Fenhuang

The town of Fenhuang in western Hunan Province

Fenhuang means "phoenix" in Chinese

The town is built along the Tuo River

Looking upstream you can see two bridges, one a traditional footbridge and the other a set of stones.

But Fenhuang is most famous for these riverside houses built on stilts.

On the left, is Hong Qiao, or Fenhuang's equivalent to Ponte Vecchio in Florence.

Oh China........allowing a passenger to smoke on a wooden boat!

To some extent, this scene is disappearing and Fenhuang becomes a tourist town and the locals are pushed out.

Heading downstream crossing under an arch of Hong Qiao...

We are treated to a bend in the river with more riverside houses.

On the approach to Hong Qiao

On the top floor of Hong Qiao we are treated to great views.

Fenhuang has a couple specialties.  I didn't partake of pigs face...

But I am a big fan of ducks blood with sticky rice.  Yum!

Although not a Fenhuang specialty, Mom can't ever pass up stinky tofu.

Dad takes pictures of everything.  But this one is interesting.  What he's taking a photo of is the price list for entering into the city.  Fenhuang has instituted a policy (as in April 2013) that to enter the city a person must purchase an entrance pass.  This has reduced visitors and severely hurt local merchants.

And now, Fenhuang at night.  Perhaps even more spectacular.

Far upstream, they've completed a new bridge.

Mom and Dad crossing the footbridge.