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| Tourist
Guides for China |
Foshan Tourist Guide (March
2010)
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Foshan City
Tour |
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Related
Pages:
Introduction
Culture
City Tour - This Page
City
Districts
Regional
Attractions
Sample
Day at Dong Jian
Shopping
Kung Fu
Zoos,
Water and Theme Parks, Museums
City Tour
Let us begin with things you need to know, such as local
landmarks and centres of interest:
Understanding Foshan City
1. Bai Hua Plaza ('Ba Fa' in Cantonese)
is the city centre, and is based around the green building
with a ball on top that is your first picture on the
left.
2. It is located on Zumiao Lu (Jo Mu
Lo in approximate Cantonese), and is the main road in
Foshan centre. Situated a short distance along this
road are: The Ancestral Temple, Carrianna Hotel, Foshan
Folk Arts Museum, and The Revolving Hotel.
3. Zumiao Road ends with a T-Junction
Go ahead diagonally right for Jusco and Tour Mall, which
are situated side by side near Chaoyang Hospital at
the start of Jinhua Road. The sidestreet's are full
of interest, and following your nose should work fine.
4. If you were to turn left at the
end of Zumiao Road, and then right at the next big road
( Feng Jiang Middle Road), you would come to the Main
Bus Station, which is located with 3 x Computer Cities
adjacent. This is where to catch coaches to any part
of China, the Airport at Guangzhou, and Hong Kong or
Macao. Above is the new Computer City, which is OK.
Before it is a very new Computer City which is expensive,
but has the latest stuff. Past it and set back a bit
is the old Computer City which is where you can buy
very cheap and reliable computers, peripheral devices
and sundries.
This area is named Hongyun on the Google map, but locals
all refer to is as 'Hong Wan'.
5. Immediately after crossing the river
bridge there is a small bus station on your left - this
services Privately operated coaches to Guangzhou Tian
He only.
6. If you head North on Feng Jiang
Road you will come to the Railway Station, which is
across a small river bridge, passed the small bus station,
and on you right. There is one through train each day
which starts at Zhao Qing (Siu Heng), Foshan, Guangzhou
East Railway Station, and arrives in Hong Kong. Obviously
there is a complimentary train each day in the opposite
direction. It is a great way to travel, but I have never
found the midday schedules to be convenient. However,
there are hourly trains to Guangzhou and other destinations
(Subject to alteration)
7. Travelling in the other direction
from the Main Bus Station, there is a major road to
your right called SiZhi Road. Just down here is another
small bus station which services Privately operated
coaches to Shunde Daliang (Goes through Long Jiang Town)
and San Shway. They are very green, and very efficient.
8. The next major road junction South
is the crossing with Renmin Road. On your right is the
main Regional Branch of The Bank of China. If you have
any monetary worries that do not relate to Western Union,
then go here.
For Western Union, only The Agricultural Bank and The
Post Office (Nightmare!), called China Post with a dark
green logo can help you. Most Branches of The Agricultural
Bank have English speaking staff and can receive payments.
You need to go to a very major Branch to send money
overseas, especially to obscure destination like Peru
- which I did once. In which case I recommend the Branch
on Jia Hua 5 Road at Dong Jian Century Plaza = excellent
service!
9. The Magic Roundabout
Foshan actually has 3 traffic roundabouts, with one
being part of the Foshan Avenue intersection with 'University',
and a second near the rotatring hotel. Ignoring these,
the one we are left with is just up the road, and again
situated along Feng Jiang Middle Road. Many visitors
may consider this to be the centre of their world, so
I will spend some time on this area...
a. Approaching this roundabout from
the North ie - form the Main bus and railway stations,
Little India restaurant is on your
left just before the roundabout. The Hotel on your left
services coaches to Panyu and The Clifford Garden. Bai
Hua Plaza is a short distance up the road on
your immediate left. Along this road on your right is
an excellent private jeweller, quite near the main Bai
Hua end.
For pedestrians, crossing the road is 'interesting',
as you are normally forced to take the underpass walkways,
which get very confusing as this services 5-roads with
both pavements included = 10 exits. Any exit directions
are only in Chinese and they are also used by motorcycles
and small vehicles - so I snapped the last photo on
this page here, thinking the guy was taking a nap whilst
trying to figure out how to exit towards his intended
destination. This thoroughfare also has trinket stalls
and food vendors, so I guess many locals also get confused
as to how best to escape? The City has even provided
a fountain and small swimming pool, presumably to keep
trapped persons entertained.
b. If you manage to go straight across
this intersection, and end up on the left-hand side
of the same road (Feng Jiang Zhong Lu); then the
Foshan Hotel (Now Crowne Plaza) is a short
distance in front on your left. It virtually occupies
the whole block, and is being extended also.
c. Directly opposite is Jen's
Bar, which is the old John's Bar.
I suggest you walk passed the Foshan hotel and cross
at the pedestrian crossing - unless you want to try
the roundabout underpass again?
i. Crossing the road here and not turning right, but
stepping a few yards further forwards will bring you
to the doors of a trendy bar, which has live entertainment
upstairs at night, and large screen Western sports beneath.
Further along is what we call 'DVD Street', as there
are dozens of shops selling all types of films and music.
Let us go back and continue are journey.
d. We have turned right above, and
passed by the entrance to Jen's Bar.
At the end of this block and overlooking 'the magic
roundabout', is the Golden City Hotel.
This hotel is ok, but is now host to John's
Bar, one of only two Western restaurants I
recommend in the whole of Foshan City District. This
is located on the second floor.
e. When you pass by this hotel and
reach the roundabout proper, you will find a small and
tricky road to your left. This is Feng Jiang West Road
(Confusingly named to aid travellers), and leads past
the university directly (On your left after under passing
Foshan Avenue), to Ceramics City. Here are also located
Artists Street and Nan Feng Kiln - all within a stones
throw of each other. There is a lovely park behind linking
them together.
f. Crossing this road brings you to
The Swissotel, which is newly completed
and Foshan's tallest building. It occupies the whole
of the corner plot, and has plush malls associated within
its design. The hotel actually occupies the top 15 floors
of this building. It is regarded as being Foshan's only
5***** Star hotel of International standard.
g. The next small road is easier to
cross on foot, and brings you to yet another quality
hotel. I have not listed this as a hotel, because we
have no feedback about it yet. However, it is also home
to Foshan's best foot massage parlour.
This is too the degree that if you suffer from any foot
or ear problem (Yes, they also have expert ear cleaners
on staff), then I would use this place in preference
to any Hospital!
h. Rounding this complex, you are now
back on Feng Jiang Zhong Lu, headed in the opposite
direction - with Little India on your right, and the
main bus station ahead.
9. The city district called Shiwan
is home to Foshan China Ceramics City, and the mecca
for all people wanting to buy bathroom ceramics and
appliances; or to buy some of the finest artwork in
the whole of China. This also includes glassworks, and
fine examples of working with marble and granite.
From The Magic Roundabout, head down Feng Jiang West
Road (Xi Lu), and passing underneath Foshan Avenue,
and then University, enter Jiang Wan 1st Road. You will
come to a very major traffic intersection after
about 2-miles. This is the intersection with Ji Hua
Lu, another extremely important road in Foshan. Opposite
and slightly right is Foshan Ceramic's City; a large
purpose build showcase of bathroom products, now being
given over to tiles. You would probably need about 1-week
to visit every showroom inside, it really is that big!
The major bathroom companies have since moved all their
showrooms out of this building and into the surrounding
streets, Ji Hua being the very most important.
a. If you were to travel directly past
this exhibition centre (On your right), then you would
come to Nan Feng Ancient Kiln, which is up the first
major sideroad on your right. Hereabouts is the Fine
Arts area, before you hit the also ran's and up-and-comers.
The Fine Arts area is situated around a sort of 'Green'
- meaning a triangular intersection with a green space
in the middle.
b. Bearing right and straight on passed
this, stop! You have just passed an interesting road
that sort of disappears into 'something' on your right.
The next road on your right is Artist's Street. This
road is hyped all over China as being one of the best
places to go for artistic interpretation and local skilled
works. Its a load of bollocks, as all you find are non-local
traders hawking their wares fronted by fancy shops sporting
high prices. I am a little unfair, but not much.
I took my good friend Jim Chenoweth there, as he makes
pottery and glass stuff, and was looking for 'Porcelain'
= the fine white stuff, normally with blue pictures
on it, that ordinary mortals know as 'Ming Vase'. He
was very disappointed I think, but did like some of
the works, which from memory included glazes to which
Platinum was added. I'm not into this, but love a good
piece - so it could just as easily have been Titanium,
or some other rare metal?
Do not be mistaken, what they sell here is very good,
and sometimes exceedingly good or even exquisite! It
just wasn't what he was looking for that day. Some of
the shops here really are worth a visit - its just that
he was expecting artists treddling wheels and producing
fine works of art. Instead on the day of our visit,
the street was lined with packing cases of produce coming
in, or being shipped out = 50-50.
There is an Artists Street here, or rather, a warren
of backstreets where there are real studio's occupied
by crazy artists who make what their heart tells them
to. These are very difficult to find, but basically
it is 'Left a bit'.
At the end of this street it opens out to a wonderful
and peaceful park, featuring a large meandering lake,
restaurants, and a wall sculpture about 30 yards high
by 200 yards long - made out of toilets with water overflowing
the display. This is highlighted by a very large pink
sculpture that is set aside, and highlights the essence
of 'women'. Quite bizarre, and sticks in the memory
somewhat. What a pair they were!
10. Let us retrace our steps, and head
East along Ji Hua Lu. This is probably the forth most
important road in Foshan, after: Zumiao, Foshan Avenue,
and Feng Jiang Lu. Whilst the above are all more or
less orientated North-South, Ji Hua Lu is West-East,
and slightly south of the city proper. It is also the
longest road in Foshan, stretching for about 20 miles
or more all told.
a. Heading from Ceramics City East
on Ji Hua 4 Road, we pass the posh ceramics showrooms,
and at the interchange with Foshan Avenue, have a lovely
area of eating establishment to our left immediately
before this junction. The Turtle Restaurant and Siu
Yeah'r are located here.
b. If you were to turn right, then
you would very soon come to a bus lay by - and this
is one of the very best places to catch private coaches
to all parts of Southern Guangdong.
c. Crossing Foshan Avenue, Siu Fai
Yearm restaurant is just up the second road on your
right; whilst the next set of traffic lights is the
intersection with Feng Jiang Lu. Feng Jiang Zhong Lu
is left, and Feng Jiang Nan (South) Road is right (As
is MacDonald's and a supermarket). The new metro opens
a station here later in 2010.
d. Crossing this intersection you will
find Ji Hua Park to your right, which is one of the
most popular public parks at night, and features many
pastimes including: Tai Chi in the mornings, kids during
the day, and evening Waltz's and other weird European
dancing styles. Totally worth a look around 9pm.
We are now entering the new centre of Foshan, where
the Municipal Government is located. Let's continue
along Ji Hua Lu and I'll pinpoint places of interest
from other pages for you.
i. Immediately after Ji Hua Park ends
is a road to your right. 30 yards up this road is 'Ho
Sum Lao' restaurant, situated at the end of the first
street on your left. Keep going straight and at the
end of the next block on your left, possibly another
600 yards, is 'The Goose Restaurant'.
ii. Back on Ji Hua Lu we then encounter
a set of major traffic lights. Park and Shop is immediately
on your left. Go left here to find Superline
about half a mile down on your right, with
The Golden Sun restaurant just beyond
(And Golden Lake Hotel just beyond
this). This is a good experience, even for 'boys'.
iii. Passing through these traffic
lights your landmark is the pedestrian footbridge overhead:
e. 'Gui Wah Fo' Chong' is the Chinese
supermarket that occupies the entire block to your left.
It may look like a load of small shops, but they all
are leased from the gigantic supermarket that lurks
behind and covers two floor of this entire city block.
Every commercial driver in Guangdong knows exactly where
'Gui Wah Fo' Chong' is! This is your
local landmark.
Update 1st July 2010: The long proposed redevelopment
of Gui Wah Fo Chong is finally under way. The entire
block is being demolished and turned into a modern shopping
mall, destined to be the largest in Foshan. We understand
building works are scheduled to take 18 months, completing
in time for Chinese New Year 2012.
f. Conversely, your international landmark
lies just across the footbridge and is known as 'Dong
Jian Century Plaza'. This is regarded as being the new
city centre of Foshan, and I do like this area very
much - and so much so I lived here for over 5-years.
Please read our related page Sample
Day for a more in depth look at this area
Exiting the footbridge on the other side of the road,
you will be outside KFC on your left = this is your
directional landmark in English terms. Carry on up this
road for 50 yards, and you will see The Bank of China
across the road and slightly left. This building contains
one of the very few ATM's that work with any type of
Visa card. The machine you want to use is the old one
in the middle (Left is a bank deposit machine, and right
is another machine that has the same stickers on it
- but refuses to work with my Visa Card). The central
machine is topped up each day between 10 and 11 am,
and it is out of action for this time period. If you
want cash - then hit this one ATM at 11.30 ... and magically,
it will be so!
Feeling flush you will step out of the cash-point and
look around. Directly opposite is the Private Hospital,
which is an excellent place to go if you have any medical
concern. Probably the best hospital I have ever had
the pleasure to know, including UK. They do not use
'injections', preferring instead to use an intravenous
drip = far better for your body, but allow 30 minutes
for this extra.
Straight on and down the facing road are DJ Cafe, the
Bentily Hotel, Bull Bull restaurant, one entrance to
the wetmarket, and Ho Sum Lao (Hao Shun Lao in Mandarin),
whilst just across to your left are:
i. Cheap hotel.
ii. Chicken Restaurant.
iii. Xi'an Restaurant.
iv. Hunan Restaurant.
v. Kingdom hotel
China Unicom:
If you go right, then opposite is China Unicom, the
best place to buy their mobile phones and top up a China
Unicom card. Virtually all of Foshan uses China Mobile,
so if you are with this other network, then go here.
Western Union:
Back at the main road and there is a very large branch
of The Agricultural Bank of China.
This is a very good bank, and the branch you are outside
is the one you can send money to all the weird places
in the world using Western Union. To do so, go in the
main doors and immediately right and up the stairs.
Despite what is advertised hereabouts, the counter you
want is located just in front and right a tad. The staff
speak excellent English (Unlike China Post), and will
be very pleased to help you. From this Branch I sent
money to Peru - not a normal transaction! It works for
a linguistically challenged Englishman in Foshan...
...Virtually all Branches of The Agricultural Bank in
Foshan City can receive money from outside China (In
any currency, but delivered in RMB to you)- which may
be your immediate concern?
Only The Agricultural Bank and China Post can offer
Western union services in Foshan City. The Post Office
staff are wonderful and have a heart of gold - we just
don't share any comprehension of a common language,
complicated by their tiered queuing systems, which is
incomprehensible to me?
So back at the Bank of China:
Let's turn right here and walk under the second enclosed
footbridge instead. What you need to know is that:
1. The two Thai (Malaysian) restaurants
in Foshan are just in front of you.
2. Martino's Canadian restaurant is
to your right and then on the immediate left corner.
3. The 24 hour China Mobile ATM phone
thingymagig is to your left and a block on.
4. Wall Mart is at the very end of
this block (Going left a bit, then straight on).
5. The existent best 'Hairwashy' is
on your right across the main road, and shortly after
is the very best 'Foot-Massagey' - Closes 4am.
6. Reaching Wall Mart, you now have
the Foshan TV and Radio tower in front of you, Spheres
for the 2010 Asia Games left a bit, and you are now
on Dai Fu't Lo (Lingnan Donglu).
If we were to continue then we would soon reach Nanhai
Gui Cheung, which is ostensibly a part of Foshan city
proper, but has a different local government and thinking.
It is very hard to distinguish where one ends and the
other begins - a bit like Birmingham vs The Black Country
in UK Midlands. But then again, I am a Staffordshire
Boy, so what do I know about lines arbitrary politicians
chose to draw as segregational areas on a political
map?
If you understand that, then you will understand that
'Greater' Foshan City is similar in many respects.
Here is China!
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This information is as supplied by China Expats and
our friends, as dated 10th July 2010, and/or other reliable
sources. Please check this information yourself as it
may alter without notice, and whilst we try our best
to ensure it is correct, please do not hold us responsible
for any errors - this is intended as a simple guide
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