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Compare live prices for Furong Ancient Town
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Flights from the UK: compare on Skyscanner to find cheap tickets with trusted airlines. Direct flights on Chinese airlines from London can take some of the shortest routes. In China: Trip.com is our pick for trains, hotels and things to do, with an English app.
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Best time to visit
April–June and September–October.
Getting there from the UK
Reach it via Zhangjiajie. The high-speed line between Zhangjiajie, Jishou and Huaihua serves stations in this area; check the nearest station and onward transfers when booking.
Top tips
- See the waterfall both by day and when it's lit up after dark.
- Stay overnight in a riverside guesthouse to enjoy the town once day-trippers leave.
- Try Tujia and Miao dishes from the street stalls.
- It's often combined with Zhangjiajie (to the north) and Fenghuang (to the south) — see our western Hunan itinerary below.
- The town is built on slopes with many steps, so wear good shoes.
Combine it: a western Hunan itinerary
Zhangjiajie, Furong Ancient Town and Fenghuang Ancient Town all lie in western Hunan and link up neatly. A suggested 6–7 day route:
- Days 1–3: Zhangjiajie: the National Forest Park (Yuanjiajie, Bailong Elevator), then Tianmen Mountain.
- Day 4: Furong Town: head south and stay overnight to see the waterfall lit up.
- Days 5–6: Fenghuang: the riverside old town and nearby Miao villages.
- Day 7: continue from Huaihua or Tongren Fenghuang Airport by high-speed rail or domestic flight.
Check current train timetables, as station connections can change.
China essentials for UK travellers
- Visa: according to GOV.UK (as checked in October 2026), holders of full 'British citizen' passports can currently enter mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits or transit, until 31 December 2026. Longer stays, or other purposes like work or study, need a visa. Your passport needs at least 6 months' validity and 2 blank pages. Rules change, so always check GOV.UK and the Chinese Embassy in the UK before you travel. Hong Kong and Macao have separate rules.
- Getting there from the UK: direct flights on Chinese airlines from London Heathrow and Gatwick to cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu take roughly 10–11.5 hours, some of the shortest routes between the UK and China, often with competitive fares. Compare flights on Skyscanner to find cheap tickets with trusted airlines. Book trains, hotels and activities in China on Trip.com.
- Getting around: China's high-speed rail network is fast and affordable. Book in advance (Trip.com sells China train tickets in English), and bring your passport, which is used as your ticket ID. Domestic flights cover longer hops.
- Payments: China is largely cashless. Alipay and WeChat Pay both let you link a foreign Visa or Mastercard, so set them up before you go. Carry some cash as a backup, because many smaller vendors don't accept foreign cards directly.
- Staying connected: some apps you use at home, such as Google Maps, Gmail and WhatsApp, may not work normally in mainland China. Download offline maps (Amap or Apple Maps work well) and a translation app before you go, and tell family which app you'll use to keep in touch. International roaming or a travel eSIM bought before departure is the easiest way to get online.
- Registration: hotels register foreign guests with police automatically. If you stay privately, you must register within 24 hours (GOV.UK).
- Busy periods: avoid Chinese New Year and Golden Week (1–7 October) if you can. Trains and attractions sell out and prices rise.