The Chinese Dragon Boat Festival holiday is coming, it has been two months since Fenghuang Ancient City started charging the admission tickets. Reporters visited Fenghuang City a few days ago; found that the number of visitors in Fenghuang Ancient City has increased slightly comparing with the Labor Day holiday in May. However many merchants still go through recession, some shops even closed.

Like Us on Facebook

In order to enhance the cultural connotations of Fenghuang Ancient City, Fenghuang County has begun a series of cultural activities on the subject of letting traditional culture return home since April 29^th. During this activity, visitors can enjoy the original Fenghuang drama, Fenghuang lantern festival and Fenghuang traditional opera. There is also Dragon Boat race during the Dragon Boat Festival, visitors can immerse in a festival atmosphere of Dragon Boat Festival.

Some tourists are attracted by these culture activities. A Guangdong tourist arrived at the edge of Tuo River at 7 o'clock in the morning, she wanted to have a glimpse of the dragon boat. She said: "These culture activities promoted by Fenghuang County are very good. They impress me a lot."

Fenghuang Ancient City is located on the western edge of Hunan Province, next to Guizhou Province. It is claimed to be one of the most beautiful towns in China. The ancient city has a history of 1,300 years and it has a number of old gardens as well as distinctive residential buildings, elegant bridges and mysterious towers and pagodas. Another tourist said: "The value of Fenghuang Ancient City should not be measured solely by the 148-yuan admission ticket. Its historical and cultural connotations mean a lot to me."

Though the number of tourists has increased, the businesses here are still not good for most of the merchants. Mr. Yang lives in a village not far from Fenghuang Ancient City. He comes to Fenghuang Ancient City everyday to do his own small business-taking pictures for tourists. But he told journalist that his business has become more and more difficult since Fenghuang Ancient City started charging the admission tickets on April 10^th. "Some peers have gone to southern cities to find jobs." Zhang said.

Except for the merchants, many residents in Fenghuang Ancient City feel uncomfortable too. "It is inconvenience for us to get in and out. We are stopped every time we get into the county. Only after we spoke with an Fenghuang accent, we can get in." A resident said.