Workers carrying loads of soil try to scramble past tourists...

FENG HUANG (FENGHUANG CHENG), HUNAN, CHINA - 2009/07/15: Workers carrying loads of soil try to scramble past tourists in Fenghuang. In China, most construction work is done by itinerant workers who maintain a low social standing. Meaning 'Phoenix' in Chinese, Fenghuang was named after the mythical bird of immortality and invincibility, which was consumed by fire - only to be born again from the ashes. Legend says that when a phoenix flew over this ravine in north-west Hunan Province she was so amazed by the view that she turned into a mountain to stay there. The town, inhabited by ethnic minority Miao people, can be traced back to 770 BC. It served as a transport hub during 16th-19th centuries and attracted a lot of wealth, which people injected into their houses. The well-preserved buildings are in a distinct Qing Dynasty style - wooden and rickety, with cobbled streets and stone bridges, they sprawl either side of the Tou Jiang river. It is known as one of the most beautiful towns in China and is famous among Chinese tourists. (Photo by Leisa Tyler/LightRocket via Getty Images)