiang River runs through.

  Since ancient times, Fenghuang ancient city has been inhabited by Miao and Tujia people with a total area of 1759 square kilometers.

  Its history can be dated back to Ming dynasty. At that time, it was built as Wuzai Chief Division. Latter in Qing dynasty, it was known as Phoenix Division. In 1913 it changed its name into Fenghuang County. The typical ancient southern architectural style makes it unique. Fenghuang is famous for its description in Shen Congwen’s novel “The Border Town”, which depicted a vivid picture of Western Hunan. The New Zealand writer Louise Rewi Ally also names it one of the most beautiful town in China. In 2001, it was listed as one of the national historical and cultural cities by the Sate Council.

  The beautiful scenery contributed to the birth of genius. According to statistics, from 1840 to 1875, during 36 years, there were more than 110 provincial chief commanders, so on. After the Republic of China, a group of great men were born here. They are Xiong Xilin, who was the first prime minister, as well as politician state men, educationalist and philanthropist, Shen Congwen, a famous writer who twice won the nomination of the Nobel Prize in Literature for his masterpiece of “The Border Town”, Huang Yongyu, the outstanding artist, especially good at drawing Lotus flower. Fenghuang Stars to the world.

  There are four Fenghuang Cities in the world, wandering in Shen Congwen’ work The Border Town, plunging into the painting Lotus of Huang Yongyu, evading in the back basket of Song Zuying, the last walking in the travels of Rewi Alley.

  The small city is full of Paul Simon affection voice—The Scarborough Fair, following with his old guitar. The little girl with a basket full of colorful flowers is hawking for sale. Every street smells the faint scent. Fenghuang City becomes a big garland. She has forgotten completely that once she was called as Widows City. More than7000 Miao men went to Jiashan, Zhejiang Province to resist the Japanese aggression in 1937. The force is called Division 128. That mutilated commander was Gu Jiaqi, a local Fenghuang citizen. He commanded this powerful army and attacked the enemy tens of thousands miles away, but he also kneed down at Hongqiao crying for his dead fellows and 7000 young wives and old mothers. In that winter mourning apparels and paper flowers filled the city together with the snow. They were as white as the Wild Chrysanthemum which that little girl is selling.

China Articles

Top China Tours

$238 Per Day

Private Hangzhou Day Trip from Shanghai by Bullet Train

Take in the highlights of beautiful Hangzhou on a private full-day tour from Shanghai. After hotel pickup and transfer by high-speed train to Hangzhou, your private guide takes you to see some city attractions, such as Faxi temple. Moreover, enjoy a tasty lunch at a local restaurant before heading to Longjing village. There, learn about the process of farming and producing dragonwell tea, the region’s most famous product. Finally, enjoy a scenic boat cruise on UNESCO World Heritage-listed West Lake before returning to Shanghai.

This is a private, full-day trip from Shanghai to Hangzhou. After you are picked up in your hotel lobby in the early morning, you will take a bullet train to Hangzhou. This is the fastest way to Hangzhou and you can experience train speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour. Your tour begins at one of Hangzhou's signature sites, the West Lake. Enjoy a lake cruise to see the top ten West Lake scenic views. You will then be taken to experience the wonderful cuisine of Hangzhou at a local restaurant. After lunch, you will visit Faxi temple, a well-known Temple dating back to the Jin Dynasty. See its famous wooden Buddha. Here, you will see fewer tourists and more locals. Finally, enjoy a cup of green tea when you visit the famous Longjing village to see wild fields of Longjing tea bushes where the locals produce the world famous green tea- Longjing Tea. In the village, all locals are tea farmers and you will see the entire procedure of making the famous tea and will get the chance to taste the best quality emperor tea. Afterwards, you will take the bullet train back to Shanghai and you will be returned to your hotel.


$150 Per Day

Guangzhou

Day 1 Arrive in Guangzhou

Arrive in Guangzhou in the morning, you will be met and transferred to hotel, then visit Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. The Memorial Hall is a very famous historical scenic spot. It is in memory of Sun Yat-sen, the great revolutionary forerunner. After that proceed to visit the Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family. It is a unique site for offering up sacrifices to worship ancestors of 72 Chen families in Guangdong. This ancestral temple is also the largest, best preserved and best decorated ancient architecture existing in Guangdong province.

Day 2 Guanzhou Tour 

After breakfast, you will go to Yuexiu Park first, the largest and the most famous park in downtown Guangzhou. There are three artificial lakes and seven hills of Yuexiu Mountain. Then you will visit Temple of Six Banyan Trees, which is one of the four best Buddhist temples in Guangzhou and located on the Liurong Road (meaning the Six Banyan Trees Road). The Nanyue King Tomb Museum is a must-see Guangzhou attraction, which dates back to 2,000 years ago, is the earliest large scale painted stone chamber tomb ever found south of the Five Ridges. Buried with the tomb owner in a jade shroud are a gold seal and a lot of exquisite jade adornments. It has become a world famous museum. After the day tour you will be transferred to airport for your next destination.

$53 Per Day

Pingyao Highlights Walking Tour

Pingyao Highlights Walking Day Tour

With our guide to know the Ancient Pingyao better!

Our guide will meet you at your hotel lobby at 08:00 or 08:30, then show you the ticket office to get the ticket for the museums we will visit later.

First we will visit the 700 years old City wall, We will climb up from south gate and have a walk on the wall. We are not sure how many km we can walk, because of the renovating of the wall. Normally we will walk from south gate to the Yunlu Exit.

Then visit the Confucius temple, there is a old building named Dacheng Hall which is over 840 years old. From outside, we can see the big wood joints to lift the big roof around the building which is named Dougong. Due to this design, there are less columns inside the hall for giving the big space for the statues and the prayer. We have chance to see the Confucius statue and learn the philosophy of Confucius. If you like, you can pray for you and your children to get better study.

There is the Paper Cutting master named Wentao nearby the exit of Confucius temple. She is very smart and create the new style paper cutting with much more details and good wishes on it. Her products are made by hanks. It is worth to visit and buy as a souvenir from Pingyao. From the table standing and wall hangings. Please remember, take the red one because of red is the traditional and happy color. But the white one is the best. It is really difficult to choose, because of all of them are really nice.

Then you can have coffee break or tea break if you need at Chummy coffee, after this, visit the City god temple (ChenghuangMiao) which is most beautiful temple inside the wall. Because of the roof is covered by the colorful glazed tiles. There is not only city god and also the three money gods, Now you know why pingyao was the financial center.

Next we will visit the Ancient government building, to see the pingyao politics center in the ancient time. It is the complete building with officials bed room, kitchen and private garden. Follow the guide to look the official’s life from the 250km far away from the hometown.

Have a stroll in the alley to the Rishengchang exchange bank, which is the first bank all of china.You can not miss it.

After lunch, walk to the Ming and Qing street, this is the shopping street full of the stores on the both side of street. You can find alot things here , from post card to lacquered boxes, and wall panels. One more place to see, it is the Armed escort agency also named security and transport service for the business man before the bank founded.

Inlcusions

1.private english speaking tour guide servcie

2.bottle water for the tour