Fenghuang Ancient City

Location
Fenghuang Ancient City is situated at the foot of mountains and beside Tuojiang River. It is a well-known historic and cultural city. It was ever praised as the most beautiful small city in China by Rewi Alley, a renowned author in New Zealand. It is next to Zhangjiajie, Jishou and Mengtong River of Yongshun. It has been put on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on March 28, 2008 in the Cultural category.

Mythology & Origin
“Feng Huang” is Chinese for phoenix. It’s said that every time when a phoenix dies at the age of 500 years old, its body will get on fire, through which it gains rebirth with a new life stronger than ever before. The endless rebirths give phoenix eternal life. The birds, Fenghuang, are mythological birds of China that reign over all other birds. Fenghuang ancient city was called Zhenggan in ancient time, located in the southwest of Hunan Province. It wins its fame for that there is a mountain in southwest, which looks like two of these fabulous birds flying up high. The Miao ethnic minority and Tujia ethnic minority are predominantly settled here and a visit to Miao Village is a must when going to Ancient Fenghuang Town. It was originally constructed in the early of Qing Dynasty and maintains its initial appearance after three hundred years of vicissitude.

The Outline of Ancient City
The town is located in the western border area of Hunan Province in a surrounding of outstanding natural beauty where mountains, waters and blue skies prevail. The ancient town covers an area of 1.8 km. There remain 20 ancient streets, dozens of ancient lanes and passages and over 200 ancient civil residences. Classical features can be found everywhere, including streets paved with bluestone blocks in the city, timber-frame stilted house at the riverside, ancient walls and buildings, temples of Ming and Qing dynasties with their imposing presence as usual, as well as the crystal-clear Tuojiang River peacefully flowing through the city.
Ancient Fenghuang Town is divided into two parts: the old town and the new town. The old one leans against hills and faces the Tuojiang River, encompassing 9 attractions, that is, the Former Residence of Shen Congwen, the Eastern Gate Tower, Yang Family Ancestral Hall, the Residence of Xiong Xiling, boating on the Tuojiang River, Rainbow Bridge Art Building, Chongde Hall , Wanshou (Longevity) Palace, Ancient City Museum. Outside the city there are the South Great Wall of China and Qiliang Cave.

Tuojiang River
Tuojiang River is called the mother river of the ancient Fenghuang town by local people. It runs slowly along the city walls, nurturing the people of the city for generations. You may lose in the scene when you get on board a boat with black awning, appreciating the landscape along the riverside, listening to the folk songs sang by local girls.
The Former Residence of Shen Congwen
Situated in the Zhongying Street, south of Fenghuang ancient city, the Former Residence of Shen Congwen is a typical spacious ancient courtyard with unique architectural style of Ming and Qing dynasties, with a history of more than 100 years. Shen Congwen, a noted litterateur and educator in China, was born and grew up in this house. Nowadays his residence is well-preserved and has become a famous sightseeing spot, displaying the calligraphy works, manuscripts, and the portrait of Shen Congwen. This house is a representative south Siheyuan, a brick-made bungalow built by Shen Hongfu, the grandfather of Shen Congwen. The courtyard is paved by red stone slabs with a water vat in the middle, which is surrounded by wooden houses. The former residence of Shen Congwen consists of 11 chambers, whose construction is in a modest size while of antique beauty, especially their delicately carved windows with distinctive Xiangxi characteristics.

Yang Family Ancestral Hall
Yang Family Ancestral Hall is near to the ancient wall of the northeast of the city. It was built in 1806. The wooden-structured courtyard is divided into two stories with an area of 770 square meters. It is rectangle-shaped, including gate, opera stage, corridor, aisle, and hall. The whole building is designed ingeniously and fine constructed with striking national characteristics and high art value of architecture. The decorations of windows, doors, eaves are pierced carved.

The Eastern Gate Tower
The Eastern Gate Tower is located in the east of the city, close to Tuojiang River. It used to be called Shengheng Gate, one of four gates of Fenghuang ancient city. The Eastern Gate Tower was initially built in the reign of Kangxi, 1715. The lower parts of the gate were made of purplish red gravel. While the upper part made of bricks. The gate is 3.5 meters wide, 4 meters high, semi-arch. The two gates are sturdy because they are wrapped with iron sheet and tightly nailed by round-headed nails. The walls are made of red gravel and fine built.
The Former Residence of Xiong Xiling
The former residence of Xiong Xiling is situated in a small lane of Northern Wenxing Street, 200 meters away from the beautiful Tuojiang River. The residence is a wooden and tile structured Siheyuan with an architectural style of Southern China, small but exquisite. At present, possessing Miao minority architectural features, the well-preserved four rooms are kept in the original state. They are important cultural heritage protection.

Wanming Tower
Wanming Tower is located on the north bank of Tuojiang River at the foot of Qinglong Mountain. It is 21 meters high. In the center of the river, there is a reflection of the tower, what’s more, these two towers, the reflection and the real tower form a grand scene to visitors. The tower used to burn incense and papers in the reign of Jiaqing, Qing Dynasty.

Stilted House
The stilted houses of Fenghuang ancient city are small but smart, like a girl gracefully standing on the riverside of Tuojiang River. They are one of ancient architectural building groups with strong national features. They have been a must to visit when visitors in Fenghuang ancient town.
The striking difference for Fenghuang ancient town among other historical and cultural towns across the country lies in the stilted houses standing thousands years. They were first constructed during Tang and Song dynasties. Till to Yuan Dynasty, they gradually came to be built in a large scale. The present stilted houses remain with an architectural style of Ming and Qing dynasties. The stilted houses are fruit of laboring people. In the process of history they stand for the essence of a regional nation; they are like a song or an epic recording the fall and rise of history, the stories of common people.

Rainbow Bridge Art Building
Rainbow Bridge has a history of more than 600 years, constructed in the reign of Hongwu, Ming Dynasty. It is located in the center of town. A typical covered bridge, the Rainbow Bridge has a bright-vermeil body. The building is the best place for visitors to appreciate landscape, savor tea, and play in the Tuojiang River.

The South Great Wall of China
The construction of the South Great Wall of China was commenced in 1554 and completed in 1622. It was started in Tingzi Pass in the south, Xiqueying in the city of Jishou in the north, with a total length of 190 kilometers. It was called the Great Wall of Miao Minority, and is one of the large-scale ancient projects in Chinese history.

The Qiliang Cave
Located 4 kilometers north of Fenghuang town, the Qiliang Cave is a typical carbonate cave. It is 6000 meters long, consisting of five scenic areas, i.e. the ancient battlefield, gallery, paradise, the dragon palace and the Yin-yang River. The mountain and caves are interconnected. The cave is an intergration of grotesque rocks, streams and waterfalls, which is made up scrolls of splendid pictures with stalagmites, stelae and stalactites in various forms.

Fenghuang Guide Map

Fenghuang Hotel