After that sumptuous meal, I got back my strength to walk around in this endlessly intriguing town of Fenghuang in Hunan province. The first time I was here, I was only passing by on the way to Zhangjiajie. This time I have a little more time to spare so I will have to make the most of it. The earliest references to this town or area were in the late 7th century AD. The main town was built in the 1700s during the Ming Dynasty.
The town is situated in a valley and is named one of the most beautiful towns in China. I would have to agree with them. Fenghuang is as picturesque as it gets. The Tuo River snakes through the town, with ancient Ming Dynasty buildings still standing on the the banks of the Tuo River. It was a hub of activity during the Ming and Qing Dynasties serving not only as a cultural but also military center in the western Hunan area.
Remains of this former stature of Fenghuang can still be seen in the fortification built around the town. These days hawkers tend to hang around this area to cater to the ever growing tourist trade. Fenghuang has a great mix of natural elements to complete this wonderful scene. The mountains on either side of the river give a splendid view of the town. The river is the life blood of the town and now even more so since it can now ferry tourists wishing to see more of the town. The buildings have that nice wooden finish, giving it that mystical feel.
As expected, there are a lot of shops here in Fenghuang, a lot of them selling crafts like flutes, jewelry, costumes and other Miao stuff. On interesting shop sells smoked meat, the type that I have been seeing, and eating, in Hunan. A first glance, the shop doesn’t look particularly interesting because the stuff they are selling is all black, it is smoked after all. But closer inspection will reveal interesting stuff like flattened pig’s faces.
The river banks themselves are thankfully free of hawkers, so it is wonderful just to take a stroll along the river. Right across you will see old Ming era houses on stilts still standing to this day. The local people have done a very good job of preserving the old town. All new development has been going on in a different area, leaving the ancient town preserved. The tourist trade has also helped raise awareness of the value of preserving this wonderful town. Owners of the houses are compelled to maintain their houses to keep business going. Although it may be for the wrong reasons, it works.
[xmlgm {http://www.worldwanderings.net/kml/Fenghuang.kmz} zoom=14]