Nicknamed “a thousand-year-old town hanging on a waterfall”, Furong Ancient Town attracts tourists with its splendid Furong Waterfall and distinctive stilted buildings.
It presents a more dreamy scene when the entire town is illuminated by golden lights, so a night tour is more popular than daytime visits.
With a history of more than 2,000 years, it has long been home to the Tujia people, allowing you to experience unique tradition and folk culture during your Zhangjiajie tours. This guide shares highlights, a sample itinerary and practical transport advice to help you plan a perfect trip.
Facts about Furong Town
- Location: Yongshun County, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan Province, China
- Opening Hours: 08:00–24:00
- Ticket Price: CNY 108/USD 16 (valid for 3 days)
- Time Needed: 1 day and 1 night
Content Preview
- Why Visit
- What to See and Do
- How to Plan a Tour
- Practical Travel Information
- Attractions Nearby
- Travel with China Xian Tour
- FAQs
Why Visit Furong Ancient Town
- It’s a millennium-old Tujia cultural hub, preserving over 2,000 years of ethnic history and traditions.
- It has amazing views like stunning “town hanging on a waterfall,” where cliffside stilted houses meet cascading waters.
- Also known as paradise for night photography, you’ll travel with neon-lit streets and a waterfall illuminated under the stars.
- It offers a culinary journey into Tujia cuisine, offering authentic dishes like rice tofu and preserved meat.
- It’s also a window into Tujia customs, from ancient stilted architecture to vibrant festivals like the Sheba Festival.
Explore Zhangjiajie's towering sandstone pillars that inspired Avatar, then extend to Fenghuang Ancient Town for riverside charm and minority culture.
What to See and Do in Furong Ancient Town
1. Enjoy a Breathtaking View of the 2-Tiered Furong Waterfall
The core area of Furong Ancient Town is seated on the top of a cliff, with Furong Waterfall cascading in two tiers from the foot of the town, hence the name “a Millennium town hanging on a waterfall”.
Furong Waterfall is the most magnificent one of its kind in Western Hunan, with 60 meters high and 40 meters wide. Seen from afar, it looks like white ribbons floating down through the middle of quaint stilted buildings. And the sound of surging water can be heard miles away.
Best Viewing points:
- Free Viewing Deck: Coming out from Yinan Theater and follow the path on the right side
- Tuwang Palace.
2. Sample Tujia Cuisines along Five-Mile Flagstone Street
Walk up to the river dock and you will get to the lively Five-Mile Flagstone Street, it travels all through Furong Ancient Town. This street is the soul of Furong Ancient Town, and it once served as a bustling trade route connecting Hunan and Sichuan.
There are traditional stilted buildings on both sides, most of them were constructed during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911). Today, some of the buildings have been converted into stores, selling Tujia handicraft or food booths.
Recommended dishes include: rice tofu, rice noodles, preserved meat, and steamed mandarin fish.
3. Take in the Dazzling Night Scene of Furong Ancient Town
Furong Ancient Town is most gorgeous at night. When darkness falls, colorful neon lights will silhouette the town while also illuminating Furong Waterfall and the cliff. The bright hues as well as warm and cool tones make a bold contrast. They turn the whole region into a dazzling realm.
Tips: from our local guide’s experience, stay overnight at a riverside hotel provides a unique experience.
Ba Bu Tang Hostel (八部堂客栈) settled in Tuwang Palace. Ideal for capturing the panoramic view of Furong Waterfall and the town.
4. Tuwang Palace – Appreciate the Large-Scale Complex of Tujia Stilted Buildings
Tuwang Palace was originally built in 910 as the residence for the Tusi King. Later it became the summer retreat for the nobles. The remaining palace was reconstructed during the Ming Dynasty.
Different from traditional Chinese architecture, Tuwang Palace is a large-scale castle standing at the edge of the cliff, with distinctive Tujia stilted buildings orderly arranged. It’s the best place to gain insight into features of Tujia architecture and the life of nobles in the past.
5. Watch Immersive Performances and Learn the History & Culture of the Tujia Minority
You can also enjoy the immersive performance “Blooming in Furong – Carnival of Bizika” (“Bizika” means “native people” in Tujia dialect). It is staged at major attractions in Furong Ancient Town, and presents the history and culture of the Tujia minority in a more vivid way.
The show reproduces important occasions of Tujia Minority, such as battle scenes, victory celebrations, and grand inspections by the Tusi King, as well as Tujia people’s life and love stories that happened around the Youshui River.
What’s more, tourists can get close to local culture by joining the locals to dance the ancient Maogusi dance and experiencing handicrafts making like bamboo weaving and Tujia Xilankapu brocade.
Tip: Remember to check the performance schedule and arrange your tour around the performances you’re most interested in.
6. Enjoy a Boat Ride to Appreciate the Surrounding Scenery
Different from the bird’s-eye view of the waterfalls you obtain on the land, the boat tour takes you to pass through the waterfall and offers you a distinctive view of the stilted houses suspended from the cliffs. This experience is irreplaceable and unforgettable.
Its ticket price is about CNY 50 – 60/USD 7 – 9 and a ride takes about 40 minutes. The most recommended times for a boat tour are about 09:00 and 16:00. At 09:00, the river and surrounding stilted houses are shrouded in morning mist, while at 16:00, they glow a golden color at sunset.
Cover China's greatest hits on this 13-day group tour: Beijing's Forbidden City and Great Wall, Xian's Terracotta Warriors, Chengdu's pandas, Zhangjiajie's peaks, and Shanghai's skyline.
How to Plan a Furong Town Tour
Furong is perfectly positioned between Zhangjiajie and Fenghuang Ancient Town. As a result, many tourists would plan a 5-day or 6-day tour to combine all three destinations for a quintessential West Hunan experience. Here is an itinerary for your reference.
Day 1: Zhangjiajie arrival
Day2 – 3: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and Tianmen Mountain
Day 4: Full day in Furong Ancient Town
Day 5: Transfer to Fenghuang Ancient Town
Day 6: Transfer back to Zhangjiajie for departure
Explore Zhangjiajie's Avatar sandstone pillars and the world's highest glass bridge, then visit Furong Ancient Town's waterfall houses and Fenghuang's riverside Qing dynasty streets.
Is it recommended to stay overnight in Furong Town?
Absolutely yes. Furong Town is famous for its dreamy night view. After the lights are on during 19:30 – 22:00, the waterfall, bridges and stilted houses are all illuminated, just like a fairyland.
Besides, the next morning, you can avoid large crowds and enjoy a tranquil time to immerse yourself in the landscapes.
Practical Travel Information about Furong Town
How to Get to Furong Ancient Town
From Changsha:
Take a high-speed train at Changsha South Railway Station to Furongzhen. You will arrive at Furongzhen Railway Station in 3 hours. Then charter a car to the ancient town at a cost of CNY 20 or so.
From Zhangjiajie:
- Take a 35-minute high-speed train ride from Zhangjiajie West Railway Station to Furongzhen, and then charter a car to get to Furong Town.
- Visitors traveling in Zhangjiajie can board a long-distance bus at Zhangjiajie Central Bus Station to the ancient town directly. The bus ride takes about 1.5 hours and costs CNY 30.
- If you reach Zhangjiajie by flight, get on a taxi at the airport to Zhangjiajie West Railway Station or the Central Bus Station to board a train or bus to Furong Ancient Town.
Related reading: How to Plan a Trip to Furong Ancient Town from Zhangjiajie
Discover the magical nightscape of Furong Ancient Town, hike through Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and cross its thrilling Glass Bridge. Journey into Wulingyuan’s surreal peak forests and experience the dramatic cliffs, caves and skywalks of Tianmen Mountain.
From Fenghuang Ancient Town to Furong Ancient Town:
- Public Bus: A direct public bus journey from Fenghuang Ancient Town to Furong Ancient Town Bus Station takes approximately 2.5 hours on the way and costs around CNY 40 for each person.
- Taxi: A taxi ride from Fenghuang Ancient Town to Furong Ancient Town offers a direct and private journey, lasting about 2 hours with a fare of roughly CNY 200, making it ideal for small groups prioritizing convenience.
- High-Speed Rail: For faster and more convenient travel, first take a short transfer to the nearest high-speed rail station, then board a high-speed train to Furong Ancient Town Station (33–40 minutes, ~CNY 38, varying depends on date and class); after arrival, take a taxi or shuttle bus to the town.
Recommended Travel Route
Entrance → Tusi Square → Copper Column Garden → Tuwang Bridge → Tuwang Palace → Waterfall Viewing Deck → Wuli Street (crafts & food) → Overnight stay for night photography.
Best Time to Visit
Generally speaking, Furong Ancient Town can be visited all year round. But June – September is the best time to visit Furong Town, when the waterfall is at its most spectacular moment because of the rainy season.
March – May and October – November are the ideal times for photographers, when the town is filled with blooming flowers and golden foliage, respectively. The weather is also cool, suitable for outdoor activities.
Where to Stay
Most travelers prefer to stay inside the town for the charming night views and the immersive experience. The hotels are basically converted from the stilted houses and some also offer you a direct view of the waterfall.
Tips:
- If you plan to visit the town in the peak season (July and August), remember to book the hotel in advance.
- For tourists travelling with elders and children or those carrying heavy luggage, choose the hotel near the Tourist Center to avoid climbing numerous steps in the town.
Visit Beijing Forbidden City and Great Wall, Zhangjiajie floating Avatar sandstone pillars, Shanghai Bund skyline, and Huangshan bizarre pines and sunrise in ten days.
Attractions Nearby Furong Ancient Town
- Fenghuang Ancient Town: Known as one of the most beautiful towns in China, this centuries-oldtown features stilted houses built along Tuo River. During the day, appreciate the traditional architecture; at night, immerse in the dazzling night views.
- Zhangjiajie National Forest Park:The park has been listed as a UNESCO natural heritage site in 1992 and is famous as the inspiration for the floating “Hallelujah Mountains” in the movie Avatar. Feast your eyes on the natural wonders of floating mountains, sea of clouds and peak forests.
Plan Your Zhangjiajie–Furong Town Tour with China Xian Tour
If you are planning a China tour to Furong Ancient Town and want to have a tailor-made itinerary, please feel free to contact us. China Xian Tour is willing to help you!
Our local experts will take you to see most iconic sites and taste the most authentic flavor. You will enjoy a more profound and comprehensive exploration of the local cultural heritage. With us taking care of everything along the way, you only need to fully immerse yourself in the natural beauty.
FAQs about Furong Ancient Town
What kind of food and souvenirs can I find in Furong Ancient Town?
Food in Furong Town are of great characteristic flavors. The sour and spicy rice tofu is the most recommended snack which is the same snack as in the movie. Tujia cured meat and sour fish soup are famous local dishes. There are also special local drinks, grinding tea and osmanthus wine are special. Tujia embroidery bags are one of thee most unique and popular souvenirs.
Are there any recommended viewpoints for photography?
Waterfall Viewing Platform is the best place to overlook the waterfall and enjoy night view of the stilt houses. At Tuwang Bridge, you can take the picture of a hundred red lanterns.
Can I visit Furong and Fenghuang Ancient Town in one day?
Theoretically, it is feasible, the travel time between two towns is about 1.5 – 2 hours. You can spend half day on each place, but due to the tight schedule, you can only have a glance at the core scenic spots. So two days will be better choice to enjoy a relaxing and in-depth tour.
