Rain brings freshness to ancient town

Heavy rain has brought floods to the ancient town of Fenghuang in Hunan province. But the rain also left a fresh scent in the air, giving visitors a fresh view of this ancient town.

The raging Tuojiang River crested its banks and flowed through ancient Fenghuang town, forcing many hotels and bars to close. In the hardest hit area, people wadded through water up to their knees.

However, the heavy rain did not keep visitors away. Along the alleys and streets, people enjoyed the rain-dampened scenery and savored the fresh flavor brought by the rain.

A visitor said, "I was worried the rain would affect our schedule. But I'm surprised. All the scenic sites are open as usual and we had a lot of fun. The rain didn't affect us at all."

Work crews were immediately organized to clear away the mud and the tourist sites looked as if the rain had never come.

Water near the northern port is one meter higher but the roaring river leaves visitors undaunted.

A visitor said, "I've been to Tuojiang river several times. But at this time, the river is broader and the views are clearer. The whole feeling is quite different."

To protect visitors' safety, staff of the tourist sites are on guard all day.

A local tourism industry employee said, "The water has been rising. So we are on guard to protect visitors' safety. For example, we would warn them not to take pictures near the river, especially to keep kids away."

The intense rain was inconvenient for local residents, but also brought a tinge of freshness. Visitors are still rushing to experience this new face of the ancient town.