Charming Biancheng – A Road Trip to Xiangxi's Ancient Villages, Towns, and Cities

The travel route passes through Furong Town, a thousand-year-old town hanging on the  waterfall; Liye Ancient Town, a national-level historical and cultural town; Biancheng or Chadong, a place from which one can reach three provinces by foot; and, Shibadong Village, the birthplace of “targeted poverty alleviation”. The route showcases the local customs and cultures of the Miao, Dong, and Tujia ethnic groups.

Day 1
Changsha City—Furong Town, Yongshun County

Day 2
Furong Town, Yongshun County—Liye Ancient Town, Longshan County

Day 3
Liye Ancient Town, Longshan County—Chadong, Huayuan County

Day 4
Chadong, Huayuan County—Shibadong Village, Huayuan County

Day 5
Shibadong Village, Huayuan County—Changsha City

Furong Town

Furong Town is located in Yongshun County, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in Hunan. It has a history of over two thousand years and is one of the four famous ancient towns in Xiangxi. Furong Town is known for its unique geographical features, with beautiful and spectacular Tujia stilt houses flanking both sides of a rushing waterfall. It is often referred to as " a thousand-year-old town hanging on the waterfall."

Liye Ancient Town

Liye Ancient Town is located in Longshan County, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture and borders Hubei and Sichuan provinces. The ancient town is surrounded by water on three sides and mountains on all sides, creating picturesque scenery. It is also a core area for preserving the customs and traditions of the Tujia ethnic group.

In recent years, Liye has received numerous honors and recognition, including being designated as a famous historical and cultural town in China, a national key protected cultural relic, a national characteristic landscape tourist town, a national geopark, a national archaeological site, the hometown of Tujia brocade in China, and one of the first ten characteristic cultural and tourism towns in Hunan Province.

Biancheng or Chadong

Chadong Scenic Area is located in Huayuan County, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. It is situated along the Youshui River in the border area between Hunan, Guizhou, and Chongqing. It is known as a place from which one can reach three provinces by foot. This area is recognized as a famous historical and cultural town in China, one of the four famous towns in Xiangxi, and a national water conservancy area.

Shibadong Village, Huayuan County

Shibadong Village, the birthplace of "targeted poverty alleviation", is located in Shuanglong Town, Huayuan County, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. It boasts a beautiful ecological environment and unique geological landscapes. There are eighteen natural karst caves in the village, each with different views. The karst caves are connected together and are marvels of nature. These geological formations are often referred to as "a wonder in Asia." The area is predominantly inhabited by the Miao ethnic group, and their rich culture and original traditions are well-preserved. The village's architecture reflects the distinct characteristics of the Miao culture.

Chinese source: hunantoday