Ancient Fenghuang, a village in central China, used to be a frontier town, separating the Han civilization from the Miao and Dong minorities. It was an important regional center for trade and cultural exchange.
The riverside setting of the village, with its wooden stilt houses and narrow mysterious back alleys, makes it one of the most attractive places in the region.
These days, it has become a major tourist destination. While some traditions remain, much of the town has been set up to cater for the influx of new visitors, in some ways changing the face of the village beyond recognition.
Either way, Fenghuang provides an interesting glimpse of the many challenges and contrasts that exist in China today.