Phoenix Ancient Town — The Most Beautiful Small Town in China

凤凰古城 — 中国最美丽的小城

Documentary

Rating

4.8 / 10

Year

2025

Status

Completed

Views

Synopsis

Fenghuang Ancient Town is located in Xiangxi, Hunan Province. It is a national historical and cultural city and a 5A-level scenic area, renowned for Shen Congwen's "Border Town" and acclaimed as the most beautiful small town in China.

Overview

Fenghuang Ancient Town is located in Fenghuang County, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan Province. It was first built in the 43rd year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty (1704 AD) and has preserved its ancient appearance through over 300 years of history. The town is composed of 28 ethnic groups including the Miao, Han, and Tujia peoples, making it a typical multi-ethnic settlement area.

Fenghuang Ancient Town was praised by the renowned New Zealand writer Rewi Alley as "the most beautiful small town in China." It is also a National 5A-level Tourist Attraction and a Famous Historical and Cultural City of China. Its fame was further boosted by being the hometown of the famous writer Shen Congwen and a filming location for the movie Border Town.

History and Architecture

Fenghuang Ancient Town was founded in 1704 and has a history of over 300 years. To the southwest of the town, there is a mountain resembling a phoenix spreading its wings to fly, which is how the town got its name (Fenghuang means phoenix).

The well-preserved ancient architectural complex within the town includes bluestone slab streets, riverside stilted houses (Diaojiaolou), Chaoyang Palace, and the Ancient Town Museum. The ancient city gates at the East Gate and North Gate still stand today, bearing witness to centuries of history. The stilted houses are the most distinctive architectural form in Fenghuang Ancient Town. Built along the mountains and rivers, they are a typical representative of residential architecture in western Hunan.

Key Attractions

Attraction	Feature	Description
Tuo River	The mother river flowing through the town	A night cruise on the Tuo River is a must-do experience
Stilted Houses (Diaojiaolou)	Representative of western Hunan residences	Built along the river, offering picturesque scenery
Shen Congwen's Former Residence	Birthplace of the literary master	A National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit
Stepping Stones (Tiaoyan)	Stone pier bridge across the Tuo River	A popular spot for photos and check-ins
Ancient City Wall	Remains from the Ming and Qing dynasties	The East Gate and North Gate towers still exist
Nanhua Mountain	The highest point overlooking the ancient town	An excellent location for a panoramic view

Practical Information

Item	Details
Location	Fenghuang County, Xiangxi Prefecture, Hunan Province
Best Season	March-May, September-November
Suggested Stay	1-2 days
Rating	National 5A-level Tourist Attraction
Must-Experience	Tuo River night cruise, photo in Miao costume, sunrise at the Stepping Stones
Local Specialties	Fenghuang ginger candy, Miao silver jewelry

Cultural Significance

Fenghuang Ancient Town is most celebrated for its profound cultural heritage. Shen Congwen (1902-1988) was a famous Chinese writer, historian, and cultural relics expert. His literary works have been translated into dozens of languages including English, American, Japanese, and French. As the son Fenghuang people are most proud of, the world of western Hunan depicted in Shen Congwen's writings has captivated countless readers.

After the movie Border Town (adapted from Shen Congwen's novel) was filmed in Fenghuang Ancient Town, this ancient waterside town gained even greater fame. The rich cultural atmosphere within the ancient town, blended with the unique Miao customs of western Hunan, constitutes the distinctive charm of Fenghuang.

Today, Fenghuang Ancient Town has become one of China's most popular tourist destinations. Millions of visitors come here every year to stroll along the bluestone slab streets and experience the tranquility and beauty of this centuries-old waterside town.