Foshan
Encyclopedia
Foshan is a city in central Guangdong
province in southern China
. The prefectural area
under the city's jurisdiction over an area of about 3,840 km² and a population of 5.4 million of which 1.1 million reside in the city proper (year 2000 figures).
It is shown on some older maps as 'Fatshan', which is a phonetic spelling of the city's Cantonese
name.
industry. Now, the third largest city in Guangdong, it has become relatively affluent compared to other Chinese cities, and is home to many large private enterprises. Foshan has recently seen a transformation brought by China's booming economy
. Foshan is also famous for its martial arts. It contains numerous Wing Chun
schools where many come to train and spar.
approved a development plan for the Pearl River Delta Region
. On March 19, 2009 the Guangzhou Municipal Government
and Foshan Municipal Government both agreed to establish a framework to merge the two cities.
of Foshan administers five county-level divisions, all of which are districts.
These are further divided into 64 township-level divisions, including 37 towns and 27 subdistrict
s.
Foshan is close to Guangzhou and considers its link with Guangzhou very important. A Guangzhou-Foshan metropolitan
region is being formed.
lies to the east, Zhongshan
to the southeast, Jiangmen
to the southeast, Yunfu
to the west, and Zhaoqing
to the northwest.
Foshan experiences a humid subtropical climate
(Köppen climate classification
Cfa).
opened in 2010, making Foshan the tenth city in Mainland China
to have an underground railway system. Currently the underground network is made up of one line, covering a total length of 20.4 km (12.7 mi), while another two lines are under construction and due to be completed in 2015 and 2020. A long term plan is to make the city's underground system expand to 8 lines.
Being a prominent link to Guangzhou city, the Guangfo Line of the FMetro and Guangzhou Metro
is the first inter-city subway in mainland China. The line was open in time for the 2010 Asian Games making it very convenient to go from Foshan downtown area to any place in Guangzhou.
The existing line of FMetro
network:
was once a regional airport
with mixed usage (both military and domestic transport) since January 22, 1987, as it became a base of China United Airlines
(CUA) in Guangdong Province. When CUA ceased domestic flights on November 1, 2002, Foshan Airport remained military service only. The airport resumed its regional airport status in 2005 when the regrouped CUA, which was partly purchased by Shanghai Airlines
, resumed domestic flight service. It is expected domestic flight linkage between Foshan and at least ten Chinese cities including Beijing
, Nanjing
, Hangzhou
, Yinchuan etc.
and the western Guangdong Province. It is connected with Hong Kong via the KCRC
Guangdong Through Train service from Foshan railway station
. The inter-city through train service was extended from Guangzhou to Foshan since the 1990s.
The AMDs aim to provide an all-round environment for modern agriculture
. Agricultural processes are upgraded through technology, and sale service is incorporated with a new style of tourism that attracts target clients. The modern integrated practice mode resulted in the reputation of the largest base for wholesale
, food production, storage and logistics of agricultural products in Guangdong Province.
and Guangzhou
, Foshan is the third largest manufacturing base in the Pearl River Delta. Once home to a strong State-Owned Enterprises sector, its current economic strength lies in privates firms and Township and Village Enterprises in Shunde
and Nanhai
. In 2002, private firms contributed 56.12% of the industrial output and firms from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan contributed 63.44% in exports.
Key industries in Foshan include:
Towns in Foshan specialize in pillar industries as follows:
Some well-known brands to come out of these pillar industries include Midea
, Kelon, and Jianlibao. Foshan's furniture and lighting industry is known as the world's largest furniture wholesale market and the world's largest lighting wholesale market.
Foshan Hi-Tech Development Zone was founded in 1992. Its total planned area is 7.55 square kilometers. The zone is very close to the national highway G325 as well as Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. The major industries in the zone including automobile assembly, biotechnology and chemicals processing.
such as transportation and energy. Urban development will focus on the central urban group and Shunde urban group, each with more than one million inhabitants.
in Foshan houses the city's guardian, where it has stood for hundreds of years. The temple still stands after enduring many wars and the Cultural Revolution
. Much of its original architecture is still intact. The temple is now used to stage the traditional Cantonese opera
in addition to veneration.
Besides the Ancestral Temple, another example of traditional Chinese buildings is the Liang Yuan. It is one of the four famous Yuan, or private estates, in Guangdong. It epitomizes the building style of the Ming
-Qing
dynasties, with delicate craftsmanship throughout the building, and a compact yet elegantly designed garden. It is very well preserved, with most of its original artifacts displayed in-house. Very near to this site is a group of preserved buildings that date back to the Qing dynasty. Although they are now private houses, permits to visit some of these buildings can be obtained from the Tourist Bureau. These buildings all display the very classic building style of that era, which is the abandonment of the large and ostensible garden and space in favour to small yet multi-stories houses that is practical when there is little space.
Another potential tourist site in Foshan is the old porcelain furnace in Shi Wan. It is said to have been in operation since the Tang dynasty
, and the fire inside has never gone out. It is still producing some of the chinaware that made Foshan famous. Surrounding that site are many workshops of the local artists.
The countryside surrounding Foshan city retains much of its traditional south Chinese rural characteristics.
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
province in southern China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. The prefectural area
Prefecture-level city
A prefectural level city , prefectural city or prefectural level municipality is an administrative division of the People's Republic of China, ranking below a province and above a county in China's administrative structure. Prefectural level cities form the second level of the administrative...
under the city's jurisdiction over an area of about 3,840 km² and a population of 5.4 million of which 1.1 million reside in the city proper (year 2000 figures).
It is shown on some older maps as 'Fatshan', which is a phonetic spelling of the city's Cantonese
Cantonese
Cantonese is a dialect spoken primarily in south China.Cantonese may also refer to:* Yue Chinese, the Chinese language that includes Cantonese* Cantonese cuisine, the cuisine of Guangdong province...
name.
History
The town of Foshan is many centuries old, and was famous for its porcelainPorcelain
Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between and...
industry. Now, the third largest city in Guangdong, it has become relatively affluent compared to other Chinese cities, and is home to many large private enterprises. Foshan has recently seen a transformation brought by China's booming economy
Economy of the People's Republic of China
The People's Republic of China ranks since 2010 as the world's second largest economy after the United States. It has been the world's fastest-growing major economy, with consistent growth rates of around 10% over the past 30 years. China is also the largest exporter and second largest importer of...
. Foshan is also famous for its martial arts. It contains numerous Wing Chun
Wing Chun
Wing Chun , also romanised as Ving Tsun or Wing Tsun, ; ; is a concept-based Chinese martial art and form of self-defense utilizing both striking and grappling while specializing in close-range combat.The alternative characters 永春 "eternal spring" are also...
schools where many come to train and spar.
City of Guangfo
In January 2009 the National People's CongressNational People's Congress
The National People's Congress , abbreviated NPC , is the highest state body and the only legislative house in the People's Republic of China. The National People's Congress is held in the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, capital of the People's Republic of China; with 2,987 members, it is the...
approved a development plan for the Pearl River Delta Region
Pearl River Delta
The Pearl River Delta , Zhujiang Delta or Zhusanjiao in Guangdong province, People's Republic of China is the low-lying area surrounding the Pearl River estuary where the Pearl River flows into the South China Sea...
. On March 19, 2009 the Guangzhou Municipal Government
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
and Foshan Municipal Government both agreed to establish a framework to merge the two cities.
Administration
The prefecture-level cityPrefecture-level city
A prefectural level city , prefectural city or prefectural level municipality is an administrative division of the People's Republic of China, ranking below a province and above a county in China's administrative structure. Prefectural level cities form the second level of the administrative...
of Foshan administers five county-level divisions, all of which are districts.
| Map | # | Name | Hanzi | Hanyu Pinyin | Population (2010 census.) | Area (km²) | Density (/km²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City Proper | ||||||
| 1 | Chancheng District Chancheng District Chancheng District is a district under the administration of Foshan city, in Guangdong province of the People's Republic of China.-Geography:Geographically, it lies at the center of Foshan, surrounded on the east, west, and north sides by Nanhai District and bordered to the south by Shunde... |
禅城区 | Chánchéng Qū | 1,101,077 | 154 | 7,150 |
| Inner Suburbs | ||||||
| 2 | Nanhai District | 南海区 | Nánhǎi Qū | 2,588,844 | 1,074 | 2,410 |
| 3 | Shunde District | 顺德区 | Shùndé Qū | 2,461,701 | 806 | 3,054 |
| Outer Suburbs | ||||||
| 4 | Sanshui District | 三水区 | Sānshuǐ Qū | 622,645 | 874 | 712 |
| 5 | Gaoming District | 高明区 | Gāomíng Qū | 420,044 | 960 | 438 |
These are further divided into 64 township-level divisions, including 37 towns and 27 subdistrict
Subdistrict
Subdistrict is a low level administrative division of a country. In Thailand it may refer to the King Amphoe or to the Tambon. In England and Wales it was part of a Registration district....
s.
Foshan is close to Guangzhou and considers its link with Guangzhou very important. A Guangzhou-Foshan metropolitan
Metropolitan area
The term metropolitan area refers to a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing. A metropolitan area usually encompasses multiple jurisdictions and municipalities: neighborhoods, townships,...
region is being formed.
Geography and climate
GuangzhouGuangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
lies to the east, Zhongshan
Zhongshan
Zhongshan , also spelled Chungshan and historically known as Xiangshan or Siangshan, is a prefecture-level city in the south of the Pearl River Delta in Guangdong province in southern China. Zhongshan, one of the few cities in China with an eponymous name, is named after Dr. Sun Yat-sen who was...
to the southeast, Jiangmen
Jiangmen
Jiangmen , is a prefecture-level city in Guangdong province in southern China with a population of about 4.48 million in 2010. The 3 urban districts are now part of Guangzhou - Shenzhen built up area.-Names:...
to the southeast, Yunfu
Yunfu
Yunfu , historically known as Wanfow, is a prefecture-level city in western Guangdong province, People's Republic of China. It borders Zhaoqing to the north, Foshan to the east, Jiangmen to the southwest, Yangjiang to the south, Maoming to the southwest, and the autonomous region of Guangxi to the...
to the west, and Zhaoqing
Zhaoqing
Zhaoqing is a prefecture-level city of Guangdong province in southern China.-Geography:Zhaoqing is located 110 km northwest of Guangzhou, in the west Pearl River Delta. It lies on the north shores of the Xijiang River, which is flows from west to east, and opposite of Gaoyao...
to the northwest.
Foshan experiences a humid subtropical climate
Humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
(Köppen climate classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Cfa).
FMetro
The first line of FMetroFMetro
FMetro also known as Foshan Metro is the metro system of the city of Foshan in Guangdong Province of China. It is operated by the state-owned Foshan Railway Investment Construction Group and partly by Guangzhou Metro Corporation and is the tenth metro system to be built in mainland China....
opened in 2010, making Foshan the tenth city in Mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
to have an underground railway system. Currently the underground network is made up of one line, covering a total length of 20.4 km (12.7 mi), while another two lines are under construction and due to be completed in 2015 and 2020. A long term plan is to make the city's underground system expand to 8 lines.
Being a prominent link to Guangzhou city, the Guangfo Line of the FMetro and Guangzhou Metro
Guangzhou Metro
Guangzhou Metro is the metro system of the city of Guangzhou in Guangdong Province of China. It is operated by the state-owned Guangzhou Metro Corporation and was the fourth metro system to be built in mainland China, after those of Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai.The earliest effort of preparation...
is the first inter-city subway in mainland China. The line was open in time for the 2010 Asian Games making it very convenient to go from Foshan downtown area to any place in Guangzhou.
The existing line of FMetro
FMetro
FMetro also known as Foshan Metro is the metro system of the city of Foshan in Guangdong Province of China. It is operated by the state-owned Foshan Railway Investment Construction Group and partly by Guangzhou Metro Corporation and is the tenth metro system to be built in mainland China....
network:
- Line 1 (Guangfo Line)Guangfo MetroGuangfo Metro , Guangfo Line , or Line 1 of the FMetro is a subway line that connects the Chinese cities Foshan and Guangzhou. The line is currently 20 km long and has 14 stations, which are all underground. When the line is completed, it will have 32.2 km of tracks and 21 stations, of...
: From Kuiqi Lu Station to Xilang StationXilang StationXilang Station , formerly Guanggang Station because of nearby Guangzhou Iron and Steel's headquarter when planning, is a terminus of Line 1 of the Guangzhou Metro and Guangfo Line . It started operations in 28 June 1997. It was situated at the underground of Huadi Avenue South in Fangcun, Liwan...
Air
Foshan Shadi AirportFoshan Shadi Airport
Foshan Shadi Airport , or Shadi Air Base, is a dual-use military and public airport serving the city of Foshan in Guangdong Province, China.-History:The Shadi Air Base is an airbase of People's Liberation Army Air Force...
was once a regional airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
with mixed usage (both military and domestic transport) since January 22, 1987, as it became a base of China United Airlines
China United Airlines
China United Airlines Co., Ltd. is an airline based in Beijing, People's Republic of China, operating scheduled flights and charter services in co-operation with local enterprises out of Beijing Nanyuan Airport, making it the only commercial airline using this airport.-History and Development:China...
(CUA) in Guangdong Province. When CUA ceased domestic flights on November 1, 2002, Foshan Airport remained military service only. The airport resumed its regional airport status in 2005 when the regrouped CUA, which was partly purchased by Shanghai Airlines
Shanghai Airlines
Shanghai Airlines is an airline headquartered in the Jing'an District, Shanghai, People's Republic of China. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines, but its operations remain separate post-merger, retaining its distinct brand and livery....
, resumed domestic flight service. It is expected domestic flight linkage between Foshan and at least ten Chinese cities including Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, Nanjing
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
, Hangzhou
Hangzhou
Hangzhou , formerly transliterated as Hangchow, is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province in Eastern China. Governed as a sub-provincial city, and as of 2010, its entire administrative division or prefecture had a registered population of 8.7 million people...
, Yinchuan etc.
Rail
Foshan is a main interchange for railway routes linking Guangzhou, Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and the western Guangdong Province. It is connected with Hong Kong via the KCRC
Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation
The Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation was established in 1982 under the Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation Ordinance for the purposes of operating the Kowloon–Canton Railway , and to construct and operate other new railways...
Guangdong Through Train service from Foshan railway station
Foshan railway station
Foshan railway station serves the city of Foshan, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China. Train services include those departing to Guangzhou, Kunming, Nanning and Hainan in mainland China; and the once-daily cross-border Guangdong Through Train service to Hung Hom Station in Kowloon, Hong...
. The inter-city through train service was extended from Guangzhou to Foshan since the 1990s.
Auto
The Foshan Auto carplates begin with the Guangdong 粤-- 粤Y is for Nanhai District (南海区)
- 粤X is for Shunde District (顺德区)
- 粤E is for Gaoming District (高明区), Sanshui District (三水区), and Chancheng DistrictChancheng DistrictChancheng District is a district under the administration of Foshan city, in Guangdong province of the People's Republic of China.-Geography:Geographically, it lies at the center of Foshan, surrounded on the east, west, and north sides by Nanhai District and bordered to the south by Shunde...
(禅城区)
Economy
Agriculture
There are Agricultural Model Districts (AMD) around the prefecture, such as Shunde Chencun AMD, and AMDs in Dali Town, Shatou Town and Locun Town in Nanhai, with a total area of about 9.4 km².The AMDs aim to provide an all-round environment for modern agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
. Agricultural processes are upgraded through technology, and sale service is incorporated with a new style of tourism that attracts target clients. The modern integrated practice mode resulted in the reputation of the largest base for wholesale
Wholesale
Wholesaling, jobbing, or distributing is defined as the sale of goods or merchandise to retailers, to industrial, commercial, institutional, or other professional business users, or to other wholesalers and related subordinated services...
, food production, storage and logistics of agricultural products in Guangdong Province.
Manufacturing industries
Following ShenzhenShenzhen
Shenzhen is a major city in the south of Southern China's Guangdong Province, situated immediately north of Hong Kong. The area became China's first—and one of the most successful—Special Economic Zones...
and Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, Foshan is the third largest manufacturing base in the Pearl River Delta. Once home to a strong State-Owned Enterprises sector, its current economic strength lies in privates firms and Township and Village Enterprises in Shunde
Shunde
Shunde District is a district of Foshan prefecture-level city in the Pearl River Delta, Guangdong Province, southeast China.-Administration:Shunde was a county-level city until December 8, 2002, when it became a district of Foshan prefecture-level city...
and Nanhai
Nanhai
Nanhai District , historically known as Namhoi, is a district of Foshan prefecture-level city, in Guangdong province, southern China. It is the first city to have developed e-government informatization at the county level in China.-Administration:...
. In 2002, private firms contributed 56.12% of the industrial output and firms from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan contributed 63.44% in exports.
Key industries in Foshan include:
- Household electrical appliance and tool manufacturing
- FurnitureFurnitureFurniture is the mass noun for the movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating and sleeping in beds, to hold objects at a convenient height for work using horizontal surfaces above the ground, or to store things...
- Non-metal ore and manufacturing
- ElectronicsElectronicsElectronics is the branch of science, engineering and technology that deals with electrical circuits involving active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies...
and communicationTelecommunicationTelecommunication is the transmission of information over significant distances to communicate. In earlier times, telecommunications involved the use of visual signals, such as beacons, smoke signals, semaphore telegraphs, signal flags, and optical heliographs, or audio messages via coded...
s - Stainless steelStainless steelIn metallurgy, stainless steel, also known as inox steel or inox from French "inoxydable", is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 10.5 or 11% chromium content by mass....
products - PlasticPlasticA plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
products - Ceramics
Towns in Foshan specialize in pillar industries as follows:
- Beijiao Town, Shunde (顺德北滘) - household electrical appliances
- Chencun Town, Shunde (顺德陈村) - flowers and horticulture
- Dali Town, Nanhai (南海大沥) - aluminium products
- Lecong Town, Shunde (顺德乐从) - furniture production and distribution
- Nanzhuang Town, Nanhai (南海南庄) - building materials
- Xiqiao Town, Nanhai (南海西樵) - tourism and textiles
- Yanbu Town, Nanhai (南海盐步) - underclothes
- Nanzhuang Town, Chancheng (禅城南庄) - ceramics
Some well-known brands to come out of these pillar industries include Midea
Midea
Midea Founded in 1968, Midea is renowned as a sizeable conglomerate that specializes in the manufacturing of household appliances and sets foot in relevant fields of real estates and logistics...
, Kelon, and Jianlibao. Foshan's furniture and lighting industry is known as the world's largest furniture wholesale market and the world's largest lighting wholesale market.
Industrial Zone
- Foshan Hi-Tech Development Zone
Foshan Hi-Tech Development Zone was founded in 1992. Its total planned area is 7.55 square kilometers. The zone is very close to the national highway G325 as well as Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. The major industries in the zone including automobile assembly, biotechnology and chemicals processing.
Development strategy
Foshan aims to become a manufacturing giant and the third largest city in Guangdong. To do this, it has pledged to make large-scale investment in the construction of the infrastructureInfrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
such as transportation and energy. Urban development will focus on the central urban group and Shunde urban group, each with more than one million inhabitants.
Tourism
Foshan has many tourist spots, including Chinese temples and other examples of Chinese architecture. The old Ancestral TempleFoshan Ancestral Temple
Foshan Ancestral Temple is a Daoist temple in Foshan, Guangdong, China. It was first built in the Song dynasty during the reign of Emperor Zhezong, in the Yuanfeng Era , but was ruined towards the end of the Yuan Dynasty. It was rebuilt in the 5th year of Hongwu Era of the Ming Dynasty...
in Foshan houses the city's guardian, where it has stood for hundreds of years. The temple still stands after enduring many wars and the Cultural Revolution
Cultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
. Much of its original architecture is still intact. The temple is now used to stage the traditional Cantonese opera
Cantonese opera
Cantonese opera is one of the major categories in Chinese opera, originating in southern China's Cantonese culture. It is popular in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and Malaysia. Like all versions of Chinese opera, it is a traditional Chinese art form, involving music, singing,...
in addition to veneration.
Besides the Ancestral Temple, another example of traditional Chinese buildings is the Liang Yuan. It is one of the four famous Yuan, or private estates, in Guangdong. It epitomizes the building style of the Ming
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
-Qing
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
dynasties, with delicate craftsmanship throughout the building, and a compact yet elegantly designed garden. It is very well preserved, with most of its original artifacts displayed in-house. Very near to this site is a group of preserved buildings that date back to the Qing dynasty. Although they are now private houses, permits to visit some of these buildings can be obtained from the Tourist Bureau. These buildings all display the very classic building style of that era, which is the abandonment of the large and ostensible garden and space in favour to small yet multi-stories houses that is practical when there is little space.
Another potential tourist site in Foshan is the old porcelain furnace in Shi Wan. It is said to have been in operation since the Tang dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
, and the fire inside has never gone out. It is still producing some of the chinaware that made Foshan famous. Surrounding that site are many workshops of the local artists.
The countryside surrounding Foshan city retains much of its traditional south Chinese rural characteristics.
- Foshan Ancestral TempleFoshan Ancestral TempleFoshan Ancestral Temple is a Daoist temple in Foshan, Guangdong, China. It was first built in the Song dynasty during the reign of Emperor Zhezong, in the Yuanfeng Era , but was ruined towards the end of the Yuan Dynasty. It was rebuilt in the 5th year of Hongwu Era of the Ming Dynasty...
- Dong Hua Li (东华里)
- Qing Hui Garden
- Renshou Pagoda
- Folk Arts & Crafts Center
- Pottery & Ceramics Guild
- Statue of Guan Yin on Mount Xiqiao
Notable people
- Wong Fei HungWong Fei HungWong Fei-hung was a Chinese martial artist, a traditional Chinese medicine physician, acupuncturist and revolutionary who became a folk hero and the subject of numerous television series and films. He was considered an expert in the Hung Gar style of Chinese martial arts. Wong is visibly the most...
(1847–1924), legendary martial art master and healer. - Kang YouweiKang YouweiKang Youwei , was a Chinese scholar, noted calligrapher and prominent political thinker and reformer of the late Qing Dynasty. He led movements to establish a constitutional monarchy and was an ardent Chinese nationalist. His ideas inspired a reformation movement that was supported by the Guangxu...
(1858–1927), late Qing DynastyQing DynastyThe Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
political reformist campaigning for a constitutional monarchyConstitutional monarchyConstitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
in China. - Yip ManYip ManYip Man , also spelled as Ip Man, and also known as Yip Kai-Man, was a Chinese martial artist. He had several students who later became martial arts teachers in their own right, including Bruce Lee.-Early life:...
(1893–1972), Wing ChunWing ChunWing Chun , also romanised as Ving Tsun or Wing Tsun, ; ; is a concept-based Chinese martial art and form of self-defense utilizing both striking and grappling while specializing in close-range combat.The alternative characters 永春 "eternal spring" are also...
martial art master, sifuSifuShifu is the identical pronunciation of two Chinese terms for a master. The character 師 means “teacher”. The meaning of 傅 is “tutor”, and of 父, “father”. Both characters are read fu with the same tones in Cantonese and Mandarin, creating some ambiguity...
of Bruce LeeBruce LeeBruce Lee was a Chinese American, Hong Kong actor, martial arts instructor, philosopher, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts movement...
. - Bruce LeeBruce LeeBruce Lee was a Chinese American, Hong Kong actor, martial arts instructor, philosopher, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts movement...
's ancestral hometowns include Shunde, a district of Foshan.