Furong Ancient Town is famous for its stunning look — an ancient hillside village built right beside a grand waterfall.
If you're drawn to its unique architecture and love visiting popular spots for social media photos, this place is worth a visit.
This article will show you how to visit, including suggested itineraries, transportation, and other travel tips.
How to Get to Furong Ancient Town from Zhangjiajie
If you're traveling independently or looking for a budget-friendly option, the high-speed train is your best choice.
Furong Ancient Town is easily accessible by high-speed train. It has its own railway station, and the journey from Zhangjiajie takes only about 30 minutes.
All trains depart from Zhangjiajie West Station, which is around a 20-minute drive from Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.
After arriving at Furong Station, it's just a 10-minute drive to the ancient town.
However, if you're traveling with family or prefer a more convenient and time-saving way, you can book a private tour with transfers, which takes around 2 hours by car from Zhangjiajie.
What to See and Do in Furong Ancient Town
Furong Ancient Town is not very large, and we suggest spending about half a day exploring it.
For a day trip from Zhangjiajie, we recommend leaving around 9:00 a.m. from your hotel. You'll usually finish the visit by 3:30 p.m., then return to Zhangjiajie in the afternoon.
The highlight of Furong is definitely the Furong Waterfall, which flows right through the ancient town.
You can admire it from a distance, up close, or even from behind — a stone path allows you to walk behind the curtain of water.
The stone path behind the waterfallOne of the best viewpoints is the waterfall viewing platform, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire town, just like the iconic photos you've seen online.
The angle of view from the viewing platformAnother great photo spot is the Tuwang Palace, offering a perfect angle of the waterfall and the surrounding cliffs.
Tip: The best time to see the waterfall at its most powerful and spectacular is from June to September.
You can also take a short boat ride to view the town from the water, including a stop to enjoy a traditional local performance.
Besides that, you can wander along Slate Street, sample some local snacks, and experience the quiet charm of the town.
Slate StreetHow to Plan Your Itinerary to Furong Town
If there are no direct flights to Zhangjiajie from your country, you can first fly to Beijing or Shanghai, and then continue to Zhangjiajie and Furong Town.
Here is a suggested itinerary starting from Shanghai:
- Day 1–3: Explore Shanghai
- Day 4–5: Sightseeing in Zhangjiajie, including National Forest Park and Tianmen Mountain
- Day 6: Day trip to Furong Ancient Town from Zhangjiajie
- Day 7: Visit Fenghuang Ancient Town
- Day 8: Departure from Changsha
Here's a suggested itinerary if you're traveling from Beijing to Zhangjiajie and Furong: 8-Day Zhangjiajie Tour with Furong Town from Beijing.
If you'd like to start your trip from Guangzhou, Guilin, Guizhou, or any other city, feel free to contact us. All our tours can be fully customized.
Is it necessary to stay overnight in Furong Town?
If you're drawn by the dazzling night views you've seen online and want to experience them in person, we recommend staying overnight.
The town is at its most beautiful after 7:30 p.m., when the waterfall and all the buildings are illuminated.
Stay overnight here, then either head to Fenghuang Ancient Town, just 1.5 hours by car or 40 minutes by bullet train, or return to Zhangjiajie for your onward travel.
The night view in Furong TownFurong and Fenghuang: Should You Visit Both?
Fenghuang Ancient TownIt's worth visiting both. Though Furong and Fenghuang are both ancient towns in western Hunan, they offer very different vibes.
Fenghuang is larger and livelier, known for its riverside stilted houses, preserved old streets, and romantic night views.
Furong is smaller but striking — a hillside village built beside a waterfall, blending ancient charm with natural beauty.
So if your schedule allows, visiting both can make your trip more complete.
