Furong Ancient Town Facts
Furong Ancient Town also known as Furong Town or Furongzhen (芙蓉镇), is an ancient town with more than 2,000 years history. Since a long waterfall flows through this town, people always call it “the ancient town hanging on the waterfall”. It features in peaceful and natural environment as well as unsophisticated folkways. Walking on the cobbled lanes, feeling the antique flavor and communicating with the kind local people, you will get an enjoyable experience here.
Type: Ancient Town, Historical & Cultural Site, Ethnic Minority Place, AAAA Scenic Area
Best Seasons: April to October
Recommended Visiting Time: Half a day
Opening Hours: 08:00 ~ 24:00
Tickets: CNY 108
Address: Yongshun County, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan Province (湖南省湘西土家族苗族自治州永顺县)
Why Visit Furong Ancient Town?
Between the popular tourist destinations – Zhangjiajie and Fenghuang in central China’s Hunan Province lies a small town that often reputed as “Thousand-year Ancient Town Hanging on the Waterfall“, which is Furong Ancient Town. Once known as Wangcun (王村), Furong Ancient Town was renamed following the success of the eponymous film – Hibiscus (Furong 芙蓉 in Chinese) Town, which was filmed here. Furong Ancient Town is one of the four famous towns in western Hunan with the majestic view of the 40-meter-wide and 60-meter-high waterfall as well as the ancient buildings constructed above the cliff for your enjoyment of the special and grand spectacle.
Furong Ancient Town has a history of more than 2000 years, where the traditional Tujia architecture is still well preserved. It was first founded by the King Tusi as the capital of Youyang County in 202 BC, during the West Han Dynasty. Till now it has preserved lots of cultural relic sites for your learning of the change and development during the past 20 centuries. Tujia ethnic group is the original inhabitants and also the predominant population in Furong Ancient Town and the buildings perched on the cliff are Diaojiaolou (吊脚楼), which are typical residential houses built by Tujia people. Adorned with colorful decorations and intricate carvings, they offer visitors a glimpse into the Tujia way of life.