No-Fail Guide: How to Make the Most of Your Trip to Furong Town? A Complete Day & Night Record

✨【Xiangxi Furong Town · Three-Day In-Depth Travel Guide】✨ —— A millennium-old ancient town hanging on a waterfall, a journey through time and nature’s culture 📍【Scenic Area Introduction】 Furong Town, originally named "Wangcun," is located in Yongshun County, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan Province. It became world-famous after director Xie Jin’s 1986 film "Furong Town" was shot here, and was later officially renamed "Furong Town." Known as the "Millennium Ancient Town Hanging on a Waterfall," it combines natural wonders, Tujia culture, and historical relics, making it one of the most representative tourist landmarks in Xiangxi. The town is built along the mountains with the You River flowing through it. The core attraction—the Furong Waterfall—is 60 meters high and 40 meters wide, roaring down from the town center with majestic power. Most ancient buildings are Tujia stilt houses, layered along the mountains and water. At night, when lit up, it looks like a dream world straight out of "Spirited Away." --- 🚄【Transportation Guide】 ✅ High-Speed Rail (Most Convenient) - Zhangjiajie West Station → Furong Town Station: 23 minutes, ticket 29-40 RMB - Huaihua South Station → Furong Town Station: about 40 minutes, ticket about 50 RMB - Jishou East Station → Furong Town Station: about 30 minutes, ticket about 35 RMB 👉 After exiting, take bus K1 or carpool (10-15 RMB per person) directly to the scenic entrance. Many guesthouses offer free pick-up service; contact in advance. ✅ Self-Driving Routes - From Changsha: Changzhang Expressway (G5513) → Zhanghua Expressway → Furong Town exit, about 4 hours total - From Zhangjiajie: about 1.5 hours drive - From Fenghuang Ancient Town: about 2 hours drive 👉 Parking tips: Navigate to "Furong Town Tourist Service Center" or "Tianze Parking Lot." Parking fee about 10 RMB/hour, overnight about 50 RMB. ✅ Long-Distance Bus - Direct buses to Furong Town from Jishou Bus Station and Zhangjiajie Bus Station, about 1.5-2 hours travel time. --- 🎫【Ticket Information】 - Adult Ticket: 108 RMB/person (peak season price, includes night view) - Discount Ticket: 60 RMB/person (students, seniors with ID) - Children under 1.2 meters: free --- ⏰【Best Visiting Time】 - Recommended seasons: March-May (spring bloom), September-November (clear autumn), avoid June-July rainy season and winter dry period. - Daily recommendation: Enter after 3 PM to enjoy sunset glow, thousands of lights, and waterfall night view simultaneously. - Night lighting time: 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM. **Strongly recommend staying overnight; fewer people and beautiful night scenes make for excellent photos! --- 🚶‍♀️【Detailed Itinerary】(One-Day Highlights) 👉 Route: Scenic Entrance → Baishou Hall → Xizhou Copper Pillar → Tuwang Bridge → Tingtao Road Ancient Street → Waterfall Viewing Platform & Yinan Theater → Huashao Camping Base → Chushu Tongjin → Furong Town Waterfall → Scenic Corridor Bridge → City Gate Wharf → Wuli Stone-Paved Street → Exit 📌 Attractions Explained: 1. Baishou Hall Traditional Tujia sacrificial and song-and-dance venue, with multiple daily intangible cultural heritage performances: - 2:30 PM Tujia Love Song Duet - 7:30 PM "Bitzka Carnival" large-scale live show (includes torch dance, Maogusi dance, climbing knife mountain, walking on fire) 👉 Join the interaction, dance the Baishou dance, and if you dance well, get a free cup of rice wine! 2. Xizhou Copper Pillar A national-level cultural relic built during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, recording the alliance between the Tujia and Central Plains dynasties, an important symbol of Tusi culture. Recommended to listen to the guide or rent an audio guide for deeper understanding. 3. Tuwang Bridge Five-arched stone bridge with a covered corridor, typical Tujia architectural style. The bridge is decorated with red lanterns, a perfect photo spot! Wearing Hanfu or Miao costumes and standing in the center with stilt houses and waterfall in the background instantly makes you the heroine of an ancient story. 4. Waterfall Viewing Platform Facing the Furong Waterfall directly, feel the breathtaking "water plunging three thousand feet" by day, and at night the lights illuminate the mist like a fairyland. Recommended to visit between 6:00-7:00 PM when the waterfall’s water volume is artificially increased for a more spectacular view. 5. Furong Town Waterfall The soul of the ancient town! Walk along the plank road behind the waterfall to experience the "Water Curtain Cave" wonder (raincoat recommended). Opposite the waterfall is the "Guanpu Xuan" tea house, minimum spend 38 RMB to sit and capture panoramic views of the waterfall and stilt houses. 6. Wuli Stone-Paved Street About 1.2 kilometers long ancient street paved with bluestone, lined with shops full of local life. 👉 Must-try list: - No. 113 Liu Xiaoqing Rice Tofu: as seen in the movie, sour, spicy, smooth, 5 RMB/bowl - Grandma’s Cured Meat Sandwich: rich cured meat aroma, crispy outside, tender inside - Freshly Pounded Glutinous Rice Cake: starts pounding at 3 PM, super sticky and delicious - Ginger Candy: freshly made, sweet with a spicy kick, warms the stomach and refreshes 👉 Must-buy souvenirs: Tujia brocade (Xilankapu), silver jewelry, bamboo crafts 7. Tusi Palace (Feishui Village) Tusi king’s palace ruins built on a cliff, with surviving council hall, armory, etc., overlooking the waterfall. When lit at night, it’s dazzling and breathtaking. 8. Riverside Bar Street The nightlife hotspot! Recommended "Meet Furong Town" bar, with Tujia girls singing mountain songs every night at 8 PM, and exclusive cocktail "Waterfall Drunk" rice wine (with osmanthus honey + cornelian cherry). 9. Drone Light Show (Bonus) Every Friday night at 9 PM, a drone light show is performed above the waterfall, lasting about 15 minutes, a perfect blend of technology and nature. Don’t miss it! 📌 Accommodation Tips: - Choose rooms higher up and near the back mountain to avoid waterfall noise disturbing sleep - Book at least 3 days in advance; rooms are tight during holidays - Most guesthouses offer high-speed rail station pick-up service --- 🍽️【Food Recommendations】 Besides rice tofu, don’t miss: - Tujia cured meat: smoky and flavorful, perfect with rice - Tiaoba: made from sweet potatoes, sticky and sweet but not greasy - Snail meat: fresh snail meat stir-fried with chili, spicy and delicious - Osmanthus fish: local river fish, tender meat, soup perfect for rice - Sour soup fish: Miao ethnic flavor, sour and spicy, appetizing ⚠️ Note: Food inside the scenic area is a bit pricey; budget accordingly or choose restaurants in the town’s residential area for more authentic taste. --- 🚗【Nearby Activities Recommendations】 1. Mengdong River Rafting: "World’s No.1 Rafting," about 3 hours, thrilling and a must-play in summer! 2. Red Stone Forest National Geopark: China’s only red carbonate rock forest, colorful and perfect for photos. 3. You River Gallery: boat tour with green mountains on both sides, like a Chinese ink painting. 4. Laosicheng Ruins: ancient capital of the Tusi kingdom, a World Cultural Heritage site, a must-visit for history lovers. --- 📌【Practical Tips】 1. Dress comfortably with non-slip shoes; the ancient town has many steps and wet stone pavements when rainy. 2. Photography tips: wear red or white clothes for better night shots; bring a drone for stunning aerial views. 3. Respect local customs: Tujia have traditional taboos; do not photograph elderly wearing ethnic costumes without permission. 4. Eco-friendly travel: do not litter, protect the ancient town environment. --- 🌟Conclusion Furong Town is a bustling ancient town by day and a tranquil fairyland by night. It awakens you with the roar of a 60-meter waterfall and embraces you gently with thousands of lights. Whether you’re tracing the footsteps of the film "Furong Town" or escaping city noise, here you’ll have an unforgettable journey. This autumn, come to Xiangxi for a "Heavenly Banquet on Earth" and witness the splendid beauty of Furong! 🔥