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"Returning to Fenghuang Ancient Town after 3 years of closure due to the pandemic, this trip truly left me with many emotions. Although I had visited the ancient town no less than 20 times before, I was still amazed by its serene beauty. The ancient and nostalgic charm of Fenghuang Ancient Town has been preserved and maintained almost perfectly," Le Phat Dat (Travel Blogger Le Pa Da) exclaimed, sharing his thoughts on Fenghuang Ancient Town after his recent trip.
Le Phat Dat has visited Fenghuang Ancient Town more than 20 times, but he is still captivated by the beauty of this "paradise on earth."
The ancient and tranquil beauty of Fenghuang Ancient Town
The 30-year-old man from An Giang is always impressed whenever he "steps" into the mountainous landscape of southern China. Covered in the endless green of the mountains, gently reflected in the deep blue waters of the Da Jiang River, the ancient town of Fenghuang stands out with its dominant brown color and distinctive ancient architecture, the Diao Jiao Lou.
The Da Jiang River, flowing through Fenghuang Ancient Town, is not only beautiful because of its emerald green water reflecting the ancient architecture during the day and shimmering in countless lights at night. This river is also closely linked to the daily lives of the people. When visiting Fenghuang Ancient Town, tourists can easily encounter scenes of peaceful and simple life, such as a woman washing clothes by the riverbank or an old man fishing on the gently flowing water.
The houses in Fenghuang Ancient Town are the clearest manifestation of the intermingling of traditional architecture between ethnic minorities (Miao, Tujia, etc.) and the Han Chinese.
Along both sides of the Da Giang River, centuries-old houses perch precariously on the mountainside, showcasing a beautiful, ancient architectural style reminiscent of the Diao Cuoc Lau style. At first glance, these houses appear precarious, as if about to collapse, but they are all supported by large pillars, making them quite safe. Through centuries, these houses have remained serene and tranquil, observing the flow of life in a space likened to a "heavenly paradise."
Spanning the Da River, the Hongqiao Bridge is renowned for its enduring strength, distinguished by its soaring, curved roof resembling the proud wings of a phoenix, similar to the distinctive roof architecture of the ancient town of Fenghuang.
Not far away, the stone jumping bridge – a unique bridge made of cubic blocks stretching from one side of the river to the other – fascinates many tourists. Standing on the bridge, right in the middle of the river, looking up at the undulating, moss-covered yin-yang tiled roofs of the houses perched precariously on the emerald green river, it feels like being lost in a fairy tale.
The Stone Jumping Bridge is the most sought-after attraction for tourists visiting the ancient town of Fenghuang.
Wandering through the narrow, cobblestone streets that encircle the ancient town, visitors have the opportunity to get a closer look at ancient houses, some dating back hundreds of thousands of years. Each small alley and winding path in the ancient town possesses a distinctive antique charm with unique designs, leading to many unexpected architectural discoveries. The scenery here becomes even more peaceful and ancient when thick fog blankets the town in the early morning or after a rain shower.
As the sun begins to rise, the first rays of sunlight pierce through the morning mist, allowing visitors to experience the breathtaking sight of mist and sunshine merging on the Da Jiang River. "The daytime beauty of Fenghuang Ancient Town is captivating because of the ancient tranquility emanating from the two rows of houses running along the riverbank, set against a backdrop of distant mountains and forests, in a peaceful atmosphere," the young man described.
In the evening, as the sun sets behind the mountains, giving way to darkness, Fenghuang Ancient Town "reveals its true form" as a colorful television screen. The town then becomes dazzling and vibrant with its signature colorful lights strung throughout the houses and along the riverbank.
"At night, the town is no longer 'ancient and tranquil' as it is during the day, but transforms into a 'rebellious' place, a vibrant entertainment hub no less lively than major cities. This is also a unique aspect of the ancient town that many people don't know, because if you only look at the photos, you might easily think that it's always peaceful, even a little boring," Phat Dat said.
Most of the large ancient architectural structures in Fenghuang that remain today were built during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), completed by Han and Miao people.
Is Phoenix Ancient Town attractive only because of its beauty?
The ancient town of Fenghuang not only attracts travel blogger Le Pa Da with its serene and ancient beauty. Originally a tour guide, he is always drawn to the cultural and historical knowledge of each destination. Fenghuang Ancient Town constantly intrigues Dat because of the fascinating stories passed down through folklore about this town, which is over 1300 years old.
Legend has it that the Hongqiao Bridge is one of the famous feng shui stories of Liu Bowen. This high-ranking official of the Ming dynasty was known by the nickname "divine strategist," capable of predicting the future and was a renowned feng shui expert.
The story goes that, wanting to ensure the empire he had built would be passed down to his descendants for thousands of generations, after ascending the throne, Zhu Yuanzhang sent Liu Bowen throughout the country to examine feng shui and find ways to prevent the emergence of individuals with "great destinies" who could seize the empire from the Zhu family.
Upon arriving at Fenghuang Ancient Town, Liu Bowen looked down from the mountain and observed that the terrain resembled a dragon drinking water, meaning that this place would produce talented individuals capable of usurping the throne. Therefore, he ordered the construction of Hongqiao Bridge, and placed two swords on either side of the town to sever the dragon's vein, ensuring the stability of the Ming dynasty.
Another bridge that is just as famous as Hongqiao Bridge is Xueqiao Bridge.
Later, people discovered a quantity of cinnabar (pure cinnabar, vermilion) placed on the Hongqiao Bridge. The authorities decided to confiscate this cinnabar. However, not long after, a great flood struck, submerging the entire town of Fenghuang.
When feng shui masters were invited, they concluded that the cause stemmed from the removal of cinnabar from Hongqiao Bridge – a place believed to guard the dragon vein. It is known that cinnabar – "divine cinnabar" in ancient Chinese feng shui – has the function of protecting the house, warding off evil spirits, and enhancing the positive energy of the land.
Under pressure from the people, the authorities were forced to put the cinnabar back in its original place. Later, great floods occurred in many places in China, but Phoenix Ancient Town was completely absent.
Although these legends are merely oral traditions passed down through generations, the fictionalized history has made Hongqiao Bridge in particular, and Fenghuang Ancient Town in general, increasingly famous and attractive to many tourists.
