If you love travelling to the ancient scenic towns, exploring countryside, checking out authentic Chinese food, and blah blah; Fenghuang (凤凰, fènghuáng) would amaze you! Welcome to the Fenghuang county (Hunan province of China). Nothing less than a paradise! I have been to 37 Chinese cities so far, and I have seen almost all types of big and small Chinese cities, but what I felt in Fenghuang was totally different. Absolutely incredible!
In fact, this is the place to experience a real Chinese countryside with a tranquil and amazing laid-back vibe. As such, there are so many scenic villages and towns in China (such as Xidi and Hongcun). However, Fenghuang has its own exhilarating charm. Therefore, I’m dedicating this blog-post to share my travel memories of Fenghuang.
Be informed that this was my trip from Suzhou in March-2019 and I visited quite a few other provincial cities as well, including Yueyang city, Changsha, Nanyue and Zhangjiajie.
Fenghuang city brief
Fenghuang is a scenic resort town situated along the Tuo River (沱江) in the western part of Hunan province. In English, the county is also known as Phoenix Ancient Town.
In Chinese culture, the word ‘Fenghuang’ represents a mythical bird for good omen and longevity. According to the legends, the bird is supposed to be consumed by fire and it is re-born from the flames. The town is so named as the legend has it that in the ancient times, two Fenghuang birds came to the town and impressed by the natural beauty, they decided to never leave.
Getting to Fenghuang – railway stations
You can conveniently get to the town either by the buses or trains. Keep in mind that train stations are located slightly far from the scenic town. The nearest railway stations are-
- New Fenghuang Railway Station (新凤凰站),
- Mayang Railway Station (麻阳站).
During my March trip, I took an overnight train from Changsha to Mayang. Then I took a bus from Mayang to Fenghuang bus station (RMB 20). Fenghuang’s bus station is located very close to the resort town.
While departing from Fenghuang, I took a bus to Zhangjiajie.
Fenghuang transportation
The resort town is not too big and it’s perfectly a pleasant experience to just stroll around. If you wish to explore the travel attractions and other places slightly away from the riverside, you can ride the local bus (or taxi). A knowledge of navigating with the Baidu Map would definitely help you.
Fenghuang Hotels and accommodations
Well, there are a good number of Hotels close to the riverside. In fact, the accommodations are not all that expensive. I was staying at the Rose Courtyard, very close to the scenic area. It’d cost me RMB 98/night for an air-conditioned room.
The Rose Courtyard’s owner is very friendly and his little daughter is so cute (though she hardly cared about me 🙂 ). I would rate the Rose Courtyard accommodation 5-star if they had provided a lift.
Fenghuang weather
The weather in Fenghuang was really-really nice in mid-March. It didn’t rain and the midday temperature hovered around 15’C.
Top things to do in Fenghuang city, Hunan province
Let me quickly summarize some of the top things to do in Fenghuang county.
Buy the Combination ticket
You can buy the combination or through ticket (通票), that allows entry to multiple places. The prices for a single ticket varies around RMB 100-170, depending on how many places you want to visit. The ticket may be valid for 2-3 days.
If you buy the combination ticket at the North Gate, you get a free boat ride into the river (on to the Wenshu temple). If you buy the ticket elsewhere, you still get the free ride, but you may have to haggle.
Top Fenghuang travel attractions
Here is the list of Fenghuang’s top attraction, most of them could be included in the combination ticket (and some are free as well)-
- East Gate Tower (东门城楼, Baidu: 凤凰古城东门城楼);
- Hong (Rainbow) Bridge (虹桥). Free;
- Former Home of Shen Congwen (沈从文故居);
- Wanshou Temple (万寿宫);
- Gucheng Museum (古城博物馆);
- Queen of Heaven Temple (天后宫, Baidu: 杨家祠堂). Free;
- Yang Family Ancestral Hall (杨家祠堂);
- Chongde Hall (崇德堂);
- The Southern Great Wall (南方长城).
Fenghuang nightlife
The nightlife scene in Fenghuang is definitely worth checking out. The whole riverside area is well illuminated with the lightings. The streets are full of vendors selling the local Chinese food and drinks. In fact, in Fenghuang you’ll be able to find food from all parts China, including the famous Chongqing Hotpot. The prices are quite reasonable.
There are Karaokes, bars, and clubs, you name it! The music can be quite loud in some of the bars. For RMB 25, you’ll be able to buy a 350ml beer at most of the bars, but it is much cheaper in the traditional local shops.
In summary, Fenghuang is a must visit resort town. If you are travelling to Hunan province, Fenghuang is definitely worth checking out. Spending a couple of days in the ancient town is highly recommended.
That’s all in this post about traveling and top thing to do in Fenghuang city. If you have any question about traveling, living or working in China, do let me know in the comments! Feel free to post in our forum so that others could also contribute and learn. For regular updates like us on Facebook, or follow on Twitter!
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Wish you a great time exploring Fenghuang!
Cheers!
Last updated: Thursday, May 30, 2019