Holiday in Foshan

About Foshan

Foshan is the birthplace of Kung Fu — and this is not a tourist exaggeration, but a historical fact. The 9-million city in the heart of Guangdong, just 20 minutes by metro from Guangzhou, is where Wing Chun, Choy Li Fut, and Hung Gar originated, and the home of two of the most famous martial artists in history: Wong Fei-hung and Ip Man (the teacher of Bruce Lee). The Ancestral Temple of Foshan (Zumiao) is the cultural heart of the city: A 600-year-old temple complex with ornate roof figures, stone carvings, and — in the attached martial arts museum — the entire history of Southern Chinese Kung Fu. The performances of lion dance and martial arts on the temple grounds are not a show element, but a living tradition. In addition to martial arts, Foshan has a second identity: The city was China's ceramic capital for centuries, and the Nanfeng Kiln district houses the oldest continuously active kiln in China — in operation for 500 years. The 6-meter-high dragon kiln facility, where Shiwan ceramic figures are fired at 1,300 degrees, is a fascinating interplay of craftsmanship, heat, and tradition. Culinarily, Foshan is a hidden gem in the already gastronomically spoiled Guangdong: The city is famous for its dim sum tradition, which is still more authentic and less touristy than in Guangzhou or Hong Kong. The Shunde district, officially designated as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, is considered the culinary epicenter of Southern China.