Xiangxi Fenghuang Ancient Town: Living Life Like Poetry

When visiting Zhangjiajie, how can you miss the nearby Fenghuang Ancient Town? During the day, the bluestone paths wind through the town, the Tuojiang River's clear water flows around it, and the stilted buildings reflect the sky, full of everyday life and poetic charm. Fenghuang seems shrouded in a thin veil of mist and rain. The two days I was there were just like that. Holding an umbrella, I wandered aimlessly, carefully feeling everything here. Bluestone paths, carved gate towers, smoky alleys, the most beautiful stilted buildings, and boatmen rowing with poles— it’s as if time has returned to childhood, reading "Border Town" late into the night, or repeatedly reciting Dai Wangshu’s "Rainy Alley": “I hold an oil-paper umbrella as I pass by you.” When night falls, the lights gradually come on, the river surface shimmers with sparkling waves, and the entire ancient town seems bathed in a gentle glow. The night scene is so beautiful it makes you stop in your tracks. Ethnic costume shops are everywhere on the streets; putting on Miao or Tujia traditional attire makes every photo a masterpiece. If you catch a special performance, you can immerse yourself in the Xiangxi culture. Even with bustling tourists, the atmosphere is lively and vibrant with the spirit of travel.