Miao silverwork is sold throughout Fenghuang, and quality ranges from factory-made tourist merchandise to genuine handcrafted pieces from local workshops. The distinction matters: authentic Miao silver uses traditional filigree and repoussé techniques that require real craft skills, while the mass-produced versions are stamped and soldered. The most reliable way to distinguish them is to look at the reverse — handmade pieces show tool marks and slight irregularities; factory pieces are uniform.
The streets of the old town have dozens of silver shops. The better workshops are run by Miao craftspeople who will demonstrate their techniques; a serious silversmith at work is immediately visible from the quality and specificity of the tools. Prices for authentic pieces are higher than tourist-market versions but still far below what equivalent work costs in other markets. Headdresses, collar pieces, earrings, and bracelets are the main categories. If you are buying silver in Fenghuang, budget time to look at several shops before committing.