A Super Practical 3-Day Travel Guide to Fenghuang Ancient City

Fenghuang Ancient City: Immerse Yourself in Western Hunan Scenery and Encounter the Poetic Slow Life in "Border Town"✨ 🌿 Day 1: Stroll Through the Ancient City + Tuojiang River Night Tour 📍 Morning: Check in at the Core Scenic Spots of the Ancient City Shen Congwen Former Residence (8:30–9:30): Step into the childhood home of the literary master and experience the creative background of "Border Town" (ticket price: CNY 40). Dongzheng Street & Hongqiao Wind and Rain Bridge (9:30–11:00): Stroll along the old street to find Miao silver ornaments and ginger candy, and climb the second floor of Hongqiao to overlook the panoramic view of the Tuojiang River. Tuojiang Jumping Rock (11:00–11:30): Challenge the 15 stone piers, stand in the center of the river to photograph the reflections of the stilted buildings, which is super suitable for taking pictures! 📍 Noon: Authentic Western Hunan Cuisine 🍴 Recommended Restaurants: Junzi Restaurant / Old Street Restaurant Blood Duck (a signature dish of Fenghuang, spicy and flavorful) Sour Soup Fish (a Miao specialty, sour and spicy to stimulate the appetite) Stir-fried Preserved Pork with Bracken (smoked flavor, a must-have for serving with rice) 📍 Afternoon: Tuojiang River Rafting + Wanshou Palace Tuojiang River Rafting (14:00–15:00): Take a wooden boat downstream, and the stilted buildings on both sides unfold like a picture scroll (CNY 85 for a day tour; the night tour is even more dreamy). Wanshou Palace & Wanming Pagoda (15:30–16:30): Jiangxi Guild Hall architectural complex + ancient pagoda by the river, an excellent spot for taking pictures. 📍 Evening: Tuojiang River Night View + Bar Street 🌙 Recommended Experiences: After 18:00, the lights of Hongqiao and the stilted buildings are lit up, like a galaxy reflected on the river. Find a quiet bar to sit down, listen to folk songs, and make a wish by releasing a river lantern (CNY 5–10 per lantern). ⛰️ Day 2: Miao Village Exploration + Nanhua Mountain Hiking 📍 Morning: Dehang Miao Village / Laojiazhai (choose one) 🚗 Transportation: Carpool is about CNY 80 per person, and the journey takes 1.5 hours. Dehang Miao Village: An original Miao village deep in the canyon, where you can experience Miao song and dance and handmade weaving. Laojiazhai: More niche, with stone houses + surrounded by ancient trees, suitable for taking cultural blockbusters. 📍 Noon: Miao Long Table Feast 🍚 Featured Dishes: Sour fish, glutinous rice wine, and preserved pork hot pot to experience the Miao people's hospitality. 📍 Afternoon: Nanhua Mountain National Forest Park 🌳 Recommended Route: Hike to the Shenfeng Cultural Area and overlook the panoramic view of Fenghuang (ticket price included in the joint ticket). Return to the ancient city in the evening, and take photos of Xueqiao Bridge & Nanhua Bridge along the way. The blue tone moment is absolutely beautiful! 📍 Evening: Bonfire Party (optional) 🔥 Border Town Large-scale Live Performance: VIP area is CNY 580, Area A is CNY 260, which interprets the love story of Cuicui. 🌄 Day 3: Surrounding Secret Realm + Leisurely Return Trip 📍 Morning: Qiliang Cave / Southern Great Wall (choose one) Qiliang Cave (8:30–11:00): A karst cave spectacle with stalactites + underground river (ticket price: CNY 55). Southern Great Wall (8:30–11:00): A military site from the Ming Dynasty, climb the Great Wall to overlook the mountains of western Hunan (ticket price: CNY 45). 📍 Noon: Slow Time in the Ancient City Drink a cup of Fenghuang Snow Tea by the Tuojiang River and taste rice tofu (CNY 5 per bowl). Finally, sweep Wenxing Street and buy some ginger candy and preserved pork as souvenirs. 📍 Afternoon: Return Trip Preparation 🚄 Transportation Tips: Take the high-speed train to "Fenghuang Ancient City Station", and the connecting bus will take you directly to the city for CNY 7/20 mins. If you are driving, you can park in the Hongqiao East Road Parking Lot and walk into the ancient city. 📌 Useful Tips ✅ Accommodation Recommendations: River View Homestay (Tuojiang Renjia, Jiuyue Courtyard, CNY 200–400 per night in the off-season). Cost-effective choice (Sanmu Camp, CNY 100 per person). ✅ Save Money on Tickets: The joint ticket is CNY 90 (including Shen Congwen Former Residence + Tuojiang River Rafting and other 9 scenic spots), which is more cost-effective than buying tickets separately. ✅ Avoid the Pitfalls: For silver ornaments and cinnabar, look for regular stores and bargain 30%–50%. Renting Miao costumes costs CNY 20–100 per hour. Confirm the package content in advance.