Fenghuangcun Travel Guide

 Willettsworld Says:  These are some street scenes from within the old town. The old town covers an area of about 1.8 sq km with over 300 local-style houses, 20 streets and 10 lanes. 

 Willettsworld Says:  This is the southern gate into the old town. Behind it, just inside the old town is a square which features a model of a phoenix - a mythical bid from which the town is named. Fenghuang Cheng or Phoenix Town is so called as legend has it that two of these fabulous birds flew... 

 Willettsworld Says:  This temple is located in the heart of the old town near Fucheng Gate and features an ancient theatrical stage and main hall. 

 Willettsworld Says:  A long part of the old town wall is still standing, stretching for about 400 meters along the south bank of the river. The North Gate Tower is found halfway along its length and the East Gate Tower is found at its eastern point. This tower was built in 1715. The wall used to... 

 Willettsworld Says:  There were once four gates into the old town. This particular one is the North Gate, I think anyway! It's located along the road that leads to the large Fenghuang Bridge. 

 Willettsworld Says:  This waterwheel is located just upstream from the ugly Fenghuang Bridge, just in front of a series of weirs. No idea why or what reason it's used for. Just another picture opportunity! 

 Willettsworld Says:  This is the main road bridge through the old town and is rather ugly compared to its surroundings. Anyway, it does offer great views along the river. 

 Willettsworld Says:  A couple of other ways to cross the river, other than the conventional bridges, are by taking these stepping stones (which are actually concrete posts) and a rather precarious wooden bridge. 

 Willettsworld Says:  I saw a couple of waterwheels in Lijiang, Yunnan, and there's a few along the river here in Fenghuang. These particular ones lie on the north bank near the stepping stones and look like they're part of a mill. There's more upstream. 

 Willettsworld Says:  Tuo Jiang River, the biggest river within the county, is one of the branches of Wushui River. Originating from Nanshan Gorge of Dusha, Kuhe, it flows through Fenghuang County from west to east, passing nine counties and towns including La’ershan and Fenghuang County, and... 

 Willettsworld Says:  These types of house are called Diaojiaolou (Chinese for building with hanging legs). The design keeps the buildings safe from the spring floods. These houses really define the old town and give it its "picturesque-ness". You can witness the daily goings-on outside them.... 

 Willettsworld Says:  There are a series of night0time eating stalls that run along the road that goes away from the north side of the Hong Qiao Bridge. A few restaurants near where I was staying just had Chinese specialities on the menu like pig's ears and snake which, for some reason, I didn't... 

 Willettsworld Says:  Fenghuang is one of the picturesque places in China and evidence of this was in the sheer number of students painting scenes along the river. 

 Willettsworld Says:  The Miao are the ethnic people in Fenghuang. The Miao ethnic minority has a population of 8,940,116 which is larger than the other minority groups in China. Today they live mainly in Guizhou, Yunnan, Hunan, Hubei, Hainan Provinces and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous... 

 Willettsworld Says:  You can stroll along the side of the river and as you do witness the daily life of the old town that centres around the river. Here you can see people washing clothes and vegetables.