Discover Foshan

Known as the birthplace of ceramic art, Cantonese opera and martial arts, Foshan emanates a captivating fusion of historical significance and vibrant energy. As the third largest city in Guangdong province, Foshan offers a modern travel experience that combines the charm of the old with the excitement of the new.

Chuanlord Tourism &Leisure Expo Park

Located in Foshan’s Shunde District, Chuanlord Tourism &Leisure EXPO Park is where one can experience Lingnan history and culture, the customs of Shunde’s water villages, and the fun of farm life. It is an all-inclusive, scenic attraction that brings restaurants, hotels, sightseeing, shopping and entertainment.

The park features a number of thematic areas. For example, Changlu Scream Island offers hundreds of amusement rides. The ghost ship G?theborg, supported by advanced audio and photoelectric technologies, presents an exciting adventure, while Space Shuttle allows visitors to soar into the sky at incredible speeds.

At Fairytale Animal Kingdom, visitors will see beautiful gardens and rare animals in fairytale-like settings that are full of life. In contrast, Farm Theme Park, equipped with a brewery, a tofu workshop and other activities, allows visitors to experience the fun of Lingnan farming.

Apart from these thrilling attractions, visitors can also explore Wetland Theme Park, Changlu Resort, Underwater World Theme Park and other places to discover even more fun and entertainment.

Foshan Ancestral Temple

Founded between 1078 and 1085 in the Song Dynasty, the Foshan Ancestral Temple worships the Taoist deity Zhenwu Xuantian, the God of Water in Taoism. The architectural complex as a whole is symmetrical from south to north, with a large number of picturesque attractions. Built mainly with wood and stones, the temple itself is an architectural treasure of artistic and cultural significance. Some of the notable architectural features include the ceramic decorations on the temple’s rooftop, exquisite brick carvings, and lime sculptures on the walls.

The temple also houses a wide range of cultural artefacts, including stone pillar couplets, wood-carved couplets, and plaques. In addition, the three-metre-high metal statue of Zhenwu Xuantian enshrined in the temple is a spectacular sight to see.

Foshan Qiuse Parade

Inscribed on China’s National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, Foshan Qiuse Carnival (in which Qiuse means ‘autumn colour’) has a long tradition as a major event that celebrates the joy of autumn harvest, demonstrating the essence of Lingnan culture. The carnival, which includes a parade, is held in a selected evening during the harvest season, and is marked by seven main manifestation patterns: a lantern show, vehicle show, horse show, ground show, water show, fluttering show and scenery show.

Visitors can appreciate the beauty of different handcrafts, including decorated parade floats, wax sculptures, clay sculptures and lanterns, during the parade. There are also a variety of artistic performances, such as folk music, dragon dances and lion dances, as well as dramas performed on the frames of decorated parade floats.

He Art Museum

Designed by famous Japanese architect Tadao Ando, He Art Museum is an architectural masterpiece that manifests his signature manipulation of concrete with natural elements including light, water and wind into the context of Lingnan architectural culture. From the smallest details to the grand structure itself, there feels like a ripple-like expansion that extends throughout the built environment. At the heart of the museum is a circular central atrium that is five stories high, inviting visitors to look up towards the roof. The double-helix staircase that spirals through the atrium is also a remarkable focal point — resembling the DNA pattern, it creates the most spectacular sight at the museum.

The museum also includes a crescent garden planted with trees and charming light-colour blossoms. Water takes centre stage in the garden, where reflections of the museum building create an artistic illusion. A rich collection of contemporary art pieces, including the creations by Tadao Ando as a cross-disciplinary artist, are displayed at the museum.

Huang Feihong Memorial Hall

At the northern corner of the Foshan Ancestral Temple in Chancheng District stands the Huang Feihong Memorial Hall, which was built to commemorate Huang Feihong, the famous grandmaster of Lingnan martial arts. The building is modelled to reproduce the style of folk residences and ancestral temples of the old days when the master was alive, with its architectural structures, such as beam frames, brick carvings, cornices, screens, doors and windows, all displaying the aesthetics of Lingnan architecture in the past.

The memorial hall comprises an exhibition hall, an auditorium, a martial arts hall, and martial arts courtyards. At the exhibition hall, apart from understanding the stories of Huang Feihong, visitors can enjoy a fascinating display of literary and artistic works, as well as thousands of cultural relics related to the martial arts master. The centrepiece at the martial arts hall is a lattice-work with wood carvings dated back to the Qing Dynasty, which is displayed alongside unique carved brick decorations. In front of the martial arts hall sits a pair of marvellously carved stone lions — they are valuable treasures from 1818 in the Qing Dynasty and previously part of the collection of the Foshan Ancestral Temple.

Ip Man Memorial Hall

As part of the Foshan Ancestral Temple situated at the Chancheng District of Foshan, this memorial hall features the life and legacy of Ip Man, the world-renowned grandmaster of Wing Chun, or Chinese Boxing, who grew up and learned his skills in Foshan. He was also the mentor of famous martial artist and actor Bruce Lee.

Inside the memorial hall is a valuable collection revolving around the martial arts legacy of Ip Man, including a wide range of photos and objects, ranging from a picture taken with Bruce Lee to different types of Chinese weapons, Wing Chun manuals, and household items. Visitors will also find calligraphy works and a bronze bust of the master. In addition, there’s an imitated study room of Ip Man, and a dedicated exhibition area where Wing Chun-related multimedia content — films, TV productions and videos — is showcased for visitors to learn about the life stories of the master.

Jinbang Upper Street, Shunde

Known as the ‘Milk Street’ of Shunde, Jinbang Upper Street is teeming with history and heritage and is packed with snack stores specialising in Jinbang milk and dairy products. Originating in Jinbang Village in Shunde’s Daliang Town, Jinbang milk has earned its name as the ‘Cheese of the East’ because of its unique taste: deliciously sweet but having a hint of saltiness, ideal to complement staples such as congee and rice.

At Jinbang Upper Street, visitors can buy all kinds of dairy products and savour special delicacies from the region, including buffalo milk and Daliang double-layer milk. Signature local snacks, such as crispy fish skin and stir-fried pork fillet with longans, are also on offer. After a major renovation, the street has introduced a gallery with showcases of the history of the area, accompanied by photos that promote local dairy products. Visitors can enjoy delectable food offerings while deepening their understanding of the local culture.

Lingnan Tiandi

Situated at the centre of Foshan’s Chancheng District, Lingnan Tiandi encompasses residential and office buildings, as well as retail, hotel, dining, entertainment, tourism and cultural facilities. Foshan’s historical and cultural traits are well preserved thanks to the establishment of Lingnan Tiandi, as well as the revitalisation of Foshan Ancestral Temple and Donghua Village.

Appreciate the beauty of the traditional Lingnan architectural style as you take in the unique sceneries and landscapes formed by verandas, gables, eaves with carvings, tiled ridges and winding streets. Also walk down the commercial streets to experience how century-old shops are rejuvenated with contemporary art and international fashion from the present, and shop for souvenirs with a unique local touch.

Nanfeng Kiln

Boasting a history of over 500 years, Nanfeng Kiln, meaning ‘kiln of southern winds’, is named after the summer breeze that wafts towards the south-facing mouth of the kiln. During the old days, the kiln was mainly used for firing large pots, while nowadays it’s used by factories to manufacture flowerpots and other products.

At Nanfeng Kiln, visitors can visit the Shiwan Ceramics Museum, Shiwan Doll Street, International Ceramics Village, Ancient Stove Tree and Ancient Pottery. Visitors interested in handcraft can also take part in ceramic making and firing workshops to deepen their understanding towards the manufacturing process, as well as the ceramic culture of Shiwan. The kiln also presents various folk performances, including lion dances, martial arts performances, Chinese operas and paper cutting demonstrations.

Qinghui Garden

A Lingnan-style garden initially built during the Ming Dynasty, Qinghui Garden is hailed as one of the four famous gardens in Guangdong Province, alongside Liang Garden. The garden presents a fine combination of traditional Chinese elements, including architecture, sculptures, poems and lime carvings, all meticulously arranged in an exquisite layout that offers spectacular views. The layout of Qinghui Garden features small gardens nestled in a larger garden to represent the hierarchy of space.

Boat Hall, located at the heart of the garden, is notably worth seeing among all the main attractions, which also include Bixi Thatched Cottage, Chengyi Pavilion, Xiyin Studio and Zhuangyuan Hall. Adorned by two beautiful ponds at its entrance, Boat Hall is a two-storey building in the shape of a boat floating on the river, exuding an air of classical elegance.

Qinghui Garden is also home to over 100 flowering tree species, including century-old ones and unique varieties form other places. It’s a treasured place that allows visitors to experience a slice of tranquility for visitors in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the city.

Reprinted from the website of the Hong Kong Tourism Board，click here.