Phoenix, Fenghuang County, Hunan province, China 24 Feb 2017
About this photo
The Stone Bridge is one of many spanning the two banks of the Tuojiang River in the ancient town of Phoenix in the Fenghuang County of China. Said to be one of the top two picturesque towns in all of China, exploring Phoenix is like stepping back in time to an era of simplicity.
The town was built in 1704 incorporating the natural flow of water into the town's architecture, with houses built on stilts along the river front. The Tuojiang River remains a life source for the people who live in the town, fishing feeds families and boatmen earn money by ferrying visitors across the river.
Phoenix offers more than incredible natural beauty and is home to many architectural gems remaining from the Ming and Qing dynasty; the south end of the Great Wall of China ends here, there are four ancient city gates, pagodas and water wheels. Add a trip to Phoenix to any of Insight Guides' trips to China.
