Just after the Qingming Festival holiday and before the upcoming May Day break, Fenghuang Ancient Town is back in the spotlight. But this time, it's not Shen Congwen, Cuicui, or the town’s scenic beauty that’s making headlines — it’s the new “entry fee.”
According to media reports, on April 10, Fenghuang Ancient Town implemented a new system requiring all visitors entering the town to pay a 148 RMB all-access ticket, replacing the previous policy where only entry to specific scenic spots required payment. The announcement sparked widespread debate. On April 13, a popular Weibo “Big V” (verified user with hundreds of thousands of followers) called on netizens to boycott the town during the upcoming May Day holiday in protest of the fee. The appeal garnered over 70,000 reposts within 24 hours.
“Ancient towns have become popular destinations for independent travelers, especially during short holidays. Most of them now charge entrance fees,” Han Dahei, a travel expert at HowToTrip, told reporters. Nearly all ancient towns charge admission, particularly the well-known ones. Han suggested that travelers consider lesser-known but equally picturesque towns, such as Shuhe Ancient Town near Lijiang’s Dayan Ancient Town, which remains free to enter and offers cultural and scenic experiences comparable to the now-famous Dayan Ancient Town.
For similar options, HowToTrip’s travel experts recommend Lijiang’s Baisha Ancient Town, Qikou Ancient Town in Shanxi, Huishan Ancient Town in Wuxi, and Zhujiajiao in Shanghai. These destinations currently have no entrance fees, fewer tourists, and less holiday-related inflation in food and lodging prices, making them great choices for the May Day break.
Additionally, Han Dahei noted that some ancient towns do not charge general entry fees but instead collect fees only when visiting specific attractions inside the town — such as Pingyao in Shanxi, Mudu in Jiangsu, Zhouzhuang in Jiangsu, and Anchang Ancient Town in Shaoxing. This was also the previous model used in Fenghuang Ancient Town before April 10. Han explained that since ancient towns are also residential areas for locals, charging only for specific scenic spots is more humane. Moreover, many repeat visitors no longer focus on sightseeing, and some even stay for months or longer. A tiered approach is more reasonable than a blanket fee.
Some ancient towns do charge entry fees, but there are ways to avoid them. For example, Huangyao Ancient Town in Guangxi and Zhouzhuang in Jiangsu often waive fees for visitors entering after around 6 or 7 PM. In other towns, such as Xitang in Zhejiang, the East Scenic Zone of Wuzhen, and Heshun Ancient Town in Yunnan, guests staying overnight can usually bypass the ticket by having their inn arrange direct access.
In response, Han Dahei advised that China has numerous ancient towns, each with different ticketing policies. Travelers should consult professional travel guides and prepare in advance.