December 01, 2023/ Travel/ Furong Ancient Town, Hunan, China
Furong Ancient Town: All You Need to Know to Visit The Waterfall Ancient Town in China
Furong Ancient Town is located in the northwest part of Hunan province in Yongshun County of Western Hunan Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture.
Furong Town has more than 2000 years of history and it is also known as the “Ancient Town Hanging on the Waterfall” because of the magnificent waterfall passing through the town.
The first time we arrived in Furong, we had a feeling of watching a scene from a movie or being inside a painting. The place is so beautiful that it doesn’t seem real, but rather an ancient Chinese fairytale town.
Something that positively surprised us is that, despite being a tourist destination, it is still not as crowded as other tourist destinations in the region such as the Avatar Mountains of Zhangjiajie National Park or Fenghuang Ancient Town.
Which is one more reason to visit this fascinating Chinese Ancient Town.
How to get to Furong Old Town
Getting to this town has never been easier, especially if you are coming from Zhangjiajie. In the past there was only one bus, which made the trip somewhat longer and less convenient. For a few years now you can get to Furong (Furongzhen) from Zhangjiajie (Zhangjiajie West Sttion) in just 30 minutes by high speed train for around USD5 per person.
You can buy your high speed train tickets in advance at trip.com. Don’t forget to always have your passport with you as they will ask you for it several times!
We recommend that you contact your hotel in advance to pick you up when you arrive at Furong Station. Please note that the town does not have car access in many parts, so if you take a taxi at the station, it may not be able to drop you off exactly at your accommodation.
If you don’t speak Chinese like us, you can contact your accommodation through trip.com. once you have your reservation. If it is your first time in China and you are not very familiar, I recommend that you come and see my recommendations that will make your trip here much easier.
How Long to Stay in Furong Old Town
It is possible to see everything in a single day as a day trip, since it is not a very big town. But I recommend you stay one night if you can!
The place is beautiful and worth enjoying quietly. It is also beautiful to see the town and the waterfall illuminated at night.
Where to Stay in Furong Old Town
This is the homestay we chose in Furong Old Town:
Tusi Xuanfu (Furong Town Waterfall Store)
To be honest, it was one of the best experiences we have had in China. It is an accommodation located within the ancient town, with the best views of the waterfalls.
It is hosted by a lovely family, and even though they don’t speak English, they go out of their way to help in any way they can. It even has a restaurant with views of the waterfalls where they prepare whatever you want instantly. We had difficulty understanding the local food menu, and they let us go into the kitchen to choose the foods we wanted to eat! Plus everything was delicious!
If you want a comfortable place, with spectacular views, but also an authentic experience with a native family, don’t think twice, this is the best place!
What to See in Furong Old Town
To visit the old town and its scenic route you’ll have to pay RMB 80. You can see the entire town in about 2 or three hours. There is also a scenic route through the most characteristic spots of the town.
From the central part of the oldtown you can decide to continue climbing the hill, where most of the shops, souvenir stands and restaurants are located. Most of them have spectacular views of the waterfalls. Don’t miss it, really nice and picturesque!
If you decide to go down and continue along the scenic route, you will enter inside the waterfall and come out on the other side! It is an incredible feeling to walk inside the waterfall and see the town from different angles.
At night, the lighting of the buildings and waterfalls is turned on, making the town look even more magical!
Another evening activity is the Miao dance show. Our accommodation recommended the local Miao dance show at night. This show is included in the tickets to the city and the truth is that it is quite beautiful!
Best Place to See the Waterfall
If we would have to choose, we would choose the views from our homestay, from which you could see the waterfalls and the entire town in a panoramic view, and from one of the restaurants in the center of the town, with the waterfalls in front of you in all their magnitude!
There is no certain restaurant that has the best views, many of them are in practically the same location in front of the waterfall. You can come in and see if you like the views. To stay they will ask you for a drink.
Here I leave you impressions of both places. Which one do you prefer? We loved them both!
Tips for Your Trip to Furong Old Town
- If you can stay one night! It is a magical and unique place in China and it is worth enjoying it with time, both day and night.
- Contact your accommodation before arriving in Furong. The town is not accessible by cars and the accommodation can pick you up with a tuktuk if you come with suitcases.
- Don’t miss the views from the restaurants in the center of town. They are spectacular!
- If you are planning a trip to Hunan you can check out my Hunan Itinerary, including Zhangjiajie, Furong and Fenghuang
