Xiangxi Travel Guide

Basic information Name: Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture Location: Northwest of Hunan Province Telephone area code: 0743 Travel complaint: 0743-8223683 Medical Treatment Fenghuang County People’s Hospital Address: Hongqiao Middle Road, Fenghuang Ancient City, Fenghuang County Phone: 0743-3221058 Www.fhxrmyy.com Destination overview […]

Basic information

Name: Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture

Location: Northwest of Hunan Province

Telephone area code: 0743
Travel complaint: 0743-8223683

Medical Treatment

Fenghuang County People’s Hospital
Address: Hongqiao Middle Road, Fenghuang Ancient City, Fenghuang County
Phone: 0743-3221058
Www.fhxrmyy.com

Destination overview

Destination sketch

Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture lies in the convergent area on the northeast fringe of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and Mountainous Region in western Hubei. Its terrain slopes downward from the northwest to the southeast. The Wuling Mountains zigzag through the Prefecture. There are well developed karst landforms distributed in the southwest and rivers crisscrossing among the hills in the western and eastern regions of the prefecture.

Local life

The history of Xiangxi can be traced back to the Warring States Period (476BC-221BC), when it was dominated by the Chu State. In the following thousands of years, its administrative system has changed many times. It wasn’t until 1952 that Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region was established and changed to Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture five years later.

Best Travel season

Spring and autumn are the best periods to travel there.

Consumption level

The normal cost of the traveler in Fenghuang Ancient City is more than 200 yuan a day.

Practical information

Phoenix Travel Service Center
Address: Phoenix Square, Fenghuang Ancient City Scenic Area

Intercity traffic

Aircraft

Tongren Fenghuang Airport, TEN
Address: Daxing High-tech Zone, Tongren City, Guizhou Province and Alaying Town, Fenghuang County, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan Province
Tel: 0856-5938036
Trfhairport.com

Long-distance bus

Phoenix North Bus Station
Address: Fenghuang North Road, Fenghuang County
Arrival mode: Phoenix Bus Station is about 10 minutes drive from Fenghuang Ancient City. There is A1 bus to and from Old Town and North Bus Station. The fare is 1 yuan.

Traffic in the city

Public transportation in various counties in Xiangxi is not very developed, and it often takes a lot of effort to travel between various scenic spots. There are no buses and taxis within the ancient city of Phoenix, mainly relying on walking.

Bus

There are six bus lines in Fenghuang County, namely A1, B1, 2, 3, 5 and 6. Operating hours are 6:00-22:00, the fare is 1 yuan.

Taxi

The taxi in Fenghuang County is a green taxi with a starting price of 4 yuan. There are often cases where you don’t have to play the watch. You must have deal of prices with driver and then get on the bus. Take a taxi from Fenghuang County Chengbei Station to Hongqiao, about 6-10 yuan.

Attractions

Phoenix Ancient Town (Fenghuang)

“Penghuang’ is Chinese for ‘Phoenix’, the mythical bird of good omen And longevity that is consumed by fire to be re-born again from the flames. Phoenix Ancient Town is so called has has that two of these fabulous birds flew over it and found the Fenghuang Town so beautiful that they hovered there, reluctant to Leave.

Upon arrival visitor will be impressed by its air of mystery, elegance and primitive simplicity. The scenic spots after remain attracting the whole year, but the best time to visit Fenghuang Ancient Town is July to September, when the weather is basically pleasant. The bridges over the water and unique houses built on stilts display a harmony that is so It is particularly true when mist pervades the scene in the early morning or after rain.  Phoenix Ancient Town is a wonderful example of what villages were like prior to the onset of modernization. Here dozens of alleys paved with flag Stones run between the houses, each showing wear caused by the feet of generations of local people who have used them when going about their daily business.

Tuo Jiang River

Stretching from the northwest to southeast of the Fenghuang Ancient Town, Tuo Jiang River is a life force of the local people. Here in its waters women wash their clothes and the men fish with their nets. The river also provides a means for boatmen to support their families by ferrying visitors up and down stream for sightseeing.

Miao Village

The Miao ethnic minority is predominantly settled here and a visit to a Miao village is a must  going when travelling to Fenghuang. The Miao women have a natural beauty that renders the use of cosmetics quite unnecessary. They love to dress in traditional blue garments set off with a white scarf. They love also their silver jewelry especially during festivals. Visitors will find a large array of hand made items of silver ornaments for sale in the local shops. Home made tie-dyes, printed and batik cloths are other local specialties that make Wonderful souvenirs. The Miao are friendly and hospitable and like nothing more than to interact with visitors with a variety of traditional entertainments and activities.
Address: Fenghuang County, Xiangxi Prefecture
Tickets: 148 yuan for all tickets, including the top ten attractions in the ancient city (the ancient city attractions are not sold separately
Tickets); valid for 2 days, long-term visitors only need to confirm at the ticket office, the validity period of the tickets can be extended according to the requirements; at the same time, for repeat tourists who come to Phoenix, there is no need to repeat the purchase of tickets within one year, and the purchase of tickets reaches three times. Lifetime free ticket; 24 years old (including) students with the ID card and student ID can purchase a discount ticket price of 20 yuan, but does not include Lijiang River boating, boating need to make up 15 yuan / person.

Site of Laosicheng Tusi Domain

With a total area of 62 acres (25 hectares), it is the largest, oldest, and best-preserved Tusi site in China. In 2001, the Site of Laosicheng Tusi Domain was listed as a key national historical and cultural relic under state protection. On July 4, 2015, the site was listed as a world cultural heritage, together with the Site of Tangya Tusi Domain and the Site of Hailongtun Tusi Fortress.

Archway in Memory of Peng Ji’nan

First constructed during the Jiajing Period in the Ming Dynasty, the Archway in Memory of Peng Ji’nan stands on a lawn in the south of the domain. It was erected in praise of the 26th Chieftain Peng Ji’nan for his great success in the fight against pirates. On the archway was engraved the inscriptions “Long-lasting Peace for the Later Generations”. In the 33rd year (1554) of the Jiajing Period in the Ming Dynasty, the eighteen-year-old Peng Ji’nan led five thousand soldiers to the coastal area in southeast China, and fought against the pirates. The battle succeeded owing to his flexibility, bravery, and wise leadership. That was a very cheerful victory because it ended the conflict and brought peace to the locals.

Ancient Tusi Tomb Complex

The Ancient Tusi Tomb Complex centers on the Zijin Mountain. It has been listed as a key historical and cultural relic under provincial protection. Surrounded by walls, there are 109 tombs of chieftains and their families, among which more than thirty have been excavated. The tombs vary greatly in sizes in accordance with the status of people who were buried in. In front of these tombs stand human and horse statues. On the walls are exquisite patterns of flowers, grass, dragons, and phoenixes. Inside the tombs, one can see black wooden coffins are hanging on the iron hooks. In addition, there are a great variety of burial accessories, including gold flowers, ornaments, and jade articles. It is very fascinating!

Dehang Miao Village

The scenic spot is a region where Miao people inhabit together. Our Miao fellows communicate with each other in Miao language in daily life. The song serves as their matchmaker. They love freely. Girls like wearing silver ornamental articles and collarless clothes with embroidery. Men like wearing leg wrappings and Duijinyi( a kind of Chinese-style jacket with bottons down the front ), and blowing Muye ( a kind of tree ). They plant mulberry and rear silkworm, do spinning and weaving. Their handmade fabric are of superb craftsmanship. They extract oil, make paper, and mill rice with ancient methods, and irrigate the field with scoop waterwheel. When spring comes, on the bank of sprinlet, there are strings of scoop waterwheel. There are more than 30 folklore travel items of Tongcaobai Festival, being guest in Miao family, singing in antiphonal style at the doorway, proposing toast, dancing with song evening party of Miao people, corroboree, drum dance of Miao people, seeing off the guest with torches and so on. Traveling at Dehang, you may fully experience the ancient folklore and the beauty of the nature by extracting oil, making paper, weaving, and milling rice yourself. You will feel that you have stepped into a beautiful and old fairy world.

Address: Western suburb of Jishou City, the capital of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture
Arrival method: Jishou Bus Station has a direct bus to Deyi Miao Village, every 30 minutes from 6:00; the last bus time from the scenic spot at 21:00
Tickets: Deyi Miao Village tickets for 100 yuan, including scenic spots tickets, folk customs show tickets
(Does not include a bonfire party at night)
Tickets for the bonfire party in Deyi Scenic Spot are 120 yuan

Shanjiang Miao Village

Shanjiang Miao Village is also known as Zongbingying, Bagu in Miao language. It is located in one valley 20 km to the northwest of ancient Fenghuang City. It is a small mountain village with strong life manner of Miao people. Shanjiang is Bagu In Miao language. It means toad cavity. It is named so because beside the village, there is a cavern in which there are manny toads.

Shanjiang keeps the ancient customs of Miao people, bright-colored Miao clothes, Lanmen wine with unique appeal, Kagu, Lanlu song and Bianbianchang with particular style, and traditional festivals, Dancing-moon-dancing-flower on Apr., 8 and antiphonal singing of folk song on June, 6 according to lunar calendar.

Miaojiang Great wall ( South-Great Wall )

Miaojiang Great wall was built during the years of Wanli in Ming Dynasty ( 1573-1620. ) Its full length is 190 km.

The city wall is about 3 meters high. Its basement is about 2 meters wide. The top of it is 1 meter wide. It revolves around mountains and cuts across water. The most part of it is built on the precipitous ridges. On the way, there are more than 800 whistle terrace, gun emplacement, blockhouse, and outpost used for stationing troops and defending. At that time, on the way, often there is a troop of 4000-5000 soldiers. At its most, there are 7000 soldiers.

In Ming Dynasty, Miao people on the border area of Hunan and Guizhou are divided into two groups, strange Miao and familiar Miao. Strange Miao are those minority nationality people who disobey administration of the imperial government. They often start an uprising because of the unendurable exorbitant taxes, miscellaneous levies, and ethnic oppression from the government. In order to pacify the border area and suppress resistance, Ming imperial government allocates 2000 kg. silver to build a Great Wall between strange Miao and familiar Miao. The rulers of Qing Dynasty has made some supplement and erection to Miaojiang Great Wall later. Maybe because the military strength of the southern minority nationality is not so formidable a that of the northern minority nationality, Miaojiang Great Wall is built not as grand and powerful as the northern Great Wall. The stones of Miaojiang Great Wall is only 1/10-1/6 of those of the northern Great Wall.

Since Ming and Qing Dynasties, the stones of Miaojiang Great Wall are constantly taken by the local people to build house and pit. Today we can only see the city wall a little here and a little there, and some well preserved castle. Presently, nobody has surveyed on the line how much of Miaojiang Great Wall is preserved.
Address: Hunan Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture
Arrival method: Take the bus from Fenghuang County to “Allah Camp” and get off at the South Great Wall Scenic Spot.
Opening hours: April 1st to November 15th, 7:30-18:00; November 16th to March 31st, 8:00-17:30
Tickets: 45 yuan
Phone: 0743-3771309

Ancient Huangsiqiao City

In ancient times, Ancient Huangsiqiao City was named Weiyang City. It was first built in the second year of Chuigong in Tang Dynasty ( 686 A.D. ) This city enjoys a history of more than 1300 years. In 39 of Kangxi in Qing Dynasty ( 1700 A.D. ), the imperial court had set Fenghuang Zhiliting and Ruanyongjing Bingbei Dao to appease and put down minority nationality. In 59 of Qianlong ( 1794 A.D. ), the largest Miao uprising in history broke out here. After this uprising, Qing Dynasty declines. Ancient Huangsiqiao City is a part of the southern Great Wall and is the contended foremost position between Miao people and Han people.

Address: Huangsiqiao Village, Ala Town, Fenghuang County
Arrival method: Phoenix Bus Station sits at CMB in Ala Camp, the fare is about 6 yuan, then turn to the battery car or walk to the station.
Opening hours: open all day
Tickets: 40 yuan

Furong Zhen (Hibiscus Town)

It is an old town where the Tujia ethnic minority lives in a compact community. The blue stone pavement and resident houses on stilts are still well preserved. Not far from the town, there is the Mengdong River. It is an exciting resort especially suitable for rafting. In the Hanigong to Hou’ertiao section, the whole course takes five hours. After arriving the Hou’ertiao, visitors can continue to yacht to Furong Town.
Address: Yongshun County, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan Province
Arrival method: Take the shuttle bus from Jishou Railway Station to Furong Town, arrive at Furong Town Bus Station in about 2 hours; take the bus to Jishou from Zhangjiajie Bus Station, get off at Furong Town, drive for about 1.5 hours; from Phoenix to Zhangjiajie every day Two cars, departure time is 8:30, 15:30, get off at Furong Town Station
Opening hours: open all day
Tickets: Free

Mengdong River Scenic Spot

Mengdong River Scenic Spot is bounded by Zhangjiajie, the first National Forest Park in China, and Tianzi Mountain, a famous scenic spot. It is a newly opened up tourist attraction that gathers mountain terrain, water color, cavity scenery, and living beings in one place, and combines features of ancient town, national customs and mountain and rustic appeals in one body.
Address: Furong Town, Yongshun County, Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan Province
Opening hours: 8:00-16:00
Tickets: Mengdong River is the first drift of 160 yuan in the world, Mengdong River ecological Pinghu tour 82 yuan

Activity

Drifting

Address: Fuzhi Township, Yongshun County, Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan Province
Arrival method: From the Phoenix, Jishou, Furong Town, etc., there are buses to the Mengdong River.
Opening hours: rafting time generally starts from the beginning of April every year to the end of October, depending on the weather conditions.
Phone: 0743-5853367

Food

Xueba Duck
Vegetable Tofu
Sour Fish
Pickled Radish

Accommodation

There are a lot of accommodation options in Fenghuang Ancient City. The hanging houses on the riverside will be slightly more expensive.

Shopping

silver ornaments and brocade articles of the Miao, printed and dyed cotton fabric, kudzu vine root tea, pomelo, Chinese gooseberry of Fenghuang County, boletus mushroom of Jishou City

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