Fenghuang County

July 3, 2010 by admin
Filed under Featured, Recent Posts, Searching for Shangri-la

Fenghuang County is located in Hunan province. It has been the region of Miao and Tujia （two ethnic minorities in China）since ancient times. It is a national historical and cultural city. This old city’s scenery fuses natural beauty and humanity beauty together.

Fenghuang County takes the ancient city as the center, east to Hongqiao, south to Yannao city, west to pond, north to Tuojiang River. It is one of the busiest sections in Fenghuang and was built in the Kangxi Reign (1661—1722). It is regarded as “the pearl of Xiangxi”. The city has a history of more than 1000 years. It comes into being many historic spots and interest places.

Fenghuang county’s attractions have become witnesses to a period of history. The whole mountain town still remains its original characteristics, especially the north gate and east gate of the old city. Ancient buildings can be found everywhere. There are the upturned eave brackets Sun Palace, Longevity Palace, Dacheng Hall, Tianwang Temple and other historic buildings. In the Reign of Emperor Jiaqing (1796-1820)，there had built about 50 temples. Nowadays, there still remain Wang Temple, Town God Temple, King of Hell Temple, Guandi Temple, Confucian Temple, etc. You may also have the chance to live in Diaojiao buildings, which is the typical living architecture of the inhabitants. They are wooden houses with tile roofs and always stand upright beside the lake.

Beautiful places can always cultivate talented people, not excepting Fenghuang County. Here has been the hometown of Shen Congwen (1902-1988), he described its beautiful scenery once in “the border town “.

A famous writer also said that,” Fenghuang county is one of the most beautiful towns in China.” I agree with him. If you want to witness the real west Hunan, you have to make that trip.