A Thousand-Year-Old Ancient Town Hanging on a Waterfall｜Furong Town No-Nonsense Guide

🌊 Hidden ink-wash secret in Western Hunan, a rustic Tusi city by day, transforming into a kingdom of waterfall lights by night. Super convenient for self-driving from Changsha!

🚗 Transportation Guide｜A Must-See for Self-Drivers

Drive 5.5 hours straight from Changsha with smooth road conditions all the way, surrounded by healing green mountains~ On holidays, it’s recommended to leave an hour earlier to avoid highway congestion; during off-peak seasons, the road is clear, arriving in the afternoon just in time to catch the ancient town’s light and shadow before sunset.

🏡 Accommodation Options｜Flexible and Worry-Free

✅ Inside the scenic area: immersive experience with stilt house night views, open the window to catch a glimpse of waterfall mist, perfect for those seeking atmosphere;
✅ Outside the scenic area: more cost-effective, most homestays offer free shuttle service (confirm time with the host in advance), and the key is that tickets allow free entry and exit within 3 days, so staying outside doesn’t affect your visit at all!

🎫 Ticket Tips｜Money-Saving Hacks

✨ Buying tickets through homestays is super cost-effective! Furong Town + Red Stone Forest combo ticket is only 160 RMB, saving 56 RMB compared to buying Furong Town ticket alone (108 RMB each), a great deal to check off two major attractions at once;
✨ Free tickets for seniors and children: sign a disclaimer at the service center at the scenic area entrance to enter for free, very family-friendly~

📍 Check-in Route｜Crowd Avoidance Secrets

❌ Warning: Night scenes are extremely crowded, narrow alleys are packed with people;
✅ Treasure time: early morning the next day! Few tourists, you can enjoy the quiet ancient town and full waterfall view alone, zero strangers in your photos;
💡 Classic route (1 day is enough to explore): Scenic area entrance → Tuwang Bridge (shoot stilt house reflections) → Liu Xiaoqing’s Rice Tofu Shop (try local specialties) → Guanyin Pavilion (free milk tea with surprisingly good taste) → Xizhou Copper Pillar (trace Tusi history) → Waterfall Water Curtain Cave (walk through the waterfall, super stunning) → Tusi Palace (overlook the whole ancient town) → Waterfall Viewing Platform (shoot panoramic shots) → Return;
⚠️ Tip: Shops inside the scenic area are very similar, not recommended to spend blindly.

🌊 Waterfall Check-in｜Photo Tips

❌ Low water period alert: Water volume is lower during National Day, waterfall’s momentum is a bit weak;
✅ Best period: April to September during high water season, waterfall flows powerfully for great shots;
📸 Free photo spot: Viewing platform opposite the waterfall from afar, you can capture the complete panorama of “waterfall surrounding the ancient town.” Other good spots are mostly occupied by businesses, no extra spending needed to check in.