Tourists planning a trip to Zhangjiajie usually take Tianmen Mountain and Wulingyuan as their main itineraries. Furong Ancient Town is a worthwhile stop near Zhangjiajie. It is about a two-hour drive from Zhangjiajie downtown, and many Xiangxi route tourists take it as a mid-way stop. Formerly known as Wangcun, it was renamed after a movie of the same name. This article introduces the transportation, ticket prices, accommodation, best travel seasons, local cuisine and core waterfall landscape of Furong Ancient Town, helping you decide whether to add it to your Zhangjiajie itinerary.
Transportation Modes to Furong Ancient Town
The main transportation modes to Furong Ancient Town are as follows:
International Flights
You can choose to fly to Changsha Huanghua International Airport or Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport. Changsha Airport is connected to international cities such as London, Seoul, Bangkok and Singapore; Zhangjiajie Airport covers routes to Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia such as Incheon, Busan and Ho Chi Minh City.
High-speed Rail Transfer from Airports
Transfer from Changsha Airport to Changsha South Railway Station, and the high-speed rail ride to Furong Town Station takes about 2 hours and 47 minutes; transfer from Zhangjiajie Airport to Zhangjiajie West Railway Station, and the high-speed rail ride to Furong Town Station takes about 23 minutes.
Direct High-speed Rail
The Zhangjiajie-Jishou-Huaihua High-speed Railway connects Zhangjiajie, Furong Town and Fenghuang Ancient Town. Furong Town Station is about 2.5 kilometers away from the ancient town scenic area, and it takes about 10 minutes by taxi after exiting the station.
Self-driving Scheme
Depart from the urban area of Zhangjiajie via Zhanghua Expressway to Longji Expressway, and the journey takes about 2 hours; depart from Changsha for about 4 to 5 hours.
Furong Ancient Town Waterfall
Ticket Prices and Booking Tips for Furong Ancient Town
The peak-season adult ticket of Furong Ancient Town is 108 CNY per person, and the ticket is valid for repeated entries within 3 days after purchase. Students and the elderly can enjoy a discounted ticket of 60 CNY per person with valid certificates, and children under 1.2 meters are free of charge. The scenic area is open from 8:00 to 23:00, and the night view is the most beautiful after 19:00. If you mainly watch the night view, you can enter the scenic area in the evening, stay overnight and continue visiting the next day without buying another ticket. Here are some practical tips about tickets:
- Ticket Channels: Tickets can be purchased at the ticket office at the entrance of the scenic area on site or booked in advance through travel platforms, with the same price.
- Ticket Use: Valid for three days. Tourists staying in inns inside the ancient town do not need to buy another ticket if they do not exit the gate of the scenic area the next day.
- Night View Watching: The night view lights are turned on after 19:00, and you can still visit core areas such as the waterfall and stone slab street when entering the scenic area at this time.
The 108 CNY ticket is valid for three days. Considering that the ancient town is built on a cliff waterfall with high maintenance costs, this price is reasonable.
Accommodation Options for Furong Ancient Town: Comparison Inside and Outside the Town
Staying Inside the Ancient Town
Staying inside the ancient town offers the strongest immersive experience. You can overlook the waterfall and stilted buildings right outside the window, hear birds singing in the early morning, and fall asleep to the sound of water at night. The price ranges from 150 CNY to 600 CNY, and view rooms are more expensive but offer a better experience. Advance booking is required during peak seasons, otherwise accommodation will be in short supply. Note that vehicles cannot drive into the ancient town, and tourists need to drag their suitcases through stone slab steps by themselves, so it is recommended to pack light.
Staying Outside the Ancient Town
Tourists who have high requirements for accommodation or are unwilling to drag suitcases can choose hotels outside the ancient town. The price ranges from 100 CNY to 300 CNY, with parking lots available and larger room sizes. The disadvantage is the lack of ancient town atmosphere, and you need to walk out to watch the night view. It is personally recommended to choose accommodation inside the ancient town even for just one night. The experience of seeing the waterfall when opening the window is the most valuable part of Furong Ancient Town.
Best Travel Seasons for Furong Ancient Town
- Spring (March to May): Lush new leaves, sufficient waterfall water, fewer tourists, suitable for photography.
- Summer (June to August): The waterfall has the largest water volume of the year with spectacular scenery, but the number of tourists is large and accommodation prices rise. Summer vacation is the peak season, so tourists who are sensitive to crowds should choose carefully.
- Autumn (September to November): The most recommended season. Dry and pleasant weather, good light, colorful fallen leaves, and fewer tourists.
- Winter (December to February): Very few tourists and a quiet environment. Snow scenery is rare but beautiful, but the cold and humid weather is hard to adapt to, and the waterfall water volume decreases.
The best time to enter the scenic area is around 3 p.m. Visit the ancient town in the daytime first, then watch the sunset, and wait for the lights to turn on at 19:30 until 22:30. The ancient town is simple and quiet in the daytime, and bright with numerous lights at night, with two completely different styles.
Introduction to Core Scenic Spots of Furong Ancient Town
Waterfall
The waterfall is about 60 meters high and 40 meters wide, pouring down from the town into the Youshui River. Tourists can walk through the waterfall trail behind the waterfall, experiencing a feeling like a water curtain cave, with cool water droplets splashing on their faces. The nearby viewing platform is a classic shooting spot, where you can photograph the waterfall, stilted buildings and the river at the same time.
Practical tips about the waterfall:
- 1The ground of the waterfall trail is slippery all year round, so you must wear non-slip sports shoes.
- The water mist is heavy, so it is recommended to bring a thin coat, as clothes are easy to get wet by the water mist.
- Do not use the flash when shooting night views. The mobile phone night view mode can capture the effect of lights reflecting on the waterfall.
- When the viewing platform is crowded, you can go to the plank road behind the waterfall (next to the covered bridge), which is a free niche viewpoint with fewer people and less water mist.
- The water volume is the largest in spring and summer, and the sound of the waterfall can be heard within ten miles.
Stone Slab Street
The five-li-long bluestone slab street undulates along the mountain, with shops on both sides selling bacon, rice tofu, ginger candy, silver ornaments and so on. The narrowest part only allows two people to pass side by side. When there are few tourists in the early morning or evening, there are only footsteps and the sound of the distant waterfall on the street, creating a quiet environment.
Stilted Buildings
The stilted buildings are built along the mountains and beside the water, stacked layer upon layer on cliffs and waterfalls. At night, numerous lights reflect on the water, like pavilions in the air. Every window lattice and railing is exquisitely carved, recording the history of the Tujia people.
Tuwang Bridge and Baishou Hall
Tuwang Bridge is a five-hole stone arch with a wind and rain corridor, hung with red lanterns, and the shooting effect is excellent in the evening and at night. Baishou Hall was the place for ancient chieftains to discuss affairs and for Tujia people to hold sacrificial dances. There are many intangible cultural heritage performances every day, including Baishou Dance, Maogusi Dance and Tujia love song duets. There is also a live-action performance The Carnival of Bizika at night.
Youshui River
Besides the waterfall, the Youshui River runs through the town with clear water. You can take a boat tour to view the whole picture of the ancient town from the water, with a unique perspective.
Night View of Stilted Buildings in Furong Ancient Town
Recommended Special Cuisine of Furong Ancient Town
Rice Tofu
Rice tofu is the signature snack of Furong Ancient Town, which became famous because of the movie Hibiscus Town. It is made by grinding local rice into pulp and steaming it, with a soft and smooth taste. There are many stalls in the ancient town, but local residents generally recommend No. 113 Liu Xiaoqing Rice Tofu Shop, which is next to the chastity archway in a traditional old wooden house. It has been in business for 38 years without closing all year round. It offers both sweet and salty flavors: the sweet one is made with sweet rice wine, popular among young tourists; the salty one is mixed with shredded pork and vegetables, suitable for the general public. It costs about 10 CNY per bowl.
Other Tujia Special Dishes
- Tujia Bacon: Smoked with firewood, transparent fat meat and tender lean meat. It is often stir-fried with garlic sprouts or dried beans, salty and fragrant, 50-70 CNY per portion.
- Artemisia Baba: Small cakes made of artemisia and glutinous rice, pan-fried or steamed, with a light grass fragrance, sweet but not greasy, 3-5 CNY each.
- Sour Soup Fish: Boiled with fresh live fish, sour and spicy to appetize, 80-120 CNY per portion, suitable for 2-3 people.
- Blood Cake Duck: Stewed with duck meat and glutinous rice blood cake, spicy and soft.
It is recommended to choose restaurants around the waterfall viewing platform, where you can enjoy the waterfall while dining, with a per capita consumption of 40-80 CNY.
Practical Tips for Visiting Furong Ancient Town
The following is a summary of experience to help tourists avoid unnecessary troubles:
- Wear suitable shoes: The ancient town is full of stone slab roads and steps, and high heels cannot walk normally. Be sure to wear non-slip sports shoes or flat shoes.
- Carry a small amount of cash: Remote stalls and small shops may not support mobile payment, so it is recommended to prepare 100-200 CNY in cash for backup.
- Pay attention to anti-slip: The ground in the waterfall area and the waterfall trail is wet all year round, so walk slowly, especially on rainy days.
- It is recommended to stay for one night: The ancient town is not large, and it only takes two to three hours for a quick visit. But the night view and early morning scenery are the essence, and you will miss the main experience if you do not stay overnight.
- Book accommodation in advance: Book at least 2-3 weeks in advance during peak seasons. Temporary accommodation may double the price and have poor locations.
- Network Signal: Mobile phone signal is normal in most areas of the ancient town, but it may be weak near the waterfall and in some stilted buildings.
Is Furong Ancient Town Worth Visiting
Back to the original question: Is it worth visiting Furong Ancient Town on the way to Zhangjiajie? If time permits for a one-night stay, Furong Ancient Town is worth a visit. The waterfall landscape of the town is unique in China, with the waterfall passing through the town and stilted buildings built on the edge of the waterfall. It is simple and quiet in the daytime, and bright with lights at night. The disadvantages include a 108 CNY ticket, many tourists in peak seasons, and the effort of dragging luggage through stone slab steps. However, if you stay for one night, rest by the waterfall in the evening, and walk along the stone slab street in the early morning, you will understand why tourists visit repeatedly. Scenic spots in Xiangxi are scattered, and the connection of transportation and accommodation is complicated. If you want to simplify the itinerary, you can consult China Dragon Travel, which provides transportation and accommodation booking services. Prepare in advance, and Furong Ancient Town will not disappoint you.
