Furongzhen — Attraction in Hunan

Furong (芙蓉), a little town well-known in the area for boasting a gracious "Old Town" that is made even more gracious by being built by cascades of a nice waterfall, on both sides of the river. Although far less known than the nearby "big brother" Phoenix (also in Hunan Province), we found it extremely interesting and - apparently unlike Phoenix itself - not very commercial and, in result, not too touristy, spoiled and, in the end, pricey. There's a fare gate on the entrance to the Old Town, but both in daytime and in the evening it was idle, so no fee to see the town. Only one place is payable, and seems to be actually hugely overpriced, 110¥, that is some 50m-long walk behind the waterfall, which we had done for free the previous evening anyway. The area is completely cut off of the traffic, which makes exploring unspoiled by the beeping of the reckless Chinese drivers (sic!) and is walkable within 2 hours max., including stops for photos. Worth seeing daytime for shopping and architecture as well as in the evening for the aura of the town's lights. If interested to see a household of the town's splendor days, do not miss the museum in a magnificent mansion on the main road (well, it's really a pedestrian path) we were invited into for free (in the pics included). – Also, while at the town, we discovered there's more to see in the area than the Old Town itself, namely there's the Red Rocks National Geopark (Hong Shi Lin, 红石林) some 15kms away. Driving a car, we went there and do not regret it at all. Just see it for yourselves, folks! Btw, shame you can't edit/add locations in China on Google Maps, hence there is plenty of erroneously placed locations (we have been here for 3 years now having a Chinese driving license, so we know), which may be described by pictures which were taken somewhere else than shown. So because of that, wanting to include some photos of the Red Stone Park, I am adding to the confusion further by adding them to the existing location of Furong Town (the actual location of the park is shown in one of my pics)....

The ancient city of Furong, also known as the "City of Lotus Flowers", is an extraordinary tourist attraction in China that impresses with its history and picturesque location. It is a place where nature and architecture harmoniously coexist, creating a unique atmosphere and atmosphere. One of Furong's greatest assets is its preserved architecture from the Ming and Qing dynasties, which transports visitors back in time. Characteristic wooden buildings, narrow streets and traditional shops attract tourists who want to feel the authentic atmosphere of old life. Charming views of the waterfalls and surrounding mountains add to the magic of this location. Furong also has great cultural significance, being a place where various festivals and events related to local traditions take place. Visitors can try regional cuisine and learn about the customs of the locals, which makes the stay even more authentic and valuable. However, like many popular tourist destinations, Furong can get crowded, especially during the tourist season. This may affect the comfort of visiting, but the true beauty of this place makes it worth taking up this challenge. To sum up, the ancient city of Furong is a place that offers a combination of history, culture and nature. It is an ideal destination for those who want to discover Chinese tradition and the charm of centuries-old architecture, creating...

Wonderful! Only spent daytime. Arrived 9am left 3pm. I left my luggage at the train station locker located at the departures area before bag scan. Free lockers. That was convenient. I got into a bus to downtown (idk if there's one direct to the old town scenic area), so I needed to pay another 2-3 yuan for an suv "bus". Locals are nice tho 1 guy tried to charge 20 for a taxi. The old town area is like an amusement park with an entrance ticket gate, unlike Fenghuang where the whole place is accessible. I paid 108yuan. Don't lose the ticket because you'll need it at the waterfall area, which the locals probably cannot enter. The best view is from the boat deck but they don't seem to operate at that time. It would've been prettiest at night when all the lanterns and spotlights are lit. Waited for the same bluish suv bus with a stamp on its side, paid 2yuan until the bus station. Had to wait about 15mins at the bus station for the one going to the railway staion for 3yuan. Do know there's also a bus here to zhangjiajie 张家界 as...