When we planned our first trip to China as a family of five, we naturally gravitated toward the big cities — Shanghai and Beijing. But as nature-lovers, we also wanted somewhere quieter, somewhere that would let us slow down. That led us to Zhangjiajie (张家界) — and eventually, to the lesser-known gem of Furong Ancient Town.
Visiting Furong Ancient Town
With five days and five nights, we decided to venture beyond the usual attractions. What we found was a town so picturesque and peaceful that we agreed it deserved more than a passing visit — at least a night, if not longer.
Finding Our way to Furong
Furong Ancient Town, also known as Furongzhen (芙蓉镇), lies southwest of Zhangjiajie in Hunan Province. Our itinerary took us through three different hotels — Wulingyuan, Zhangjiajie city, and finally Furong — a deliberate choice so we could rest instead of spending long hours travelling with luggage.
One of the highlights before we even arrived? The high-speed rail.
My husband was keen for our boys to experience it, and it turned out to be the easiest way to get there — just 23 minutes from Zhangjiajie West Railway Station to Furongzhen Station. We left most of our bulky bags at our hotel because storage on the train was limited, then boarded with only what we needed.
The boys were thrilled, eyes glued to the speed display as it climbed towards 300km/h.
After arriving, a complimentary hotel shuttle took us through the town. We paid a small entrance fee — and moments later, we arrived at our hotel Furong Town Flower Waterfall Bay Homestay (芙蓉镇大瀑布店) and were greeted by a view that felt almost unreal.
The Grand Welcome – Furong Grand Waterfall
The amazing sight that greeted us at our hotel lobby was the Furong Grand Waterfall.
What a sight to behold, at 40 metres wide, 60 metres high, cascading dramatically through the heart of town before meeting the Youshui River below.
Unlike many waterfalls that can only be admired from one spot, Furong offers viewpoints at different levels, each revealing a new perspective. There are photographers at either end of the waterfall to help take photos and even print them for a small fee.
Soon after checking into our hotel, we followed the path that leads behind the falls. Cool sprays of mist brushed our faces as we walked through what felt like a crystal curtain. We also discovered a relic site where early Tujia villagers once hid for refuge.
My boys particularly enjoyed walking along the stone slabs above the waterfall, where the water was calmer.
Wandering the Ancient Streets of Furong
With a legacy of over 2000 years of history, Furong Ancient Town has preserved its architecture excellently. To be able to walk on the cobbled stones and view the traditional Tujia buildings perched along the cliffs called Diaojiaolou (吊脚楼) was a treat. Due to the uneven ground, babywearing works far better than strollers.
Furong Ancient Town was first founded by the King Tusi and chosen to be the capital of Youyang County in 202BC as part of the West Han Dynasty era. There are several relic sites coupled with interpretation boards recounting the history of the Tujia people.
Those we visited were the Xizhou Copper Pillar Park, Tusi King’s Bridge and Tusi King’s Palace. My family caught a cultural performance at 4pm on the Tusi King’s Bridge and it was lovely seeing the local people perform in their ethnic Tujia costumes.
Dining with a View
Restaurants line the main Wuli Street, many overlooking either the waterfall or the river. We enjoyed local dishes including like rice tofu, which we found in a family-owned eatery.
This local delicacy is made of rice tofu cubes or hand-squeezed noodles (similar to mee tai mak noodles) made together with soy sauce, oil and vinegar. Ours was in a comforting soup broth which we slurped up quickly.
We also found freshly brewed milk tea and vanilla soft serve ice cream sold in a shop between the Tusi King’s Bridge and Xizhou Copper Pillar Park. This milk tea store incorporates whip cream and roasted pecan bits into its specialty tea.
Magic after Sunset
As evening fell, the town took on a different glow as lanterns lit the streets and river. The waterfall also transformed into a magical rainbow of colours with LED light technology. We had dinner in our hotel with the waterfall as our backdrop.
With our bellies full, we headed out for a cultural show at 8pm featuring Tujia ethnic dances and performances located behind Tusi King’s Palace. The ticket price was included in our Furong Town entrance fee.
Furong Ancient Town is a Must-visit Destination
Our time in Furong was unhurried and deeply memorable. Clean, scenic, and easy to explore with kids, it became one of our favourite stops in China. If you’re heading to Zhangjiajie, adding Furong to your itinerary brings an extra layer of wonder — especially for families.
If you enjoyed this story, we think that you will also enjoy reading about our visit to Zhangjiajie.
