Foshan Travel Guide

Foshan sits in central Guangdong, immediately west of Guangzhou, and together they form a single metropolitan area. The city is steeped in Chinese martial arts tradition — both Wong Fei-hung and Ip Man trace their roots here — and martial-arts schools are still scattered across its neighborhoods.The centerpiece for visitors is the Zumiao Temple (Ancestral Temple), a complex said to have been founded in the Northern Song dynasty. The temple complex carries a Cantonese opera stage and a martial-arts training hall alongside the temple buildings, and is listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site under national protection. Inside, displays cover the lives of Wong Fei-hung and Ip Man, and there are regular demonstrations of traditional crafts.In the Shiwan district, the Nanfeng Ancient Kiln dates from the Ming dynasty and is said to have kept its fires burning for over five centuries — still used today for pottery. Surrounding the kiln, ceramic workshops keep the Shiwan pottery tradition alive. Foshan is also one of the centers of Cantonese cuisine, particularly the cooking of Shunde district, where fresh seafood and delicate dim sum are everyday food. In 2014, Shunde was designated a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.Foshan is close enough to Guangzhou for an easy day trip, with high-speed rail and subway tying them together. Martial arts, ceramics and Cantonese food line up across one compact city — a useful complement to a longer Guangzhou stay.