[2024 Jishou Attraction] Travel Guide for Qianzhou Ancient City (Updated Nov)

City Escape in Jishou

Getting There - High speed train to Jishou Attractions - All around Xiangxi there are small towns, hills and places to escape from the crowds of the cities. Here in particular is a small mountain range - very similar to Zhangjiajie, albeit far smaller - that you can do in just a few hours. While the size is smaller, that also means less people, which is only ever a good thing when travelling around and visiting new places. Food & Restaurants - Not much to speak of to be honest. Especially up in the mountains but most hotels will be able to cook up a nice home meal in a warm area if you fancy it. Shopping - Not much to speak of to be honest. #thisischina

Near QianZhou Old Town

Just out of town of the QianZhou old town is the winding roads that lead up to these misty mountains. Tickets are around 80rmb or so for the day and - when visiting in the off season - you can be fairly sure that you’ll have the place basically all to yourself as i did. Oh, if you’re coming through wet season I would recommend bringing a spare set of shoes or extra socks as the path can become flooded and basically turn into just one big waterfall. But hey, it’s all part of the experience. get to the top and you’ll be rewarded with a sweet platform to look over the canyon and a awesome place to sit down and relax. #thisischina

Very well preserved old city. It was almost empty on Monday. People can be seen washing clothes in the river. Don't go into the temple. They offer you free incense, then give you a blessing. Suddenly a WeChat QR code is produced. They suggested I pay 400 Yuan but I gave 100 just to get out of there and no hassle.

This is Jishou, Hunan.

✅ First, I went to "Jixiang Rice Noodles" for a bowl of rice noodles. (It's a little spicy for people from Guangdong. The environment is average, but the taste is good. I ordered an extra portion of beef tripe, which was good.) ✅ I arrived at the "Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture Museum" before 16:00. No reservation is required, but you need to scan your ID card (electronic ID card is also acceptable). Entry is closed at 16:00, and the museum closes at 17:00 (pay attention to the time). The museum is quite large, with three floors. You can spend about 2 hours visiting the museum. ✅ After visiting the museum, I went directly to "Qianzhou Ancient Town". I recommend visiting at night! At night! At night! It's a great place to take photos. After dinner, you can walk along the riverbank or enjoy square dancing at the city gate. There are many snacks and photo studios for changing clothes and taking photos in the town. There are also many attractions in the town. You can see them while walking around. ✅ "Xiangxi Sleepless Town" is right next to Qianzhou Ancient Town. I personally think it's not as good as Qianzhou Ancient Town. Even during holidays, it's very quiet. There are many large supermarkets nearby, where you can have dinner.

National Day reverse travel success! Recommend an underestimated autumn viewing spot.

Xiangxi Jishou Travel Guide I. Introduction to Attractions 1. Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture Museum - Free admission, scan ID card to enter. - The museum is large and showcases the history, culture, customs, religious beliefs, and folk crafts of Xiangxi. There are also many intangible cultural heritage exhibits, such as the glittering Miao silver ornaments, colorful Tujia brocade, Xiangxi Miao embroidery, and mysterious witchcraft culture. Estimated visiting time: 2-3 hours. - Tip: Ask the staff if there are any volunteer guides available on the day. You might encounter a young girl around ten years old who gives excellent explanations. 2. Qianzhou Ancient City - Free entry to the ancient city. Estimated visiting time: 3-4 hours. Suitable for visiting in the evening. - You can rent a set of traditional costumes in the ancient city and take photos while strolling around. There are performances in the evening. - You can take a cruise to the City That Never Sleeps (tickets required). However, last year's National Day was relatively quiet in the City That Never Sleeps, and there wasn't much to eat. Going to the City That Never Sleeps might make you miss the performance in the ancient city. Please plan your itinerary accordingly. 3. Aizhai Scenic Area - Includes Aizhai Bridge Scenic Area, Jidou Miao Village Scenic Area, and Dehang Canyon Scenic Area. Combined tickets and individual tickets are available. Estimated visiting time: 1 day. - Aizhai Bridge Scenic Area: Includes Aizhai Bridge and Cliff Plank Road. Locate the Aizhai Bridge Scenic Area Visitor Center. Aizhai Bridge is located above Dehang Grand Canyon and has a total length of 1779 meters. - Jidou Miao Village Scenic Area: Includes Jidou Miao Village and Wentian Terrace. Locate the Aizhai Scenic Area Visitor Center. Jidou Miao Village is a semi-developed Miao village where locals reside. The scenery is average. Wentian Terrace is inspired by Qu Yuan's "Heavenly Questions." Climbing Wentian Terrace feels like being in the clouds and between the mountains. It's worth a visit. - Dehang Canyon Scenic Area: Includes Dehang Miao Village and Dehang Grand Canyon. Locate the Dehang Canyon Scenic Area Visitor Center. After passing through Dehang Miao Village, you can take an electric car to Jade Belt Waterfall and Flowing Sand Waterfall (note: two different directions). It's recommended to spend more time in this scenic area. - Tip: It's recommended to start from Aizhai Bridge and end at Dehang Scenic Area, as the route is more convenient. If you choose public transportation, pay attention to the last bus times. Taking a taxi from the city center will incur an empty car fee for the return trip. It's recommended to bring a raincoat during National Day as there are frequent showers. II. Food Specialties Xiangxi cuisine is mainly sour and spicy. Featured dishes include: 1. Xiangxi cured meat: Firm texture, rich aroma, can be stir-fried or steamed. 2. Blood pudding duck: Duck blood and glutinous rice are made into blood pudding and cooked with duck meat. The taste is spicy and delicious, perfect with rice. 3. Rice tofu: Delicate texture, paired with sour and spicy sauce, very appetizing and delicious. 4. Sour soup fish: Tender fish meat, sour soup to whet your appetite, leaving you wanting more. III. Travel Tips 1. Although there are relatively fewer people during National Day, some popular attractions may still have a certain amount of traffic. Plan your itinerary in advance. 2. Respect local customs and religious beliefs. 3. Bring rain gear, as there are frequent showers during National Day. 4. Pay attention to the opening hours and last bus times of the scenic areas, and arrange your visiting order accordingly.

Finally found a niche city suitable for National Day travel.

🎉 Unveiling! My National Day reverse travel tips, unlock the tranquility of Jishou, Hunan✨ Last National Day, I cleverly avoided the crowds and took my family to explore a hidden gem - Jishou City, Hunan Province. Not only is the cost of living affordable (luxury hotels only cost 300+ during National Day!), but it's also a tourist haven that hasn't been overdeveloped🍃. Our two-day and one-night family reunion trip began!👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 📅Day 1: Cultural Immersion Day📚🏰 Xiangxi Museum: Free admission, just swipe your ID card and you can wander through the long river of history📚. The museum is full of treasures, Miao silver ornaments gleaming, Tujia brocade weaving colorful dreams, and even a little volunteer (a cute kid, super eloquent!) to guide you through the charm of intangible cultural heritage👏. Qianzhou Ancient City: At dusk, the ancient city puts on its night coat. Rent a costume and walk through the stone-paved streets, as if you've traveled back in time📸. There are performances at night, ancient city stories waiting for you to listen. Although the cruise is beautiful (but tickets are required), the city that never sleeps is a bit quiet, so plan your itinerary carefully!🚢 📅Day 2: Natural Wonders Exploration Day🏞️🌉 Aizhai Wonders Tourist Area: One-stop check-in of the three wonders, with tickets in hand, you can go whenever you want!🎟️ Aizhai Bridge: Spanning the Dehang Grand Canyon, a 1779-meter feat that will amaze your eyes👀. On the cliffside plank road, every step is a heart-pounding experience. Jidou Miao Village: A semi-developed village with an authentic atmosphere. Standing on the Ask the Sky Platform, surrounded by clouds and mist, it's as if you're in a dialogue with the heavens🌄. Dehang Canyon: Miao village charm, waterfalls like silk, jade belt and quicksand, double waterfall viewing, remember to have ample time, don't miss the beautiful scenery🌊. 💡Tips: Route planning: Start from Aizhai Bridge and end at Dehang, smooth and no detours🚗. Pay attention to the last bus for public transportation, and pay attention to the empty car fee for taxis💰. Autumn rain is continuous, bring a raincoat with you, be prepared🌂. This Jishou trip not only allowed us to enjoy the tranquility of the sparsely populated scenery, but also gave us a deeper understanding of the unique charm of Xiangxi. If you're tired of crowded holidays, come to Jishou and start your new chapter of reverse travel!🚀

Must-Visit Spots in Mysterious Xiangxi｜Don't Miss These Places

Xiangxi has always been shrouded in mystery. It is the secluded yet romantic place depicted in Shen Congwen's writings. When traveling to Xiangxi, be sure not to miss these treasure destinations. 1. Furong Town This is an ancient town with a history of over two thousand years, suspended above a waterfall. No matter where you walk in the town, you can hear the echoes of the waterfall. At night, the town lights up one by one, and the night view here is truly wonderful, as if you have entered the world of Spirited Away. 2. Red Stone Forest This place is relatively close to Furong Ancient Town, so you can visit them together. It is known as the 'First Wonder of Wuling,' featuring canyons, karst caves, lakes, springs, and waterfalls... Experience the charm of natural mountain wonders. 3. Qianzhou Ancient City A city with half mountains and half rivers, half bustling and half serene. Qianzhou Ancient City is more about tranquility. The Ming bricks, Qing tiles, and horsehead walls carry the passage of time. 4. Phoenix Ancient City The Phoenix Ancient City in Xiangxi is very famous. The ancient city during the day and at night are completely different. Walking on the bluestone roads of the ancient city, each stone slab seems to whisper, telling stories of a thousand years.

Holiday fun without queuing - two-day food, accommodation and tour in Jishou, Xiangxi

Gave up on the ancient city of Fenghuang, glad to have chosen Jishou, where there was no queuing, the locals we met were all very friendly, the whole tour experience was really good👍👍👍 ▶️Day1: Qianzhou Ancient City 🎫Ticket: Free 🚗Transport: Taxi from Jishou East Station to Qianzhou Ancient City about 20min 🏠Accommodation: Jiangpan Meisu (two nights, in the ancient city, located by the river, the room is spacious and very clean, recommended) 🥣Food: Wulong Mountain Teppanyaki (tastes good, a bit salty later), Qianzhou Chicken Shop (chicken is fresh, very flavorful, go before 21:00) 📷Ethnic costume photo: full set 398💰, rent clothes (with makeup and hair) 50-60💰 Experience: Although Qianzhou Ancient City is not large, it is conveniently located (in the city, surrounded by shopping malls, convenient for taxis), not heavily commercialized, has a living atmosphere, the Wanrong River running through the ancient city often sees local residents washing clothes, swimming, fishing, under the bridge hole there are old men playing cards and cooling off, free-range chickens wandering around, quiet during the day and lively at night. ▶️Day2: Aizhai Bridge + Dehang Canyon Scenic Area 🎫Ticket: Cliff plank road + Aizhai Bridge (separately 115💰) + shuttle bus (10💰) = 190💰 (no reservation required) Aizhai Bridge Scenic Area to Dehang Canyon Scenic Area shuttle bus 25💰 Dehang Canyon Scenic Area 80💰 🚗Transport: Jishou Railway Station - Aizhai Bridge Scenic Area (bus line 1 or 3, first bus at 8:30 in the morning, Didi is more convenient for 40min) Dehang Canyon Scenic Area - Jishou Railway Station (bus line 11) 🥣Food: Mountain Inn (chosen on the way, transparent kitchen is very clean, taste is also good) 📷Ethnic costume photo: only for rent (with accessories and simple hair styling) 50-60💰, no makeup and photography. Personally prefer the costumes here, more ethnic and more life, there are Tujia costumes, rare internet celebrity improved version. Tour experience: Aizhai Bridge can be experienced, the cliff plank road is average, can be skipped to save time. Dehang scenery is very beautiful, it is recommended to leave time here to play slowly.

The ancient city of Qianzhou is leisurely

Qianzhou Ancient City is located in Jishou City, Xiangxi, and does not require a ticket. It is a commercial ancient town with various authentic Xiangxi snacks to satisfy the tongue and lock the appetite. The small streets and alleys are maintained and repaired, the ancient style remains, the houses are as old, and there is a unique sense of vicissitudes. Strolling around, how many prosperous dust, ordinary past, let thoughts freely travel through time and space, can wash away many impetuousness of life.

A ancient city that is more cost-effective than Phoenix Ancient City!

As the saying goes, 'Phoenix's soldiers, Qianzhou's city', Qianzhou may be an underestimated ancient city Qianzhou Ancient City is located on the bank of Wanrong River in the urban area of Jishou, the capital of Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture in Hunan Province, and has a history of more than 4200 years The ancient city is connected with the residential area, so there are local people living in the ancient city, full of life, ancient traditional culture, slowly flowing rivers, and green slate roads give people a sense of tranquility and peace The south gate of Qianzhou Ancient City is a commercial street, with several shopping malls and snack streets, and it is very convenient to eat and live The lights of Qianzhou Ancient City at night are dim, the stars are dotted, the river is flowing, and the tourists are leisurely and comfortable.

Qianzhou Ancient City

With a history of more than 4200 years, the ancient city of Qianzhou in Jishou is located on the bank of the Wanrong River in the urban area of Jishou, the capital of Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture in Hunan Province. The transportation here is convenient, with National Highway 209 and Zhiliu Railway running through the north and south, it is a traditional material distribution center in the border areas of Hunan, Hubei, Chongqing, and Guizhou provinces. The ancient city of Qianzhou is located in the south of Jishou City. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction, a provincial-level historical and cultural protection block, and a provincial-level demonstration point for the intangible cultural heritage block. Here, three lands are horizontally arranged, and two waters surround the state, shaped like a Qian hexagram, hence the name 'Qianzhou'. The history of Qianzhou Ancient City is long and ancient, it was originally a barbaric land of Wuxi. During the Xia and Shang dynasties, there were indigenous people living here. After the Qin and Han dynasties, due to the convenience of water transportation, it became an important commercial port in Xiangxi. During the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, Qianzhou Ancient City became the political, economic, cultural, and military center of the Miao border area.

In most people's minds, everyone who mentions the ancient city of Xiangxi will only think of the phoenix. However, as everyone knows, in a place dozens of kilometers away from the phoenix, there is such a small town quietly. She does not have the noise of tourists, some are just quiet people, some are not polluted green rivers, some are the simple Xiangxi style. Here is the ancient city of Ganzhou. This is a place where there are no tourists, and there are basically no other tourists in the ancient city. It is a place where you can really live with the locals and forget the troubles of the world. I met an old man with a lotus leaf bag on the edge of Hujiatang. As a Hunan native, I am very familiar with this feeling. This is the taste of a post-dinner snack made by my grandmother when I was a child. But as time goes by, fewer and fewer people will have this craft, and this taste has not been known for many years. I can find such a simple taste in Ganzhou, which is the life I yearn for.