Miaoren Valley in Fenghuang County of Xiangxi Prefecture
Miaoren Valley is a camp for the Miao people's uprising in the Qianlong and Jiaqing periods of the Qing Dynasty. It is located in Shanjiang Town, Fenghuang County, Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan Province.
English Name: Miaoren Valley
Chinese Name: 湘西凤凰苗人谷
Opening Hours: 8:00-17:30
Best Time for Visit: All year around
Recommended Visiting Hours: 2 or 3 hours
Ticker Price: 68 RMB
Address: Miaoren Valley Scenic Spot, Shanjiang Town, Fenghuang County, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture
Miaoren Valley
Miaoren Valley is a camp for the Miao people’s uprising in the Qianlong and Jiaqing periods of the Qing Dynasty. It is located in Shanjiang Town, Fenghuang County, Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan Province. Not only retains the original Miao Village, but also preserves the customary customs of the Phoenix Miao. The unique Miao costumes and bartenders, as well as card drums and roadblock songs, all reflect the songs and dances of the Miao children. The corpse, arrogance and caverns, which were included in the three mysteries of Xiangxi, were covered with a mysterious veil.
Why is Miaoren Valley So Special
Miaoren Valley is a hiking heaven for tourists, featured green mountains, limpid alpine lakes where tourists can row a boat, grotesque gorge, elegant waterfalls and dam in Miao ethnic style. Shanjiang Miao Village is built along the mountain slope of Miaoren Valley. Miao people there are still living primitive and simple life. Maintaining the old customs, Miao people will hold a welcoming ceremony for tourist on the way. During the welcoming ceremony, Miao people stand in lines, wearing their full costumes, greeting tourist by presenting them a cup of “block-the-way” wine. Miao girls will sing a “block-the-way” song, the words of which is mainly about their happiness to welcome a friend coming from afar.
Introduction of Miao ethnic people
Costumes
Miao people’s costumes and their silver ornament are attractive; especially the girls’ are feast to tourists’ eyes. Miao girls usually wear robes of bright blue with loose sleeves and dark blue trousers, and cuffs embroidered with colorful laces for the womenfolk. They wrap their head with dark blue cloth, embellished with silver headdresses and silver neckwear.
Blockhouse
Every family has their own blockhouse distinguishes Shanjiang Miao Village with other Miao villages, which endows the village with strong defensive function in military. The village was usually attracted by the central government during the past dynasties, therefore the Miao people had to build blockhouse to protect themselves. The blockhouse is a two-storey building with the first floor built by stone and the second floor made by mud. There narrow windows on the four walls of the blockhouse used for overlooking and shooting, Besides, there is a defensive wall built around the village, which is 4 to 5 meters high. Now it is a peaceful little village, while the building in blockhouse style has become its distinct feature, telling the passing history.
Traditional Miao Festival
Visiting Shanjiang Miao Village during traditional Miao Festival will be an impressive and unforgettable tour. Tourists can appreciate Miao songs and dance and Miao traditional activities. The popular festivals are April Fair Festival, the Valentines’ Day of Miao ethnic people (held at the eighth day of the fourth month of Chinese lunar calendar); June Fair Festival, the folk song concert of Miao people (held at the sixth day of the sixth month of Chinese lunar calendar).
Miao people’s Valley
Miao people’s Valley is very primitive, because the mountains are high and difficult to walk, there are not many tourists here. Most of the people in the village are elderly grandmothers-in-law and left-behind children. Because the Miao family is a matrilineal family, the average life expectancy of the mother-in-law is about 80-100 years old, and the average life expectancy of Abel is only 70-90 years old. Miao’s daughter is very happy. If a man goes to his wife’s house, he should pick up three years’feces and pour three years’ foot washing water on his wife.
Travel Guide Accommodation in Fenghuang
Travel with China Dragon Tours(Top Recommended)
If you want to get rid of hustle of public transportation and troublesome navigation, you can book a private tour package which covers sightseeing dining and transfer from us. Our local tour guide and driver will escort you to Fenghuang with speed and convenience, and take care of all the details. You just need to focus on sightseeing.
Independent Travel
There are a lot of choices for accommodation in Fenghuang, from well-equipped hotels to economic hostels. If you only accept well-equipped hotels, you can find them around the ancient town scenic area, within walking distance to the ancient town. If you want to save money and stay inside the ancient town scenic area, you can book a hostel inside the ancient town. There are a lot of hostels inside which is operated by local residents.
How to Get to Miaoren Valley
Miaoren Valley is 18km away from Fenghuang. For convenience, it is suggested to drive or charter a car to it, which will take about half an hour.Miaoren Valley is 18km away from Fenghuang. For convenience, it is suggested to drive or charter a car to it, which will take about half an hour.
Main Attractions in Xiangxi Prefecture
Edited by Lynette Fu/付云锐
