Furong Town, Zhangjiajie Travel Notes
With a special mood, I started a leisurely lifestyle, setting off alone from my home in Jiangxi to the beautiful Zhangjiajie and mysterious Xiangxi. I have long yearned for the spiritual charm and natural beauty of the mountains and waters in Xiangxi.
Day 1: Yingtan to Changsha by high-speed rail. I met up with my classmate in Changsha and took a stroll around Orange Island. This internet-famous city has been boosted by its entertainment culture and popular tea brand Chayanyuese—truly not easy. I enjoyed a lively conversation with my classmate.
Day 2: Changsha to Zhangjiajie by bullet train. I spent 3 days visiting Wulingyuan, Yellow Dragon Cave, Tianmen Mountain, and Baofeng Lake. During those three days, every scenic spot satisfied my photographer's eye for composition. Plus, with my long-time interest in arts, I watched 'Zhangjiajie Eternal Love,' 'Charming Xiangxi' in Wulingyuan, and the large-scale outdoor performance 'Tianmen Fox Fairy'—each with its own characteristics.
Within Wulingyuan Scenic Area, the rocks and trees were all exquisite—viewed horizontally as a range, vertically as peaks.
The stunning scenery inside Yellow Dragon Cave was breathtaking; the creator's most divine brushstroke!
The waterscape of Baofeng Lake in Zhangjiajie was incredibly beautiful, complementing the mountains—immersed in such a wonderland, it was exceptionally charming.
'Zhangjiajie Eternal Love' was performed in a dedicated grand theater with good lighting and sound effects!
'Tianmen Fox Fairy' featured a cast of over 500 performers—the most beautiful and elegant!
Day 5: Zhangjiajie to Furong Town by bus from the coach station. I spent three days strolling in Furong Town and the surrounding Red Stone Forest, Qifeng Lake. Furong Town is famous as a thousand-year-old town hanging on a waterfall. The tourism environment is not as mature as Zhangjiajie, but it is less commercialized than Fenghuang Ancient Town. That was an important reason for choosing Furong Town this trip.
Perhaps because I am often exposed to culture, I enjoy watching performances everywhere; they are a condensed history and humanities. In Furong Town, I watched two performances: 'Bizika's Carnival' and 'Furong Blossoms.' 'Bizika's Carnival' was free, performed both day and night—more abundant at night—with roaming performances at several spots; the shaman breathing fire and warrior feats fascinated children the most. Furong Town is only a 4A scenic spot, but with its waterfall development, night lighting, and cultural performances, it makes people linger and forget to leave—its tourist popularity exceeds many 5A spots!
Tujia stilted buildings cluster along the mountains, and the waterfall set against the cliffs is extra colorful and magnificent.
Walking under the waterfall, experiencing the unique karst landform, feeling the gorge town with a uniform layout.
The eternal rock and the 500-million-year-old earth wonder—Red Stone Forest—is even more beautiful than Yunnan's Stone Forest.
Mysterious Xiangxi is a history of Tujia chieftain autonomy—the patrol of King Peng's chieftain!
A still from 'Furong Blossoms' depicting the folk customs of a Tujia daughter's wedding.
About travel, that's my sharing. Many friends may wonder why I spent three days in little Furong Town. First, I like to immerse myself deeply in one place; second, there are indeed many scenic spots around Furong Town. Worth it!
About food, Zhangjiajie's 'three pots' and salamander are local specialties; in Furong Town, it's cured meat and mandarin fish.
About accommodation, Zhangjiajie and Furong Town have many inns with local characteristics. On the first night in Furong Town, to view the waterfall, I booked a guesthouse with a waterfall view. To be honest, the value for money was really low, and it was too noisy for me to sleep. The next day, I packed my backpack and looked around the scenic area. Following my instinct, I arrived at the entrance of Baihe Huagu Inn. First, I was attracted by its exquisite decoration. I stayed one night; it was clean and tidy, with toiletries and bedding more comfortable than a five-star hotel. The room was tastefully arranged with a bookish charm, and the breakfast was delicious and filling. So I stayed two more nights at Huagu. It happened to be the Dragon Boat Festival, and the landlady hand-made zongzi for every guest—the warmest memory of my trip in Hunan.
Day 8: Huaihua to Yingtan by high-speed rail, returning home smoothly. For this leisurely tour of Xiangxi, I really enjoyed the journey. I recommend friends to take time to visit, too—besides the mountains, waters, and culture of Xiangxi, the air and pace of life there are full of a leisurely vibe.
