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Foshan Tourist Guide (March
2010)
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Cultural |
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Culture - This Page
City Tour
City
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Attractions
Sample
Day at Dong Jian
Shopping
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Zoos,
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Local Attractions
Within this modern mix, there are occasional gems remaining
from ancient times; old traditional houses, peasant
fishermen, and the only remaining and working Dragon
Kiln in the whole of China, commissioned during the
Ming Empire Circa 1600. Let's start our tour in the
City Centre...
Ancestral Temple
The Ancestral Temple in the Centre of Foshan dates back
many centuries and was originally constructed in 1085;
but is latterly most famous as the home of Master Ip
Man, who was Bruce Lee's mentor. Bruce was a regular
visitor to Foshan, although his parental home lies some
distance away in Shunde Daliang. It is relatively large
and may need several hours to see all. There are performances
including traditional Buddhist music and Lion Dance,
but check out the times when you enter. This is also
a good place to find reasonably priced and genuine souvenirs.
There is also a museum and hall dedicated to the memory
of Deng Xiao Ping - the founder of Shenzhen and the
Policy of Openness.
The temple is known as 'Jo Mu' in Cantonese, correctly
'zhou mu'; and is Zu Miao ( 祖庙 ) in Mandarin. It is
located in the heart of the city along Zumiao Road,
and a minutes walk from Bai Hua (The big green building
with a ball on top - pictured left). The entrance is
centrally situated, with the ticket office set to the
left hand side. This area is beset with beggars, and
foreigners are their number one target. However, do
not let this put you off visiting this great attraction.
Immediately to your left upon entry is a stand that
makes and sells jade seals (Stamp in candlewax). They
will make to your own design within an hour. Further
left is the Kung Fu memorial hall, which features rooms
dedicated to Ip Man, Bruce Lee, Wong Fei Hung, and other
great Masters. Heading deeper into the complex and keeping
left, you will find a craftsman making Foshan Paper
Cuts. Left from here is the Kung Fu school complex,
with two practice arenas. There is also a museum of
musical instruments situated here, and adjacent to a
mural depicting the atrocities committed by foreign
forces in the late Qing Empire, with a description in
English. Behind the latter and up some stairs in the
wall is a fantastic shop selling all manner of authentic
Chinese souvenirs at sensible prices. It is hard to
find! Be careful here, as one door leads down and out
into a sidestreet.
Returning to the paper cutter, you will enter a complex
behind his stall, which serves as Buddhist temple complete
with many rare artifacts. Several interlinked rooms
lead out to an open air pool full of carp and terrapins
(A Chinese thing all temples have). Progress through
this and right a touch to an open air theatre complex
and restaurant, combined. This is where Cantonese (Yue)
Opera is performed. Progressing along the right hand
side of the complex you will find the memorial halls
dedicated to Deng Xiao Ping and Cantonese Opera. Foreign
tourists will find this quite missable, unless you are
into this sort of thing, in Chinese writing only? However,
outside are several interesting stalls selling knickknacks,
some of which can be personalised or made to order in
a few minutes. Dotted around this area are several displays
of dilapidated antique things, such as traditional boats
and sowing machines set in large glass cases. There
is another restaurant here, and the public toilets are
located nearby down a nondescript alley. Behind the
alley and fronting the main road outside is a garden
area. Bearing right brings you back to the entrance
- or should that be exit?
Opening times: 8.30 am to 6 pm
Ticket Price: Y20
Tel: 0757 82221680
Foshan Folk Art Museum
Nearby Foshan Folk Art Museum and Studio is a good place
to look for souvenirs, including excellent Chinese Cloisonné,
silks, Jade, Papercuts (Foshan's leading art), calligraphy
and other local arts and crafts. This is located along
the road from Zumiao, so with the temple to your right,
walk straight ahead and over a main road with traffic
lights. It is 5-minutes walk. This is also a great place
for gaining an understanding into the lessons learned
during the Cultural Revolution, including the modernisation
of agriculture. In the corner of the Temple grounds
next door you will also find an excellent vegetarian
restaurant, although you may need to ask for help in
finding it even though it is quite large. This complex
is due to be relocated.
Opposite the Folk Arts Museum is the Carris Anne Hotel,
which is the second most popular hotel used by Westerners
(After The Foshan Hotel). Both hotels have business
centres and excellent standards of spoken English. They
also offer direct coaches to places such as Guangzhou,
Shenzhen and Hong Kong - which include various destinations
for both the Airport, Hong Kong Island, and Kowloon.
Website (Chinese Only except this page): http://www.fsfolkart.com/en/
Ancient Nanfeng Kiln
Located in Guzao Street, Shiwan Town (At the intersection
of another road and where Jia Hua 4 Road becomes Jia
Hua 3 Road [Cantonese: gwi wa sai Lo] ) and very near
China Ceramics City. It is 5-minutes taxi from Bai Hua
city centre.
The complex is home to the last working Dragon Kiln
in all of China. A Dragon Kiln is one set going up the
side of a hill, with continuous firing from bottom to
top. Ceramics are moved up during the firing process,
and this was China's answer to technical problems associated
with high temperature firing required by some special
glazes.
Across the courtyard is a large shop selling locally
made products of all ceramic descriptions. To the right
wall and central is an area set aside for displays by
a Master Potter, which usually runs at certain times
each week-end, and for tour groups by appointment. This
is actually a lot of fun, as afterwards you get to play
with some clay and make your own pottery. They later
fire the results in the Dragon Kiln, and you can pick
up your finished item a couple of weeks later.
Virtually opposite the main road entrance is a great
Hunan Cuisine restaurant, whilst veering right will
bring you to Foshan Artists Street. This is home to
many small retailers selling all manner of ceramics
and associated glassware's. There is a proper artist's
street within this complex, but it is hard to find,
even for Foshan local residents. Both this area and
Nanfeng Kiln back onto a lovely park with massive central
water feature. Restaurants, bridges, and walkways about,
and it is a most relaxing place to chill for a while.
Near the Artists Street is a fantastic mural about 20
feet high and 50 yards long. This begins with a pair
of the largest female things I have ever seen, and is
back dropped by what can best be described as a long
waterfall made from toilets. There are literally thousands
of the things all set in the wall!
Liang Yuan Garden
Liang Yuan is one of the Pearl River Delta's most historic
gardens built by a family of famous poets and artists
of the period. Artistically arranged gardens and ponds
surround elegant residential buildings.
Cantonese Opera
Foshan is also the Birthplace of Cantonese Opera; which
is similar to, and should never be confused with Beijing
Opera. There are always Cantonese Opera shows and performances,
plus special display halls and a Memorial museum dedicated
to the Stars. From this spring a local industry based
on costumes and masks.
We took this one step further for a recent summer camp
(College Ages), and dedicated one day to making our
own Cantonese Opera performance. Make-up takes several
hours, and then there was dressing in the exuberant
costumes. We did a small display that was great fun
and shown on local TV. Some of the Players were Westerners
... Life is what you make it I guess?
Kung Fu
XiQiao is perhaps the most significant Pearl in this
vast River Delta. It is a renowned scenic spot, Buddhist
temple complex, and home to everything that embodies
ultimate and state of the arts Chinese Kung Fu. Teachings
are based upon 'HuangFeiHong' (Wong Fei Hung in Cantonese,
versions) style 'Gongfu'. Huang Fei Hong came to Foshan
as a young boy, with his Father and other disciples
as they fled Imperial persecution from the Shaolin Temple
in neighbouring Fujian Province. They settled in Nanhai
(The name of Foshan City District at that time), and
in a new home - which you can still visit today. There
is now a very major Martial Arts School there. Lessons
are available, and easily booked - if you know how?
Contact China Expats if you want this, and we will
sort it all for you + options for spouse and friends
who think you are maybe a little crazy?
Below is a quotation from the latest edition of Foshan
Tourist Guide:
"Foshan Hong Sheng Martial Arts Academy was established
in 1851 by a martial Master named Zhang Yan during the
Qing Dynasty. Time honoured and deeply influential,
the centre boasts a lot of followers. The members of
Hongsheng played a positive role in the past anti-feudalism
and anti-imperialism wars. Hongsheng Martial Arts Centre
has established branches in Hong Hong and abroad".
Opening times: 9 am to 5 pm
Bus numbers: 133, 141, 143
Tel: 0757 83217908
Xi Qiao
Xi Qiao (Si tew in Cantonese) also features 4 other
main tourist attractions in addition to the Kung Fu
Centre listed above. Buses will deliver you to the small
town of Xi Qiao, which nestles under the Northern wing
of the mountain. It is 'OK' in a nondescript sort of
way. Left and West a bit is the back entrance to the
hills complex of attractions. I mellowed away a very
comfortable afternoon here some years ago, which included
some shopping at local stalls, and an excellent foot
massage. This area also contains a few small fairground
attractions for kids.
There is also a formal entrance on the East side, but
both are a tad hard to locate unless your driver understands
exactly where you are headed for? This mountain has
a 'AAAA' rating regards tourism, whatever that implies?
Main attractions are: Yun Hai Lai Tai, Huang Daxian
holy Land, Baiyun Cave, Tian Hu (Heaven) Lakes, Stone
Swallow Rock and Sifang Bamboo Garden.
Most attractions are open during daylight hours, but
some are restricted to closing at midday, including:
Bodhisattva Culture Garden and Tianhu Lake Scenic Spot
= 7.30 am to 12 midday only.
General opening times: 7.30am - 6pm
Through ticket price: Y50 inclusive for all attractions
Enquiries: 0757 86886646
Ceramics
Foshan is also the Leading Chinese City for ceramics
- the earliest settlers came here because of the local
China Clay. Nowadays this is mainly devoted to Thousands
of square miles of factories producing toilets and other
national and export related ceramics
However, Foshan still produces the most exquisite China
and porcelain in the whole of this vast country. Take
time-out to visit Ceramic Artist's Street = Breathtaking!
During the dawn of the Han Empire Circa 220BC, Foshan
was accorded the title of One of the Four leading ceramics
cities in the whole of China - and today it remains
China's largest producer by volume of export ceramics
(Toilets, sinks, tiles, and bathrooms). It is also China's
leading producer of 'Brownware' figurines, technically
referred to by artist's as 'Mud-works'. However, you
can find some excellent craftsmanship amongst the dross;
for example: heavy metal crystal glazes and hand-painted
pottery relief's. There is also a burgeoning and complimentary
glassworks industry, which features the sole designs
of local artists. Some of these artworks are truly awesome!
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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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