(HD) China Trip Slideshow Pt. 2/9 (凤凰 Fenghuang [Daytime], Ancient Phoenix Town)

On June 28th, we finally arrived at our first destination in Hunan Province: the ancient town of Fenghuang, which literally translates to "Phoenix." Upon arriving, I fell in love with this ancient town; the beauty is amazing, and the simplicity of life is incredible; It is one of the most unique places not only in China, but in the entire world as well. The locals in Fenghuang mostly consist of China's Hmong/Tujia minority groups, who follow their own unique culture, one that has remained possibly since ancient times. After strolling through the streets, exploring the market and taking a boat ride, we headed downtown (where cars and modern civilization has developed) to see Fenghuang's marquee local culture show, which is coming up in the next slideshow.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• china
• town
• fenghuang
• ancient
• slideshow
• montage

[jephboy]

Sorry... some historian will slap me. The Tujia collaborated with both the Ming and Qing dynasties. The wall was built by the Ming originally and extended by the Qing. That was within the last half millennium.

[JDH82793]

@jephboy Thank you for the comments and background history. I did not know a lot about the history of the ethnic groups, and was indeed wondering about the wall. I appreciate the Hmong/Miao/Tujia people in Fenghuang; they seem to live a very simple and rewarding lifestyle.

[jephboy]

@JDH82793

Dragon is the Chinese patron creature. Phoenix is the Hmong/Miao patron creature.  They are like Yin and Yang. We have been at war with the Chinese since our birth in ancient history, yet we cannot live without them, like they cannot live without us. Ironic?

[jephboy]

You are right. Hmong/Miao/Tujia have lived here for a long time, hundreds of years ago. Actually, Tujia were the outsiders who collaborated with the Qing government and were settled to displace Hmong/Miao. When the Hmong/Miao rebelled against Qing oppression, they were violently put down. The survivors emigrated to other "frontier" provinces and to Indochina. The Great Southern Wall of China, its remnants found in this very town, was built using slave labor to segregate the Hmong/Miao.