*This Must-See Secret Destination in Western Hunan Is Like Something Out of Chinese Paladin!*

🌟 *A Mystical Western Hunan Adventure: Your Ultimate 4-Day, 3-Night Itinerary! Discover the Border Town from Shen Congwen's Novels and 9 Instagrammable Spots!* 🌟   📍 *Trip Highlights* 🔹 *Culture + Scenery Double Whammy*: *Explore stilt houses, ancient waterfall towns, and world-class geological wonders all in one go.* 🔹 *Off-the-Beaten-Track Photo Ops*: *Capture National Geographic-worthy shots at exclusive locations, away from the crowds.* 🔹 *Immersive Miao Experience*: *Dress in Miao attire, craft silver jewelry, feast on a longtable banquet, and witness the enchanting Nuo opera.*   🗺️ *Itinerary* 📅 *Day 1: Journey Through the Picturesque Phoenix* ▪️ *Morning*: *Take the high-speed train directly to Phoenix Ancient Town and check in to a stilt house by the Tuojiang River (we recommend the panoramic view rooms at Qing Wa · Yue Jiang).* ▪️ *Afternoon*: *Capture the morning mist and boats at the North Gate Wharf (arrive before 7:00 a.m.!) + Take wide-angle shots of the Hong Bridge and the Wind and Rain Tower.* ▪️ *Evening*: *Photograph the reflection of the illuminated stilt houses from the South Hua Bridge. Rent Miao attire (CNY 20/hour) for stunning night portraits.* 📸 *Top Photo Spots* ✔️ *Capture the S-bend of the Tuojiang River from the low stone steps opposite the Wanming Pagoda.* ✔️ *Use a telephoto lens to compress the background at the Tuojiang Stepping Stones, framing your subject with the Hong Bridge.*   📅 *Day 2: Uncover Canyon Wonders* ▪️ *Morning*: *Take a 1.5-hour chartered car ride to Aizhai Bridge (❗️Navigate to "Aizhai Bridge Scenic Area - Chadong Shore Viewing Platform" for panoramic bridge views).* ▪️ *Afternoon*: *Witness the cascading Liusha Waterfall (Asia's highest waterfall!) at Dehang Miao Village and experience the Miao bamboo weaving craft.* ▪️ *Evening*: *Join a bonfire party and indulge in a sour soup fish longtable banquet (CNY 50 per person, all-you-can-eat).* 🚗 *Transportation Tips* ✔️ *Phoenix → Aizhai: Hitch a ride for approx. CNY 60/person. Dehang Scenic Area sightseeing bus: CNY 15, hop-on hop-off.*   📅 *Day 3: Step into an Ancient Waterfall Town* ▪️ *Morning*: *Drive 2 hours to Furong Town and check in to a cliffside guesthouse (we recommend the waterfall view rooms at Tuwang Palace · Babu Hall).* ▪️ *Afternoon*: *Capture the Tujia stilt houses along the Five-Li Stone Street. Photograph the spectacular waterfall cascading through the town from the Youyang Palace.* ▪️ *Evening*: *Capture the magical blue hour waterfall views after 19:30 when the lights come on. Aerial photography yields even more breathtaking results!* 🍜 *Must-Try Foods* ✔️ *Liu Xiaoqing Rice Tofu (No. 113, Furong Town)* ✔️ *Tujia Bacon and Potatoes (mobile stalls near the waterfall wharf)*   📅 *Day 4: A Geological Wonder Finale* ▪️ *Morning*: *Explore the Red Stone Forest National Geopark (entry fee: CNY 120). Wear a solid-colored long dress to capture stunning photos of the Ordovician seabed stone forest.* ▪️ *Afternoon*: *Enjoy a light hike (3-hour route) through the Furong Town Canyon in Guzhang County, capturing the interplay of light and shadow—the Tyndall effect.* ▪️ *Evening*: *Return to Huaihua South Railway Station (approx. 2-hour drive from Red Stone Forest to the station).*   📸 *Photography Equipment Guide* 🔻 *Essential Gear*: *Wide-angle lens (for waterfalls/bridges), tripod (for long-exposure night shots), polarizing filter (to eliminate water reflections).* 🔻 *Smartphone Photography Tips*: *Use portrait mode with 2x zoom for close-ups of stilt houses. Capture stunning night shots with 3-second handheld exposures in night mode.*   🏡 *Accommodation Recommendations* 🔸 *Phoenix*: *Guesthouses downstream of the Tuojiang River offer a quieter stay (away from the bar street). Expect to pay CNY 300+ for a riverside room.* 🔸 *Furong Town*: *Prioritize guesthouses on the west bank of the waterfall. The east bank tends to be crowded and noisy due to tour groups.*   💡 *Tips to Avoid Tourist Traps* ✅ *Phoenix Ancient Town has no entrance fee! Only individual attractions inside charge fees.* ✅ *Negotiate prices when renting Miao attire. Night photography props like cloud lights cost CNY 5/use.* ❌ *Be cautious when buying cinnabar or silver jewelry. Look for shops with the "Western Hunan Intangible Cultural Heritage" logo.*   🌟 *Inspiration for Your Trip* *"As the waterfall cascaded from the Tuwang Palace, I stood on the stone steps of the Youyang Palace, built thousands of years ago, and finally understood why Xie Jin was so captivated by this 'ancient town hanging on a waterfall.'"*     🌈 *From Shen Congwen's Border Town to the secrets of Earth's evolution, four days is simply not enough to fully appreciate the beauty of Western Hunan!*