New Zealand writer Alley praised it as the most beautiful town in China.
Fenghuang Ancient City, located in the southwest of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in Hunan Province, is a national 4A-level tourist attraction. Located at the southern foot of Wuling Mountain, on the east side of Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, 52 kilometers away from Jishou City, the state capital. Located between east longitude 109 18' and north latitude 109 48', it is adjacent to Guizhou Province, with a total land area of about 10 square kilometers. This is a typical multi-ethnic settlement.
Fenghuang Ancient City is one of the top ten cultural heritages in Hunan. It was once praised by the New Zealand writer Alley as the most beautiful town in China. Comparable to Old Town of Lijiang, Yunnan and Pingyao, Shanxi. Known as "Pingyao in the north and Phoenix in the south", it is a national historical and cultural city.
It was built in the 43rd year of Qing Emperor Kangxi (1704). There is Qingshi Street in the city and a wooden diaojiao building by the river. There are Chaoyang Palace, Ancient City Museum, Yangjia Ancestral Hall, Shen Congwen's former residence, Xiong Xiling's former residence, Tianwang Temple, Dacheng Hall, Wanshou Palace and other buildings. In 2009, it was rated as a national 4A-level tourist attraction. In 20 17, it was rated as the top ten ancient villages and towns most loved by netizens.
Fenghuang Ancient City was founded in the thirty-fifth year of Jiajing in Ming Dynasty (1556), with a history of more than 400 years. Although it has gone through many vicissitudes, it is still well preserved.
There are more than 120 Ming and Qing characteristic houses, more than 30 temples, pavilions and more than 200 antique stone streets in the ancient city, which is the county with the most cultural relics in southwest China.