Rain. Rain. Rain. The weather ruined our plans for visiting Zhangjiajie — the rain and fog were so dense that we wouldn’t have been able to see anything. Instead, we pivoted and extended our one-night stay in Phoenix City.
I found Phoenix City to be a fascinating place. It’s quite rural, so there aren’t many chain stores or shopping malls. Yet despite that, it attracts a surprisingly large number of tourists, especially international visitors, because of its unique beauty. There also isn’t a huge amount to do there, which is why we had originally planned to stay only one night. Still, the nightlife was lively, with live music, bars, and a relaxed atmosphere that reminded me a lot of Lijiang.
Beyond that, the trip had its share of inconveniences. Smoking is common throughout China, but in rural areas like Phoenix City, it’s even more prevalent. The rain never seemed to stop, and despite being careful, I slipped and broke one of my camera lenses. It happens. Further, my wife caught a cold, which she later passed on to me. After all this, I decided we need some luck and I purchased a ceramic Chinese mythical creature, promising good fortune.
My favorite experience in Phoenix City, though, was quite simple. We found a small local café tucked away in one of the city’s many alleyways. We ordered coffee and a blueberry egg tart, then carried them upstairs to a table beside an open window overlooking the river. From there, we watched the Wupeng boats drift along the Tuojiang River as the city slowly awoke. It was peaceful, quiet, and exactly the kind of morning we needed before heading off for Chongqing.
