Fenghuang ancient town, Xiangxi, Hunan

Nestled among the mountains of western Hunan province, Fenghuang ancient town is shaped by the Tuojiang River, which flows through the heart of the town. Wooden stilt houses line the riverbanks, while stone-paved lanes wind through traditional residences dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911).

For centuries, Fenghuang has been an important trading and military town in western Hunan. Home to multiple ethnic communities, it has carried its cultural traditions and local heritage through generations.

Fenghuang is also the hometown of renowned Chinese writer Shen Congwen (1902-88). The mountains, rivers, and everyday life there became an enduring part of his literary world, and his connection to the town adds another layer to its distinctive atmosphere — shaped by local traditions, rural life, and generations of stories.

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