Walking Through a 2,000-Year-Old Ancient Town Hidden in Hunan | Furong Ancient Town

Furong Ancient Town, located in western Hunan Province, has a history of more than 2,000 years. Originally known as Wangcun (王村), this ancient settlement began as a small trading post during the Qin and Han dynasties, when merchants and travelers passed through the region on routes connecting the central plains with the mountainous Tujia areas of Xiangxi.

During the Tang and Song dynasties, Wangcun gradually developed into an important Tujia cultural center. The local people built distinctive stilted wooden houses (Diaojiaolou) along the cliffs, overlooking the river and the breathtaking waterfall that later became the town’s signature landmark. Its strategic location along water transportation routes brought steady growth in commerce and cultural exchange.

Furong Town gained nationwide fame in the 1980s after the release of the movie “Hibiscus Town”, which showcased the region’s traditional architecture and rural life. The name “Wangcun” was later officially changed to Furong Town (芙蓉镇) in recognition of its newfound cultural identity and cinematic reputation.

Despite its modernization for tourism, the town still retains its deep Tujia ethnic heritage, reflected in its stone-paved streets, traditional drum performances, embroidered clothing, and age-old customs. The continuous sound of the cascading Furong Waterfall has accompanied the town’s evolution for centuries, making it both a historical relic and a living cultural community.

Today, Furong Ancient Town stands as one of the most picturesque and historically rich villages in Xiangxi, combining ancient architecture, ethnic culture, and natural beauty, offering visitors a vivid glimpse into the traditional life of Hunan’s Tujia people.