Xiangxi

Xiangxi's travel highlights include the border-town atmosphere described in Shen Congwen's writing, a thousand-year-old town built around a waterfall, and mountain gorges. The following four-day itinerary includes food, accommodation and transport information to help you plan your trip.

4-Day, 3-Night Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrive in Fenghuang Ancient Town, then spend the afternoon exploring its old streets and sampling snacks. Head to the Tuojiang River at dusk to watch the sunset, and photograph the night scenery once the town's lights come on at 19:00. Stay near the ancient town.

• Day 2: Leave Fenghuang in the morning and head to Chadong, the border town, to ride the hand-pulled ferry and visit the boundary marker where three provinces meet. Drive to Furong Town in the afternoon, enjoy the illuminated waterfall at night, and stay in town.

• Day 3: Travel from Furong Town to Aizhai Bridge and Dehang Grand Canyon, taking in the gorge scenery and learning about Miao village culture along the way. Stay overnight in central Jishou or Dehang Miao Village.

• Day 4: Spend the morning exploring Qianzhou Ancient Town in Jishou, where admission is free. Try local dishes and shop for souvenirs, then head to Jishou East Railway Station for your return journey.

Local Foods to Try in Xiangxi

Where to Stay

• Fenghuang Ancient Town: If night photography is your priority, consider a riverside stilt house along the upper Tuojiang River, where you can see the riverside lights from your window. For a quieter, more affordable stay, choose a guesthouse near Nanhuamen Gate or in the ancient town's lanes. These are a 3–5-minute walk from the river and cost about half as much as riverside accommodation.
• Furong Town: To enjoy and photograph the waterfall at night from nearby, consider a quiet guesthouse beside it for close-up views of the water.
• Central Jishou: If you are driving or value everyday convenience, consider staying in the city center. It has plenty of chain hotels, convenient parking, and a wide choice of affordable places to eat and stay.

Transport

• High-speed rail: From Fenghuang Gucheng Railway Station, take the official shuttle directly to the ancient town for 7 yuan. From Jishou East Railway Station, transfer to tourist bus route 18 for Aizhai Bridge or Dehang Grand Canyon. The journey from Furongzhen Railway Station to Furong Town takes just over 20 minutes.
• Driving: The sights are spread out, so driving gives you more flexibility. Vehicles are prohibited inside the ancient town; use an official parking lot on the outskirts. The mountain road to Aizhai Bridge has many bends, so drive slowly.

Practical Travel Tips

• Tickets: Fenghuang Ancient Town is free to enter throughout, and no general admission ticket is required. A combined ticket for nine attractions costs 128 yuan. If you are interested in cultural sights, decide whether to buy it based on your itinerary.
• Clothing: The ancient town's streets are paved with stone slabs, so wear flat shoes with good grip and avoid high heels. Mountain areas can have large temperature differences between morning and evening, so pack a light jacket.
• Photos in Miao Dress: Consider renting Miao clothing from shops in the ancient town's lanes. All-day rentals with your choice of outfit cost 30–50 yuan, including clothing and simple makeup and hairstyling, and are more affordable than those on the main riverside street.
• Spending: Avoid cheap day tours offered by roadside touts. When buying silver jewelry, ginger candy and other local specialties, consider shops away from the main street, where prices tend to be higher.
• Food: Local dishes are quite spicy. What locals call “mild” may taste closer to medium-hot to visitors, so clearly ask for less chili when ordering.