Rochers sauteurs de la rivière Tuo

The Tuojiang Stepping Stones are one of Fenghuang Ancient Town's most recognizable landmarks, a line of stone piers crossing the Tuo River just outside the old town's north gate. Roughly a hundred meters long and made up of fifteen individual stone pillars, the crossing has become an iconic image of Fenghuang, often appearing in photographs alongside the stilted houses that line the riverbank behind it.

The stepping stones date back to the early eighteenth century, first built in 1704 during the Kangxi era of the Qing dynasty, when the crossing served as one of the main routes into and out of the old town from the northeast. Their name comes from the way pedestrians must cross: rather than walking over a continuous bridge, travelers step from stone to stone across the river, an experience still available to modern visitors, who can cross the same way as residents did centuries ago, feeling the river's current pass beneath the gaps between the piers. This blend of practical function and historic continuity is part of what makes the crossing more than just a photo spot.

Crossing the stepping stones is a quick activity, but it rewards a little extra time spent on the riverbanks nearby, since the view of the stones set against the stilted houses and the old city wall is one of the defining images of Fenghuang. Morning light tends to bring softer colors to the water and buildings, while evenings after the lanterns are lit offer a different, more atmospheric look at the same scene. Most visitors combine a walk across the stones with a broader stroll along the Tuo River as part of exploring the old town.