Furong Town — Waterfall Town Near Zhangjiajie

What is Furong Town?

Furong Town is a small old town in Yongshun County, western Hunan, built on a cliff edge with a waterfall pouring through the middle of it. Stone-slab streets, wooden houses on the cliff edge and the falling water make it one of the most photographed towns in the region.

It used to be called Wangcun. In 1986 the director Xie Jin filmed Hibiscus Town here, and the film’s success made the place famous; in 2007 the town officially took the name Furong, which means hibiscus. The town is in the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, and Tujia culture runs through its history.

What will you see in Furong Town?

The core scenic area is compact, and most of what you pay for is included in one ticket.

• The waterfall: about 60 m high, falling from the edge of the town. When the water is high, a walkway behind the falls opens.
• Stone-slab streets and a covered bridge, with wooden houses along the cliff top.
• Tusi Palace: a site recalling the Tujia chieftains who ruled the area.
• Xizhou Bronze Pillar: cast in AD 940 to record a treaty between the Chu king and the local chieftain, a key object of Tujia history.
• An evening folk performance included with the ticket.
• Night lights: the waterfall and cliff houses are lit after dark, usually from around 18:30.

How long do you need in Furong Town?

The core takes about 2–3 hours on foot. If you can, arrive in the afternoon and stay until after dark so you see the waterfall both in daylight and lit up.

Staying one night also gives you the town before about 09:00, when the day visitors arrive. Because the ticket is valid for three days, an overnight stay costs nothing extra in entry.

How do you get to Furong Town?

Take the high-speed train from Zhangjiajie West Railway Station to Furongzhen station on the Zhangjiajie–Jishou–Huaihua line. It is the quickest option by far.

From Furongzhen station, the old town is a short taxi or shuttle ride. By road from Zhangjiajie city it is about 65 km (40 mi), roughly 1.5 hours by expressway, which suits a private car if you are carrying luggage onward to Fenghuang.

How does Furong Town fit into a Zhangjiajie trip?

Furong Town works best as an evening or half-day add-on, because it is so close by train. Three common ways to fit it in:

1. Evening trip from Zhangjiajie: take an afternoon train, walk the town before dusk, stay for the lights and the folk performance, and return by evening train or by car.
2. Overnight stop: stay one night in or near the town, see it at dusk and again early the next morning, then continue to Zhangjiajie or onward.
3. On the way to Fenghuang: Furongzhen and Fenghuang Gucheng are on the same high-speed line, so you can stop in Furong for an afternoon and night, then continue to Fenghuang the next day.

Whichever you choose, check train times before you book: there were 11 trains a day on our sample date, so plan around the timetable rather than turning up at the station.

How much is the Furong Town ticket?

The adult ticket is CNY 108 (≈ USD 16) at the gate and is valid for 3 days. Online prices are often lower, around CNY 98.

Children under 14 and visitors 65 and over enter free with ID. One report from early 2026 claimed entry had become free, but later 2026 sources show the ticket still in place; your quote confirms the current rule. More prices in our ticket guide.

When is the best time to visit Furong Town?

Summer, roughly June to September, gives the fullest waterfall, which is the town’s main attraction. In a dry winter the flow can shrink to a trickle, and the walkway behind the falls may close.

Spring and autumn are more comfortable for walking, with moderate water after rain. Avoid the Chinese golden weeks, especially early October, when the narrow streets are packed. Within any day, early morning and the evening light show are the best times. See best time to visit.

How does Furong Town compare with Fenghuang?

Both are old towns in western Hunan on the same rail line, and many travelers choose one.

For a longer side-by-side, read Fenghuang vs Furong.

Local tips for Furong Town

• Check the water before you go. After a dry spell, the waterfall can be thin; if you are visiting in winter, set expectations or pair it with another stop.
• Stay for blue hour. The lights come on around dusk; the half hour after they switch on, while the sky still has color, gives the best photos.
• Wear shoes with grip. The stone slabs near the falls are wet with spray and can be slick.
• Protect your phone. Near the waterfall walkway the spray is heavy; a waterproof pouch helps.
• Go before 09:00 if you stay overnight. The streets are almost empty before the day visitors arrive.

Is Furong Town worth it?

Yes, if you want a short, easy cultural stop close to Zhangjiajie, especially in the wetter months when the waterfall is strong. If you have time for only one old town and want more to do, Fenghuang is the bigger trip. Our 4-day Zhangjiajie and Furong Town tour adds it after three days in the mountains. Ask us whether the timing suits your dates.