Fenghuang is an ancient frontier riverside town between China’s great central plains and its southern mountain ranges. Home to several indigenous communities like the local Tujia and the Miao people, Fenghuang has been a vibrant center of trade and culture for centuries. Expect to find typical Chinese architecture in the temples and pagodas, traditional shops and old family ancestral halls that are all interconnected by narrow winding laneways. The banks of the Tuojiang River are lined with traditional wooden houses on stilts, which light up prettily at night, illuminating the length of the river in the walled city. Don’t miss out on Fenghuang’s famous ginger candy while you’re in town!