Fenghuang is about 30 minutes by bus south of Jishou, which has high-speed rail connections to Changsha (about 2.5 hours) and Chongqing. Alternatively, Tongren Airport in Guizhou serves the area from about 34 kilometres away, with flights to Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu. The bus from Jishou to Fenghuang costs around ¥20 and runs frequently throughout the day.
There is no direct high-speed rail station at Fenghuang. Visitors coming from Zhangjiajie can take a bus or change trains at Huaihua; from Changsha the Jishou connection is most straightforward. Private car hire from Jishou or from Zhangjiajie is also common and gives more flexibility for visiting smaller villages en route.