Get to know Foshan
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- Administrative area
- Prefecture-level city · 地级市
- Part of
- Guangdong
- Chinese name
- 佛山市
- Local areas
- 5 local areas
Area & population
- Area in the source
- 3,848.00 km²
- Population · 2020 census
- 9,498,863
- Administrative seat
- Chancheng District
Source: cited geographic source, as of the dates shown.
Setting and landscape
The Xi (西江) and Bei (北江) rivers and their tributaries cross the prefecture and meet at Sixianjiao (思贤滘) in Sanshui District (三水区). Low hills rise west of the Xi River; to the east lies flat delta land laced with waterways. Mount Xiqiao (西樵山), in southwestern Nanhai District (南海区), is an extinct volcano some 40 to 50 million years old with 72 peaks, and a national geopark.
History
Tradition says that in 628 villagers dug three bronze Buddhas out of a hillock called Tapo Gang (塔坡岗), and the place became Foshan, “Buddha hill”. By the Ming Chenghua and Hongzhi reigns it was a Lingnan town crowded with merchants. Cantonese opera (粤剧) took shape among Guangdong troupes in the Qing, and Foshan’s nomination put it on the first national intangible heritage list in 2006. Foshan Wing Chun (咏春拳), developed in the Qing by the local master Leung Jan (梁赞), followed in 2021.
What to see
The Ancestral Temple (佛山祖庙), also called the Beidi Temple (北帝庙), on Zumiao Road in Chancheng District (禅城区), was founded between 1078 and 1085, rebuilt in 1372 after a fire at the end of the Yuan and restored more than 20 times since. A national key protected site, it has Shiwan ceramic figures on its roof ridges, the Wanfu Stage (万福台) for opera, and memorial halls to Wong Fei-hung (黄飞鸿) and the Wing Chun exponent Ip Man (叶问). In the pottery town of Shiwan (石湾), the Nanfeng Kiln (南风古灶), a dragon kiln built in the Zhengde reign (1506–1521), is still in use, and visitors can make their own Shiwan figurines.
Food and local products
Shunde District (顺德区) became a UNESCO City of Gastronomy on 1 December 2014, and an old saying holds that one eats in Guangzhou but the chefs come from Fengcheng (凤城), meaning Shunde. Its cooking seeks the natural taste of fresh ingredients, above all live freshwater fish. Known dishes include Shunde raw fish (顺德鱼生), thin, springy Chencun rice noodles (陈村粉) and double-skin milk (双皮奶), a creamy sweet with two thin skins first made in Daliang (大良).
Getting oriented
The city government sits in Chancheng District; the other districts, in their present form since 2003, are Nanhai, Shunde, Sanshui and Gaoming (高明区).
Highlights
- Foshan Ancestral Temple 佛山祖庙: Temple founded in 1078–1085 and rebuilt in 1372, with Shiwan ceramic ridge figures and an opera stage.
- Nanfeng Kiln 南风古灶: Dragon kiln in Shiwan built in the Zhengde reign (1506–1521) and still in use.
- Mount Xiqiao 西樵山: Extinct volcano with 72 peaks in Nanhai District; a national geopark.
- Double-skin milk 双皮奶: Creamy sweet with two thin skins, first made in Daliang, Shunde.
Sources for this guide
南风古灶 佛山市人民政府门户网站 · Foshan Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports (city portal)
佛山祖庙_名胜古迹_佛山市禅城区人民政府办公室 · Chancheng District People's Government, Foshan
南风古灶_名胜古迹_佛山市禅城区人民政府办公室 · Chancheng District People's Government, Foshan
佛山市 - 维基百科，自由的百科全书 · Wikipedia (Chinese) · CC BY-SA 4.0
广州日报：顺德入选“世界美食之都”，广州咋办？--观点--人民网 · People's Daily Online (reprinting Guangzhou Daily)
走进创意城市 |食在广州 厨出凤城-联合国教科文组织国际创意与可持续发展中心 · UNESCO International Centre for Creativity and Sustainable Development (site hosted by China Radio International)
粤剧 - 中国非物质文化遗产网·中国非物质文化遗产数字博物馆 · China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
西樵山 - 维基百科，自由的百科全书 · Wikipedia (Chinese) · CC BY-SA 4.0
咏春拳（佛山咏春拳） - 中国非物质文化遗产网·中国非物质文化遗产数字博物馆 · China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
Original English written from the listed sources and checked sentence by sentence against quoted extracts by a separate reviewer. Updated 2026-09-30.
Explore Foshan
Core places to explore, with English and Chinese names.
Foshan Ancestral Temple 佛山祖庙
Mount Xiqiao 西樵山
Qinghui Garden 清晖园
Nanfeng Kiln 南风古灶
Lingnan Tiandi 岭南天地
Changlu Tourism and Leisure Park 长鹿旅游休博园
Sanshui Lotus World 三水荷花世界
Nanhai Film and Television City 南海影视城
Foshan Ancestral Temple 祖庙
Fengjian Water Village 逢简水乡
Shunfengshan Park 顺峰山公园
Shun De Huan Le Hai An Plus 顺德欢乐海岸PLUS
Zaomu Mountain 皂幕山
Chancheng District 禅城区
Nanhai District 南海区
Shunde District 顺德区
Sanshui District 三水区
Gaoming District 高明区
Places to explore around Foshan
Foshan Ancestral Temple, Guangdong.Foshan Ancestral Temple佛山祖庙
Foshan Ancestral Temple brings together a Daoist sanctuary, a Confucius temple and memorial displays about the city’s martial-arts traditions. The main ancestral temple is dedicated to the Northern Emperor, known as Beidi or…
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A wooded lake landscape on Mount Xiqiao, Foshan. Photographed on 6 April 2008.Mount Xiqiao西樵山
Mount Xiqiao rises above the flat Pearl River Delta with wooded peaks, rock cavities and spring-fed scenery. Baiyun Caves occupy the northwestern foothills, while higher visitor areas include Baofeng Temple and the large seated…
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East gate of Qinghui Garden, Shunde · 清晖园东门 Photograph date recorded by the source: 9 July 2013 (according to Exif data).Qinghui Garden清晖园
Qinghui Garden is a Lingnan garden in central Daliang, Shunde, where water, compact courtyards and domestic buildings form a sequence of close views. The southern area centres on a pond and waterside structures, including…
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The historic Nanfeng Kiln, Chancheng District, Foshan · 佛山禅城区南风古灶 Source-recorded photograph date: 2009-04-13.Nanfeng Kiln南风古灶
Nanfeng Kiln is part of the ceramics heritage area in Shiwan, Foshan. The kiln belongs to the dragon-kiln tradition, named for the long form of the firing structure. Its mouth faces south, while banyan trees grow behind the…
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Clock tower at Lingnan Tiandi · 岭南天地钟楼 Photograph date recorded by the source: 6 February 2024, 16:57:41.Lingnan Tiandi岭南天地
Lingnan Tiandi reuses historic Foshan streets as a district of restaurants, shops and cultural spaces. Grey brick walls, carved eaves and the high curved gables known as wok-ear walls preserve a distinctive southern…
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Changlu Tourism and Leisure Park · 长鹿旅游休博园Changlu Tourism and Leisure Park长鹿旅游休博园
Changlu is a large leisure park in Shunde, combining Lingnan rural themes with amusement and family attractions.
Read the place guide →
Sanshui Lotus World · 三水荷花世界Sanshui Lotus World三水荷花世界
Sanshui Lotus World (三水荷花世界) is a specialist lotus garden and leisure park in Sanshui District, Foshan, Guangdong, combining collections of lotus cultivars with amusement and water-play areas. Sanshui sits at the north-western corner of the Pearl River Delta, where the Xijiang, Beijiang and Suijiang rivers meet.
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Main gate of CCTV Nanhai Movie and TV Town, Nanhai District · 南海区中央广播电视总台南海影视城大门 Source-recorded photograph date: 2021-05-20 13:58:44.Nanhai Film and Television City南海影视城
China Media Group filming base in Nanhai, Foshan, with a replica Taiping palace, a Jiangnan water town and 1920s Hong Kong and Macau streets.
Read the place guide →
Foshan Ancestral Temple (祖庙), Chancheng District. Photograph: "20251122 Foshan Shi Zumiao Bowuguan (132108)".Foshan Ancestral Temple祖庙
Zumiao (祖庙), the Ancestral Temple of Foshan, stands in the centre of Chancheng District, Guangdong, and is dedicated to Beidi, the Northern Emperor. It now forms the core of the Foshan Ancestral Temple Museum, a walled compound of about 30,200 square metres.
Read the place guide →
The Jinshi Memorial Archway in Fengjian Water Village, Xingtan, Shunde, Foshan · 佛山顺德杏坛镇逢简水乡的进士牌坊 Source-recorded photograph date: 2021-04-30 18:34:36.Fengjian Water Village逢简水乡
Fengjian (逢简水乡) is a canal-laced village in Xingtan town, Shunde District, Foshan, Guangdong, about four kilometres north of the town centre. It is a Lingnan water village of creeks, bridges, ancestral halls and fish ponds, and it is still lived in.
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The main paifang gate of Shunfeng Mountain Park with its pagoda, Shunde District, Foshan · 佛山市顺德区顺峰山公园正门牌坊及宝塔 Source-recorded photograph date: 2016-01-31 00:24:45.Shunfengshan Park顺峰山公园
Large Shunde park of two hills and two lakes, opened in 2004, with an 88-metre stone paifang and the 1602 Qingyun Pagoda.
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Shun De Huan Le Hai An Plus · 顺德欢乐海岸PLUSShun De Huan Le Hai An Plus顺德欢乐海岸PLUS
Shunde Happy Coast PLUS (顺德欢乐海岸PLUS) is a large leisure and commercial precinct built by the OCT group in the core of Shunde New Town, Shunde District, Foshan, Guangdong. It mixes a theme park, a water park, a themed shopping street, a shopping mall and a wetland park across a single planned area.
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Zaomu Mountain · 皂幕山Zaomu Mountain皂幕山
Zaomu Shan (皂幕山) in Gaoming District, Foshan, Guangdong, is the highest mountain in the city, its summit reaching 805 metres. In a delta of low, flat land it is an unusual piece of upland, and its forested slopes give it its name.
Read the place guide →Local life & food
Foshan local specialties
佛山市特色美食 · 16 specialties to discover
Foshan manggong rice biscuits 佛山盲公饼AI illustration · AI 示意图
The biscuit is firm and crumbly, with a toasted grain-and-nut aroma rather than a soft cake texture. Small bites are easier than trying to break off a large mouthful.
Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Double-skin milk 双皮奶
The dessert is creamy, smooth and milk-forward, with delicate surface layers and restrained sweetness in a traditional version.
Source ↗Read the dish guide →
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Shunde Raw Fish Slices 顺德鱼生
Shunde Raw Fish Slices (顺德鱼生) are paper-thin slices of raw freshwater fish from Shunde (顺德) in Foshan (佛山), Guangdong, which each diner tosses with a choice of condiments and peanut oil.
Read the dish guide →.jpg){kind=link}
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Jun'an Steamed Whole Pig 均安蒸猪
Jun'an Steamed Whole Pig (均安蒸猪) is a whole pig, boned and seasoned, then steamed in one piece in a wooden box over a wood-fired wok. It comes from Jun'an (均安) in Shunde (顺德), where it has been made for more than a century.
Read the dish guide →Photo adjustments
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Lunjiao Fermented Rice Cake 伦教糕
Lunjiao Fermented Rice Cake (伦教糕) is a steamed cake of fermented rice batter and sugar named after Lunjiao (伦教, historically written 伦滘) in Shunde (顺德), a district of Foshan (佛山).
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Chencun Rice Noodle Sheets 陈村粉
Chencun Rice Noodle Sheets (陈村粉) are very thin steamed sheets of rice noodle from Chencun town (陈村镇) in Shunde District (顺德区), Foshan (佛山).
Read the dish guide →.jpg){kind=link}
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Daliang Stir-Fried Milk 大良炒鲜奶
Daliang Stir-Fried Milk (大良炒鲜奶) is milk cooked in a wok until it sets into soft, white curds, a well-known dish of Shunde (顺德) in Foshan (佛山), Guangdong.
Read the dish guide →Photo adjustments
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Daliang Yeji Fried Pork Roll 大良野鸡卷AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非实拍）
Daliang Yeji Fried Pork Roll (大良野鸡卷) is a roll of layered pork and ham, steamed and then deep-fried, from Daliang (大良), the central urban area of Shunde (顺德) in Foshan (佛山), Guangdong.
Read the dish guide →All dish names · 全部菜名 (16)
- Foshan manggong rice biscuits · 佛山盲公饼
- Double-skin milk · 双皮奶
- Shunde Raw Fish Slices · 顺德鱼生
- Jun'an Steamed Whole Pig · 均安蒸猪
- Lunjiao Fermented Rice Cake · 伦教糕
- Chencun Rice Noodle Sheets · 陈村粉
- Daliang Stir-Fried Milk · 大良炒鲜奶
- Daliang Yeji Fried Pork Roll · 大良野鸡卷
- Pan-Fried Stuffed Mud Carp · 煎酿鲮鱼
- Shunde Hand-Flaked Fish Soup · 顺德拆鱼羹
- Claypot rice · 煲仔饭
- Zhuhou Sauce Braised Chicken · 柱侯鸡
- Jiujiang Fried Glutinous Rice Cakes · 九江煎堆
- Gaoming Pressed Rice Noodles · 高明濑粉
- Stuffed Pork Trotter Roll · 扎蹄
- Salted Buffalo Milk Slices · 牛乳饼
More dishes from across Guangdong are in the Guangdong food guide.
Counties & districts in Foshan
5 areas belong directly to Foshan.
5 areas
Chancheng District 禅城区
Chancheng District is a district and the seat of the city of Foshan, Guangdong Province, China. Chancheng is the economic, cultural and political center of the city.
Explore the area →DistrictNanhai District 南海区
Nanhai District (simplified Chinese: 南海区; traditional Chinese: 南海區), or Namhoi (from Cantonese, Jyutping: naam4 hoi2), is a district of Foshan, Guangdong, China.
Explore the area →DistrictShunde District 顺德区
Shunde or Shun Tak (from Cantonese) is a district in the city of Foshan, Guangdong, located in the Pearl River Delta of China. It had a population of 2,464,784 as of the 2010 census.
Explore the area →DistrictSanshui District 三水区
Sanshui District, formerly romanized as Samsui or Samshui, (Jyutping: Saam1 seoi2), is an urban district of the prefecture-level city of Foshan in Guangdong province, China.
Explore the area →No areas match this name.
Plan your visit
Getting there
Search for 佛山市 in a map app to find stations and your accommodation.
Where to stay →Build your route
Foshan Ancestral Temple and Mount Xiqiao are about 20 km apart in a straight line. The linked place guides have entrance and visit details.
Continue with Guangdong →More in Guangdong
Sources & geographic information
Administrative names and parent areas: Official geographic directory · Reference date 2026-09-06.
Some facts checked against 佛山市 — Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Some facts checked against 西樵山 — Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: Foshan Ancestral Temple · xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0. Proportionally resized and converted to WebP without cropping, retouching or changing the photographed subject.
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Mount Xiqiao · David Chen (东北虎 / Manchurian Tiger) · CC BY 3.0. Proportionally resized and converted to WebP without cropping, retouching or changing the photographed subject.
Photo: Qinghui Garden · User:Zhaofeng Li · CC BY-SA 1.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.
Photo: Nanfeng Kiln · xiquinhosilva · CC BY-SA 2.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.
Photo: Lingnan Tiandi · Uuongkinghe · Uuongkinghe — 钟楼 20240206.jpg — CC BY-SA 4.0 · CC BY-SA 4.0. The exact downloaded source bytes are separately retained and hashed. Prepared JPEG is proportionally reduced to a maximum 720-pixel long edge; full frame retained, no subject alteration. Final website rendition: full frame retained, proportionally resized to at most 720 pixels and converted to WebP. No additional retouching or subject alteration. Card displays may crop the view.
Photo: Changlu Tourism and Leisure Park · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
Photo: Sanshui Lotus World · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
Photo: Nanhai Film and Television City · PQ77wd · CC BY-SA 4.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.
Photo: Foshan Ancestral Temple · Yumeto · CC BY-SA 4.0. Full frame retained; EXIF orientation normalized, proportionally resized to at most 800 pixels and converted to WebP. No generated pixels or subject changes. Cards may crop the display.
Photo: Fengjian Water Village · PQ77wd · CC BY-SA 4.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.
Photo: Shunfengshan Park · Nissangeniss · CC BY-SA 4.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.
Photo: Shun De Huan Le Hai An Plus · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
Photo: Zaomu Mountain · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
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