Foshan

Day Trips

Begin your day at the grand Foshan Ancestral Temple, wandering through its intricate pavilions and ancestral halls. Admire the ornate carvings and steep red columns that reflect centuries of Lingnan architectural heritage. Capture photos of the temple’s main hall adorned with vibrant murals.

Stroll along the bustling Zumiao pedestrian street, sampling traditional Cantonese snacks like lotus root buns and rice rolls. Browse local craft shops selling hand-painted ceramics and paper cuttings. Pop into a teahouse to sip fragrant oolong while observing the lively street scene.

Return to the temple grounds for a captivating Cantonese opera performance under lantern-lit eaves. Savor dinner at a nearby restaurant specializing in double-skin milk and Shunde roast duck. End the evening with a leisurely walk through the temple plaza, enjoying the gentle glow of red lanterns.

Start at the historic Nanfeng Ancient Kiln, exploring the red-brick furnace and learning about the region’s porcelain legacy. Watch skilled artisans shape clay on traditional wheels before firing in centuries-old kilns. Read interpretive panels to understand the evolution of ceramic technology in Foshan.

Head to the adjacent Ceramics Museum to admire delicate porcelain displays spanning dynasties. Participate in a hands-on pottery workshop where you can craft and paint your own mug. Enjoy a light lunch at the museum café featuring local tea and dim sum.

Explore the nearby Ceramic Street night market, browsing stalls of colorful pottery and artisan crafts. Sample street food favorites like skewered beef and fried tofu. Cap off the night with a cold Guangdong beer at a sidewalk café.

Step into the serene Qinghui Garden, marvelling at its winding waterways, rockeries, and classical Lingnan pavilions. Listen to the gentle trickle of stone fountains as you follow the garden’s curved corridors. Photograph the lotus-filled ponds framed by ancient gingko trees.

Enjoy a traditional tea ceremony at the on-site tea house, savoring fragrant Osmanthus tea. Wander through the garden’s hidden alleys and discover intricately carved stone draperies. Relax on a marble bench while admiring reflections in the water.

Join a calligraphy workshop in a nearby cultural center to practice Chinese brush painting on rice paper. Sample Cantonese dim sum for dinner at a charming garden-view restaurant. Stroll back through the lit-up entrance gates of Qinghui Garden under a canopy of twinkling lights.

Begin your adventure at Xiqiao Mountain, hiking up the forested trail toward the giant Guanyin Buddha statue. Feel the cool mountain breeze and listen to bird calls echoing through the ancient trees. Take in panoramic views of the Foshan cityscape from the summit platform.

Descend to explore volcanic caves formed by ancient lava flows, marveling at stalactite formations. Have a picnic lunch amidst shaded glades in Xiqiao Mountain National Forest Park. Snap photos of cascading waterfalls and lush greenery dotted along the trails.

Unwind at a nearby hot spring resort, soaking in mineral-rich pools overlooking the mountain foothills. Dine on a hot pot banquet featuring local ingredients and wild mushrooms. Drift to sleep lulled by the gentle sounds of nature outside your mountain lodge.

Visit the Wong Fei-hung Memorial Hall to trace the legendary martial artist’s life and contributions. Explore interactive displays showcasing traditional Shaolin and Wing Chun techniques. Try on replica uniforms and pose with staff and sabers in the photo gallery.

Head to the Foshan Martial Arts Museum to watch live kung fu demonstrations by local masters. Learn basic stances and footwork during a short introductory lesson. Taste light snacks sold by vendors in the museum courtyard.

Feast on a Cantonese dinner of steamed fish and Shunde lion’s head meatballs at a local restaurant. Attend a martial arts stage show featuring choreographed sequences set to traditional music. Sip jasmine tea as you reflect on the day’s cultural immersion.

Travel to Shunde District early to visit a bustling wet market, where vendors sell fresh seafood, vegetables, and exotic produce. Observe local chefs selecting live prawns and fish for the day’s cooking. Sample mango pudding from a street stall while strolling through the vibrant aisles.

Join a hands-on cooking class to master Shunde specialties like steamed milk pudding, fish balls, and double-skin milk. Chop, stir, and season under the guidance of a local chef. Enjoy your self-made creations paired with a bowl of jasmine rice.

Explore Daliang Old Town, sampling street foods such as beef offal soup and snake soup at family-run stalls. Tour ancient merchant houses lit by red lanterns as the sun sets. Finish the night with a sweet bowl of mung bean soup at a century-old dessert shop.

Drive to Lotus World in Nanhai District, arriving at dawn to see thousands of lotus blooms blanketing the lake. Rent a rowboat to glide gently among the floral clusters. Photograph the scene as mist rises from the water under the early sun.

Continue to Nanwan Wetland Park for a guided canoe tour through reed-lined waterways. Spot herons, egrets, and other migratory birds in this protected habitat. Refuel with a packed lunch on a wooden viewing platform overlooking the wetlands.

Settle in at a lakeside barbecue area where local chefs grill fresh fish and vegetables over charcoal. Enjoy a casual outdoor dinner under paper lanterns by the water’s edge. Listen to folk musicians play traditional Cantonese ballads as night falls.

Arrive at Nanfang Film and Television City to wander through meticulously reconstructed streets from different dynasties. Step into ancient palaces, merchant markets, and teahouses used as film sets. Pose for photos with costumed extras dressed as Ming and Qing dynasty citizens.

Participate in a behind-the-scenes tour to learn about set design, costume production, and lighting techniques. Try on period costumes and record a short scene directed by film crew members. Refuel with a themed lunch at the on-site movie café.

Attend an evening screening of a blockbuster film in the park’s retro-style cinema. Dine at a Hong Kong–themed restaurant serving authentic char siu and pineapple bun. Wander under illuminated lanterns lining the recreated old town streets.

Explore Lingnan Impression Park to witness traditional crafts such as pottery, embroidery, and wood carving demonstrated by local artisans. Wander through recreated village squares with antique shops and rice-sprinkling alleys. Sample freshly baked sesame cakes from a street vendor.

Join a wood carving or paper-cutting workshop in one of the park’s craft studios. Learn step-by-step from a master artisan and take home your handmade souvenir. Refuel with a quick lunch at a teahouse serving dim sum within the park.

Return at dusk to watch the nightly light and water show projected onto the park’s central lake. Stroll along lantern-lit walkways while listening to live Cantonese folk songs. Enjoy a late snack of fried glutinous rice balls from a nearby stall.

Head to Foundry33 Creative Park to browse contemporary art galleries and meet local designers in their studios. Discover experimental exhibitions blending traditional motifs with modern media. Sip specialty coffee at a hip café inside a refurbished factory building.

Visit the Nanfeng International Ceramics Industrial Design Park to shop for unique ceramic art and homeware crafted by up-and-coming designers. Learn about the fusion of heritage kilns with avant-garde design practices. Have a light lunch at the park’s architect-designed bistro.

Celebrate your Foshan journey with a grand Cantonese banquet at a riverside restaurant overlooking the Pearl River tributary. Sample a variety of seafood dishes, clay pot rice, and tropical fruit desserts. Toast to memorable experiences before heading to the airport or train station for departure.