黄大哥 came with his wife 隆姐 to pick me up at 8.30am. Seriously I had highly doubted they would turned up at all so when they did, I was sincerely touched. Then they picked up another lady 琴姐 who was their long time friend and ex-classmate. After a breakfast of dumplings soup, all 4 of us were off on the road.
It took 4 hours of drive from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang. Along the journey, we took a stop at Furong Old Town which was quite charming and less touristy. Upon 黄大哥's recommendation, we stop by a private house in a remote corner for some 私房菜. We had duck hotpot and it was really spicy. Unlike Sichuan cuisine, Xiang cuisine is less mala and more spicy.
Handmade noodles drying by the alley
Spicy Duck Hotpot
Fenghuang Gucheng 凤凰古城 was beautiful, especially since it rained earlier the place was quaint and misty with the beautifully clear Tuojiang river 沱江 running through the town. We strolled along the streets and alleys, but I found the shops to be similar with Lijiang. We bought some ginger candies and lei cha 擂茶 which were quiet good. I even tried on the Miao tribe costume but I sure looked funny in them. I also learned that Fenghuang is mostly occupied by the Tujia 土家 and Miao 苗 minorities.
Tujia old lady selling souvenirs
Pulling Ginger candy
胖金妹
At night Fenghuang seemed to change into another town as all pubs are opened and their colorful lights were lit. The dark water of Tuojiang river reflected the lights and all my pictures turned out perfect. We heard a great singing from one of the pub and decided to get a drink there. The male singer sure have a powerful voice and he sang Cantonese songs with deep feelings. I realised that the Chinese loved pubbing. There was always a pub street 酒吧一条街 in every old towns or cities.
Fenghuang at night
We stayed in this inn, Fenghuang Cai Keke hotel 凤凰柴棵棵旅店, at 90rmb a night for a twin room with en-suited bathroom. Pretty good deal.
The next day, we went back to Zhangjiajie. On the way we had mushroom noodles for breakfast and suckling pig hotpot for lunch. It was great to have locals to bring me around, recommending good food and good buy. I bided all of them goodbye and asked them to contact me if ever they come to Singapore. Such great hospitality, it felt great being able to speak 普通话 and interact with the people of China. Again I met good Chineses and the locals of Zhangjiajie are a bunch of good hearted people.
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