Less crowded than Fenghuang Ancient Town, quieter than Lijiang! This hidden town in Xiangxi is more beautiful after 4000 years of little human contact.
When people think of Xiangxi, many people immediately think of Fenghuang Ancient Town, Fusong Town, or the border town of Chengdong in Shen Congwen's writing. For many people, Xiangxi is also a mysterious and romantic place, with beautiful scenery and endless appeal.
There is a small town in Xiangxi that is more moving than Fenghuang Ancient Town and more quiet than Fusong Town. This hidden gem in Xiangxi is—Jishui.
Before the Fubo Temple, under the Qiyan Town, the Dong River flows like a ribbon. This town is the hometown that Xiangxi people dream about. It connects Fenghuang Town to the south and Zhangjiajie to the north, absorbing the essence of its neighboring regions, yet it is beautifully understated.
There is a beautiful ancient town here with a narrow Dong River flowing through the entire district, with mountains, water, and scenery. The customs are simple and honest.
There is a picturesque waterfall with a delicate bridge and flowing water, and also the grandeur of the waterfall itself.
When we arrived at Qiyan Ancient Town, it started to drizzle. This ancient town with a history of 4200 years looked even more beautiful in the misty rain. The local specialties, such as Qiyan duck, Guanzhang Mao Jian, and Fenghuang Ginger Sugar, are well connected to the ancient town culture.
Looking up from the tower, the distant high-rise buildings contrast with the surrounding ancient houses. Walking between hundreds of years of history and modern times, the boundaries between them suddenly disappeared.
As evening fell, the drizzle continued, and the light of the sunset shimmered on the roofs of the ancient houses, creating spots of mottled light. We arrived at our accommodation under the sunset.
We stayed at a Japanese-style homestay in Jishui, which we booked through the Wood Bird Homestay WeChat account with our friends. The room is very comfortable, with large windows providing excellent lighting. Upon arriving at the room, upon's fatigue disappeared.
The homestay's leisure area and rest area are well separated, with no disturbance between rest and entertainment. The equipment is also very complete, making cooking and laundry easy.
