There's a long-established tourist attraction in Xiangxi, Hunan, that used to be quite popular. I visited during a National Day holiday and expected a lot of people, but it didn't seem to have improved much. "Photography, boat rides, and dining" have become their go-to activities.
There are actually quite a few cultural attractions here. It's said to be the hometown of Shen Congwen. The ancient town is free to enter, but only some attractions offer combined tickets. Without a travel guide, it seems easy to find the places. The night view is quite nice, with the core area being the stilt houses lining the river. While the night view is nice, it's quite homogenized. A new town, Furong, has been built in the same area to rival Fenghuang.
Objectively speaking, the cultural attractions here are good, with both history and scenery, but the constant stream of travel photography detracts from the experience. The local infrastructure hasn't improved much, and parking lots are all semi-private, so if you're not staying in a B&B, you might not even be able to get in. If you park on the roadside, you'll have to wait for the owner. Local restaurant owners won't let you park, and traffic police will just let you go. It's nothing compared to the county-level cities in Chongqing. It feels like the local bosses are the ones in charge. Upon entering the scenic area, you're either asked to take photos or board a boat, which is quite utilitarian. Miao costumes like these are everywhere in southeastern Chongqing and northeastern Guizhou, and I don't know who's actually taking pictures. Coming from a border town, this place is more commercial, probably even more so than Lijiang and Yangshuo. While the scenery is beautiful, the service is too utilitarian.