The stilt houses (diaojiaolou) extending from the south bank of the Tuo River are the defining image of Fenghuang. Built on posts driven into the riverbed to protect them from seasonal flooding, the timber-frame structures rise two and three storeys above the water, their wooden balconies overhanging the river. The buildings date from the Ming and Qing dynasties, though most have been restored and adapted for commercial use — the ground floors are now almost entirely shops, cafes, and restaurants.
The best view of the stilt houses is from the north bank of the river, looking south, particularly in the morning when the light is from the east and the wood takes on a warm colour. At night the houses are lit with lanterns and their reflections in the river are the most reproduced Fenghuang image. The covered stepping stones at the base of the north bank — used to cross the river at low water — are themselves a feature worth looking for: flat stones set at intervals in the shallows, used for centuries before the modern bridges. The stilt houses are visible throughout the ancient town; no specific entry fee.