Fenghuang Ancient Town
Hello, I am a travel blogger, and today I have exclusively customized a 【3 Days 2 Nights Slow Travel Guide to Fenghuang Ancient Town in Misty Xiangxi】 for you.
✨ Take you into the "Border Town" described by Shen Congwen, stroll along both banks of the Tuojiang River, wander through the cobblestone alleys, listen to Miao mountain songs, watch thousands of lights, drink a cup of ginger sugar tea in front of the stilted buildings, and spend 3 days and 2 nights living a "slow to the bone" life in Xiangxi!
📍 Theme: Millennia-old Ancient Town × Tuojiang Night View × Miao Ethnic Customs × Literary Sentiment
📅 Best Time: April to June / September to October (spring blossoms / crisp autumn, stunning night views)
💰 Suggested Budget: Within 1800 RMB (comfortable and economical, can be compressed to 1500 RMB)
🎯 Suitable for: Couples / Art Youth / Photography Enthusiasts / Solo Travelers ---
🎯 Budget Reference (per person):
- Transportation: 500 RMB (round-trip high-speed train/bus + local taxis)
- Accommodation: 600 RMB (2 nights, 300 RMB/night, river view room)
- Food: 400 RMB (about 130 RMB per day)
- Tickets + Experiences: 250 RMB (ancient town pass + must-do activities)
- Miscellaneous + Souvenirs: 50 RMB
✅ Total: about 1800 RMB
💡 If staying in a hostel/non-river view room, budget can be compressed to within 1500 RMB
📅 Itinerary: 3 Days 2 Nights · Poetic Slow Life in Fenghuang Ancient Town
🧭
1: Arrive in Fenghuang → Check in to stilted building → Stroll along Tuojiang River at night
🚄 Arrival options:
- High-speed train: Arrive at 【Jishou East Station】 → taxi/carpool to Fenghuang (about 1 hour, 80 RMB)
- Bus: From Changsha/Zhangjiajie → Fenghuang (about 4-5 hours, ticket 120 RMB)
- Self-driving: Navigate to "Fenghuang Ancient Town North Entrance," parking available (20 RMB/day)
📍 After entering the town, walk through 【North Gate City Tower】 or 【Nanhua Gate】
⚠️ Motor vehicles are prohibited inside the ancient town; light luggage is recommended
🏨 Recommended accommodation (must stay in river view stilted buildings!):
- 【Tuojiang Time · River View Homestay】|280 RMB/night (window faces water)
- 【Yunyin · Mountain House】|350 RMB/night (strong design sense, rooftop view)
- Budget option: 【Backpack Ten Years Youth Hostel】 bed|60 RMB/bed
🌤 Afternoon:
- Check in and rest briefly
- Stroll along both banks of the Tuojiang River: see red walls and black tiles, reflections of stilted buildings
- Check in at 【Tiaoyan】: two rows of stone piers crossing the river, local way to cross the river
- Walk 【Rainbow Bridge】: Ming Dynasty covered bridge across Tuojiang River, stunning night lights 🍽 Dinner: 【Drunken Xiangxi】 or 【Old Street Neighbors】
- Recommended dishes: blood rice duck, Miao sour soup fish, stir-fried cured meat with bracken, ginger sugar tea
- Per person: 60 RMB
🌙 The highlight of the evening! → At 20:00, promptly go to 【Nanhua Mountain Viewing Platform】 or near 【Wanming Tower】 → wait for the moment when 【Fenghuang Night View Lights Up】!
✨ Thousands of lights reflect on the Tuojiang River, like a starry river falling to earth → recommended to shoot a time-lapse video, your social media will explode with likes!
🌿
2: Deep Ancient Town Tour + Miao Village Experience Day
🎫 Ancient Town Pass (includes 9 major attractions): 148 RMB (student ticket 80 RMB)
📌 Optional attractions (recommend 4 highlights):
1. Shen Congwen Former Residence: childhood home of the literary master
2. Xiong Xiling Former Residence: mansion of the Republic of China premier
3. Yang Family Ancestral Hall: exquisite wood carvings, learn about clan culture
4. Chongde Hall: ancient house museum, see late Qing merchant life
🌤 Morning:
- Get up early to shoot 【Tuojiang Morning Mist】: arrive near Tiaoyan before 6:30, misty and picturesque
- Experience 【Tuojiang River Boating】 (bamboo raft/wu sail boat)|40 RMB/person
- Boat women sing Miao songs, shoot "people traveling in a painting" masterpieces
🏡 Lunch: 【Miao Family Kitchen】 or 【Tuojiang People’s Home】
- Recommended dishes: sour soup beef, sausage fried rice, rice tofu
- Per person: 50 RMB
🌤 Afternoon: Join 【One-day Miao Village Experience Tour】 (carpool round trip)
- Recommended: 【Shanjiang Miao Village】 or 【Laojia Village】 (non-commercialized, original ecology)
- Cost: about 120 RMB/person (includes transport + guide + Miao meal)
✨ Experience content:
- Wear Miao costumes for photos (silver jewelry + embroidered long skirt)
- Learn to play Miao drum, listen to mountain song duets
- Taste Miao cured meat, glutinous rice wine
- Learn about "corpse driving" and "witchcraft" folk stories
🌙 Evening:
- After returning to the ancient town, you can watch the 【"Border Town" live performance】 (regular seat 198 RMB, skip if budget is tight)
- Or listen to folk songs at riverside bars (recommended: 【Boundless】 or 【Waiting for the Wind and You】)
🛍 3: Off-the-beaten-path check-ins + souvenir shopping + return trip
🌤 Morning:
- Sleep in or get up early to shoot the river view again
- Check in at 【Wenxing Street】: artistic alley with handmade shops and cafes
- Visit 【Ancient Town Museum】 to learn about Xiangxi history (free)
- Buy souvenirs:
- Ginger sugar (freshly made and sold, 50 RMB/jin)
- Miao silver jewelry (choose small stalls, don’t believe "family heirloom" stories)
- Tie-dye fabric (Xilankapu patterns)
- Shen Congwen’s collected works (available at Xinhua Bookstore)
🏡 Lunch: 【Anniu Blood Rice Duck】 main store (local favorite)
- Per person: 65 RMB
🚗 After 14:00: Take taxi/carpool to Jishou East Station or bus station for return trip ---
📸 (Cinematic photo guide):
| Scene | Best Time | Shooting Tips |
| ------ | ---------- | ---------- |
| Tuojiang Night View | 20:00-21:00 | Phone night mode + tripod |
| Tiaoyan River Crossing | Daytime | Capture pedestrians in motion |
| Stilted Building Reflection | Morning mist/rain | Low angle close to water surface |
| Miao Costume | Good daylight | Shoot with backlight for hair glow |
| Rainbow Bridge Lights | Night | Long exposure for water light trails |
🍜 Must-try Food List:
| Food | Recommended Place | Per Person |
| ------ | -------- | ------ |
| Blood Rice Duck | Anniu Blood Rice Duck | 60 RMB/small portion |
| Sour Soup Fish | Miao Family Kitchen | 55 RMB |
| Stir-fried Cured Meat with Bracken | Old Street Neighbors | 40 RMB |
| Ginger Sugar | Liu’s Ginger Sugar (freshly made) | 20 RMB/bag |
| Rice Tofu | Street stalls | 10 RMB/bowl |
| Glutinous Rice Wine | Night market stalls | 15 RMB/pot |
---
💡
Money-saving tips:
1. Save on transportation:
- Jishou → Fenghuang carpool is most cost-effective (80 RMB/person)
- Walk everywhere inside the ancient town, wear comfortable shoes!
2. Accommodation tips:
- Book river view rooms 7 days in advance to avoid weekend price surges
- Non-holiday periods can find rooms on site
3. Pitfall warnings:
- Don’t take "free guided tours" by unofficial guides
- Confirm prices before shopping, ginger sugar is sold by weight
- Choose official docks for boating, avoid private boats
4. Clothing suggestions:
- Spring and autumn: light jacket + long skirt/Hanfu (great for photos)
- Summer: sun protection clothing + sun hat + mosquito repellent
- Winter: down jacket + scarf (windy by the river)
✨ Conclusion: In three days and two nights, you can hear the heartbeat in Shen Congwen’s words "I have crossed many bridges in many places, seen many clouds many times" in the shimmering waves of the Tuojiang River, drink a cup of hot ginger tea by the Miao hearth, listen to an ancient mountain song, and at that moment, you will understand—Fenghuang is not just a city, but the dream in your heart to slow down.
Follow my travel diary, next stop, I will take you to Fanjing Mountain to see the mushroom rocks, chase the sea of clouds in Zhangjiajie, and explore the Thousand-Household Miao Village in Qiandongnan! Fenghuang has been waiting for you for a thousand years, this time, don’t miss it again. 🌙🌉🚣♀️