Fenghuang is found on the western boundary of Hunan Province. It is a place of natural beauty, and also historical interest. This town has a history of over 1300 years and some of the old gardens, residential buildings, bridges and pagodas date back as far as the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1644-1911). The scenes in this town will remind you of the landscapes you see in traditional Chinese paintings.

The majority of Fenghuang residents are Miao ethnic minority people. Their lifestyle remains reasonably traditional. Walking around the town you will see the women washing their clothes by the river and the men fishing with their nets. Some of the women wear their customary blue clothes with intricate floral embroidery.

In the shops you will find examples of the Miao people's special crafts: hand-made silver jewellery, tie-dyes, printed and batik cloths. And in the restaurants you will find local dishes which are famous for their large numbers of pickled red peppers. So be prepared! Fenghuang also has many local snacks. Ginger candy is by far the most popular.

Fenghuang a place to stroll the alleyways, to take a boat ride along the Tuojiang River (further down the river if you want to avoid the hoards of tourists), to sit and observe the local people going about their business, and to imagine what China was like before the onset of modernization.

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