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| Tourist
Guides for China |
Foshan Tourist Guide (March
2010)
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A Day
Around Dong Jian Century Plaza |
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Related
Pages:
Introduction
Culture
City Tour
City Districts
Regional Attractions
Sample Day at Dong Jian - This Page
Shopping
Kung Fu
Zoos,
Water and Theme Parks, Museums
This page continues our introduction to Foshan, and
is designed to be a 3-mile walk around places holding
a variety of interests for all.
Today we will take a leisurely stroll around Dong Jian
Century Plaza on Jia Hua 5 Road, and use this as our
base to explore the surrounding area on foot. The idea
is to show you around the local streets, shops and malls,
restaurants and other attractions. The entire road distance
is about 3 miles, but stopping at malls can add a lot
too this. Therefore we also recommend places to relax,
eat, and drink along the way. It should be a very pleasant
day!
Dong Jian Century Plaza
Located on Ji Hua 5 Road, adjacent to an overhead footbridge
and 'Gui Wah Fo Chong'.
This mall is OK but not a great highlight, but has a
restaurant occupying the top floor (Normal for Chinese
malls). This mall also has toilets on the ground floor,
set towards the rear and left a bit. There is a Western
style WC in the associated KFC for those that prefer
a little comfort.
If you were to stand facing KFC (Back to the main road),
then on your right is a busy sideroad which if crossed
brings you to a China Unicom mobile phone shop. This
is one of the few places you can obtain China Unicom
top-up cards; as Foshan mainly uses China Mobile, whose
shops are everywhere. Continue a few yards up this road
and you will see the Bank of China across to your left.
This has one of the most reliable international ATM
machines in Foshan. If you have a visa card that does
not work in most Chinese ATM's then the middle machine
is the one you want. However, please note it is usually
out of order between 10 and 11 each morning due to servicing
and topping up with cash. If your card is not so pedantic,
then the right-hand machine should work for you, as
will ATM's of ICBC.
You are now adjacent to a very busy crossroads, and
one of the best places to catch a taxi during rush hours.
Opposite the Bank of China is a small private hospital
that is excellent. Some of the staff speak English to
enough of a degree, and Doctors are readily to hand.
I don't recall there being a consultation fee, but expect
to be taken to their pharmacy to purchase medications
for your treatment. Injections are administered intravenously
via a drip, and this can take a while - but is excellent
for your body. You really don't want to go anywhere
near a major Chinese hospital without a Chinese friend
and a lot of time to kill.
Next to this hospital is an alleyway leading to the
local wetmarket. This area is in itself quite safe and
interesting, although you may decide not to explore
it, as it does look 'very local'. Next is a doorway,
being the entrance to a Chinese hotel. Rooms are very
adequate although basic, and prices very cheap.
Continuing along this road are numerous quality restaurants
(Most close around 9.30 pm). First is the Chicken Restaurant,
which specialises in whole steamed chicken you eat with
your fingers (Plastic gloves provided). They also serve
delicious Spare Ribs that are the same as in UK. Next
door is the Xi'an Restaurant, which has spicy food quite
different from the Sichuan style. They offer a selection
of meats and traditional Xi'an Hotpot's. They also have
many types of bread and noodle dishes, of which my favourite
is their lamb hamburger.
Other notable places along this pavement include: The
Hunan restaurant - ideal for those that like their food
especially hot! With Hunan cuisine the star dish should
always be chilli roast lamb. This restaurant also does
a great fish hotpot with tomatoes. There is a good 'Hair-washey'
here, and next door is the Red Cafe, a western style
restaurant that is 'OK'. Across the road is Rave Party,
one of the largest and best liked disco's and KTV establishments
in Foshan.
Another 100 yards further along this road brings you
to the Kingdom Hotel, which is a lot higher class. At
the southern end of this block is a RBT restaurant -
a sort of trendy bar thingymagig. On your left and across
a block is the red light district. Authorities run purges
from time to time, the locations and girls change, but
it carries on regardless. Carrying straight onwards
brings you to more restaurants, one of which is notable
for excellent fish. Bear right and walk down a bit of
a boring road. The next interchange features two good
restaurants on your right - the corner one being the
Goose Restaurant that specialises in cooking casseroles
in a wok that is charcoal fired. There are also street
bars across the road and left. These open around 5pm.
If you duck down the obliquely set alleyway of a nearby
China Town, then the other end brings you out into another
streetbar area.
Head right from here, back towards the main road, on
your left is a large and tranquil park. The right side
features many restaurants, most of which are open late
or very late at night. You can complete this block by
turning right again, and here is 'Ho Sun Lao' restaurant.
On your left is a large mall featuring all manner of
electrical appliances, and is hosted by Suning Group.
Further along this street are: the side entrance to
the wet market, Bull Bull restaurant which is western
style, the Bentily Hotel, Moslem nosh place, characterised
by the staff wearing small white hats, and they have
a kiosk out front for making noodles by hand. Across
from this is DJ Cafe, which opens at 7.30 every night
- and this then brings you back to the small private
hospital opposite the Bank of China. Internally this
block is made from a warren of interconnecting streets,
and is quite safe to enter - although expect locals
to stare at you. There is an excellent wet market here,
many more local style eateries of questionable hygiene
standards, and I am told, rooms available for Y400 per
month. Second-hand furniture sales are also located
in some of the garages hereabout. Lets continue our
tour by heading back to the pedestrian walkway near
KFC.
Lets cross by using the walkway (It has escalators going
up), and opposite we arrive outside the main bus stop
which fronts a Chinese supermarket called 'Gwi Wah Fo'
Chong' in Cantonese. This is the local landmark everybody
knows. The ground floor is dedicated to food sales,
whilst upstairs (Up a ramp) is clothing, household items
and consumer electronics. The exit of the supermarket
leads you into an area of perfumeries, and outside,
across the road is another modern mall featuring goods
by the very top international brands (Gucci etc). Underneath
is a Hong Kong supermarket called Park n Shop. The entrance
is an escalator set to the front of the building near
Starbuck's and Pizza Hut. Ahha! Perhaps stop for a coffee
at Starbuck's? They always serve a 'Coffee of the Day',
which is a large beaker for Y18 - or good value. You
will notice that across the road is a place that looks
interesting. It says it is called 'Heaven House' and
has a couple of gigantic horses outside. This is another
excellent nightclub, and is called 'Tian Ma' meaning
Great Horse.
If you were to exit the Chinese supermarket and turn
right, (Left from Park and Shop / Starbuck's), then
this would bring you to 'Superline', another mall featuring
cheap clothes and related items. It is well worth a
visit, especially if you are looking for quality at
sensible prices. However, do not rely on the label to
judge any sizes, as often these goods are slightly flawed
seconds, the major season being they have the wrong
size label on them. The mall also has various shops
selling nick-knacks and souvenirs - some of which are
excellent and genuine, whilst others are cheap rubbish.
Outside is a MacDonald's with another Bank of China
located nearby. Foshan's largest English School (Called
Ling Dong) is located in the street opposite, and you
will need to find a place to cross the busy main road
if this is your target. Again, across this road and
right a little is a great shop selling genuine Chinese
souvenirs. Adjacent to Superline is a square, the other
side of which is a reasonable and cheap 'Chinglish'
restaurant called Golden Sun. A little further along
is the Golden Lake Hotel.
The small square itself leads to a bridge which is renowned
as a lovers paradise. If a couple walk across this bridge
three times at consecutive National Day celebrations,
then their wedding will be blessed. On the other side
is the main China Telecom building for this area (Landlines
and internet), however, be careful here, as Chinese
internet here of the 4MB speed is actually 4 x 1Mb outlets
ideal for a small office, and not one dedicated 4Mb
connection. Behind this is a very large wet market with
excellent reputation.
Let's retrace out steps back to the Chinese supermarket
on Jia Hua 5 Road, and reaching the pedestrian walkway,
continue walking away from Park n Shop (Do not re-cross
the road). Crossing a small road junction that also
leads to Superline, passed a bank with interesting lions
no Chinese understand the meaning of, you will meet
an area set back slightly from the main road. The first
alleyway leads to another wet market behind, but you
need to know which stalls to go to in this one. However,
they do sell beef here, which can be rare in Canton.
Without venturing into the wet market, the first door
will have a few girls hanging around, and the stairs
lead up to a very large and nice Hair-Washey and massage
centre. Girl Number 51 is excellent, although number
21 is also pretty damn good.
Outside there are several streetbar's that used to be
very busy before the main road was upgraded. These are
missable, except for the far end where there is a stall
in the wall selling Chinese 'Ham-bo-ba's'. This is Xi'an
cuisine associated with the restaurant above. However,
for Y5, the Donkey kebab is truly excellent, with a
little coriander and chilli sauce. Other meats available
are pork and lamb, but the Donkey is the one to have,
and is red meat in colour out of a package in the refrigerator.
Continue along this road, but there really isn't much
to see unless you fancy visiting the Mongolian style
restaurant which is bright orange and green. A great
eating experience, but expensive if done correctly.
However, they have introduced a new servery system which
makes eating here very reasonable. It is also notable
in that each table place setting comes fitted with its
own small hot-pot, and you only cook your own food in
it. They all have individual temperature controls as
well.
Either just before this restaurant, or just after it,
and next to an alleyway leading to the area behind,
is what I consider to be Foshan's best 'Foot-washy'.
Inside the doorway is a large tree, and a radio-controlled
girl in traditional Chinese costume (Red). Stairs lead
up from the far right corner, and staff will direct
you to an appropriate room. They will ask you two questions:
1. How many people? 2. Quality of service = Ordinary
girl or Special girl. A special girl costs Y10 more
per hour, and is properly trained, so well worth the
extra. Price for either is balanced around Y80 per hour.
Some girls here may offer 'Extra Service', but I would
not know about that! The place closes (Last customer
leaves) around 4am. Meanwhile, cable TV, computers,
drinks and meals or snacks are readily available.
At the end of this block and just around the corner
is a hole in the wall with escalators that don't work.
At the top of the steps is an English language school,
and further inside (Trust me on this one), is an excellent
printing company. I get my business cards printed here,
and 300 cost around Y100, with collection 1-hour later!
This are full colour with picture, bi-lingual and double-sided
on glossy card finish, and produced by me as a template
in a normal word document. There are cheaper options
of course, but the 1-hour does it for me every time.
If you are not interested in business cards or other
printing services, then you will note the main road
has disappeared into an underpass. Opposite are silver
domes erected for the Guangzhou Asia Games 2010. Foshan
TV and Radio tower is also located here. Not your thing
either? Then cross right to the newly completed Wallmart.
This is another very large supermarket and worth a visit,
although their stocks of truly Western produce appear
to fluctuate on a whim. Their Pizza at Y4 for a very
large slice is very good value. This is slowly becoming
a shopping mall also, and yet another KFC is already
open and very busy. MacDonald's will open here soon
also. The goods sold in shops here is probably of higher
standard in general than Dong Jian, but lower than the
Park n Shop mall retail stores.
We are almost full circle now, so permit me a little
indulgence of these streets I know so very well. The
main road here is now called Lingnan Dong Lu, although
everybody still calls it 'Dai Fut Lo'. Walk the short
block below where I used to live, and take the first
sidestreet on your right, called Fu Hua Lu in Mandarin.
The modern political capital building of Foshan is opposite,
and whilst the first block of this street is a tad boring.
It is a short distance however. The first street on
your left leads to The Rose Garden, a complex of vaguely
interlinked quality housing, and the very best upscale
wet market in Foshan. However, continue ahead and pass
Wallmart multi-storey car park on your right.
You will now see a few retail outlets set as very small
local shops here. The one in the middle is a very talented
seamstress who we have purchased business suits for
both men and women from on several occasions. Her prices
are very fair, with a ladies business suit complete
with both skirt and trouser alternatives + two blouses,
all made to measure; coming in at around Y800. She doesn't
speak English, but is very good at what she does. She
will walk with you to a proprietary shop nearby so you
can show her the designs you want her to make for you.
Allow 1-week for completion, with a fitting scheduled
somewhere in between.
Standing outside at the road junction, you are facing
the Snake restaurant, with the red light district to
your left. Let's turn right here and cross the road.
On the first corner is a DVD shop that sells good quality
DVD's and similar discs. Expect to pay Y7 for most items,
and look out for special value packs. One of the staff
may try to load the price, so settle for what you are
happy paying as fair. You can check DVD's before purchase,
and return them for another disc or full refund if they
won't play on your own machine. Nearly all Chinese DVD's
etc, and multi-regional and play on any machine anywhere
in the world.
Heading onwards you will pass a couple of car-washey's,
and turning left at the major road, find a 24 hour China
Telecom top-up card machine. If you try and top-up your
phone yourself, then press 2 at first question for English
language, and follow the prompts. Press '1 + hash' to
top up your own phone, as this is not quite clear, and
saves you having to enter your phone's own number. These
machines accept Chinese notes in denominations of Y30,
Y50, Y100, and Y300.
Continuing along this road
brings you back to Dong Jian Century Plaza, whilst bearing
left at the end of the block takes you past another
'Hair-Washey' and a couple of vaguely Thai restaurants.
Continue walking to the end of the short block, and
facing the Agricultural Bank of China (One of China's
best banks, and the one that does Western Union incoming
only), look immediately to your left and find a welcome
at Martino's - a proper Western restaurant. Chill with
a draught beer, or have Guinness or cider from bottles
and cans. The owner is Bill, a Canadian Chinese bear
of a man, and very hospitable. He will cook you anything
regardless of the menu, although you may need to pre-order
some specialty dishes. This closes at 2am, and has a
multi-channel TV, video, and music system. However,
it is renowned for a relaxing ambience and comfortable
couches.
Almost opposite is a very
small Chinese Moslem restaurant. These people are open
24/7, and are distinguished by wearing small white hats.
Whilst communication resorts to quite basic levels,
they are welcoming and have pictures of virtually all
their main dishes plastered around the walls. I usually
go for the Chinese 'Ham-bo-bah' late at night, and to
order this simply describe a circle with your finger
- they will understand. One of their dishes featured
on the wall is actually a most excellent doner meat,
but I never worked out just how to get them to put this
into the kebab. Hey-ho!
If you just walked the above in one day, then the major
locations listed above may just come to 3-miles, excepting
shopping. I would allow one full day to do all this,
beginning at Dong Jian Century Plaza and crossing towards
superline for lunch at the Golden Sun. I would head
back for dinner (6pm) at Martino's or one of the Chinese
restaurants nearby, before exploring the other options
for evening entertainment listed previously. You will
probably enjoy the international flavour and draught
Carlsberg of DJ Cafe (Doors open 7.30pm), before hitting
the clubs or late night eateries. |
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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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