Appreciate the Colorful Folk Customs in Fenghuang Ancient City

Fenghuang Ancient City, also known as Phoenix Ancient City, is located in the southwest of Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture. There is a mountain resembles a phoenix which is spreading its wings and fly up, hence the name. This ancient town was regarded as the most beautiful town in China by New Zealand writer Rewi Alley. It was built in Kangxi forty-three years (1704), and has 300 years of history. The ancient city is a gathering place for Miao and Tujia ethnic minority, if you come here, you will be attracted by the colorful folk customs here.

The unique Diaojiaolou beside Tuo River


The beautiful Tuo River run through the city


There is a mountain resembles a phoenix which is spreading its wings and fly up, hence the name.




There are many local characteristics commodities sold beside the Tuo River.


Ginger candy is a specialty of Fenghuang, hand crafted, has more than one hundred years of history, and is one of traditional snack in Fenghuang.


A variety of colored rice wine


natural simplicity silver jewelery


Crying marriage is a traditional art. Tujia girls began to learn crying marriage from twelve-year-old. The brides usually cry one month before marriage. Her family prepare dowry for her, while talk about the sad of separation, in the form of singing a song on behalf of crying, or cry with a song.


The ingenuity of the Miao girl not only knows how to embroidery, weaving and spinning, but also weave various patterns of flowers ribbon and flower packages.


The authentic tujia bacon pig head




The beautiful streets in the small town





The cornices and brackets in the ancient city, the shop is furnished with an array of ethnic handicrafts, reveals a deep old-fashioned rhyme.


The exquisite wood carvings in the former residence of Shen Congwen


It was from Shen Congwen that Fenghuang was known to the world. He was born in a typical ancient southern courtyard of Fenghuang ancient city, a famous writer, historian, and archaeologist.


The former residence is now on display the calligraphy, manuscripts, relics and portraits of Shen Congwen, which have become one of the most attractive cultural landscapes in Fenghuang.




Tuo River is the mother river of the ancient city of Fenghuang, slowly flow though the walls, and feeds the generations of the ancient city.