the longer you stay in Foshan, the more you like this city.
after a week's sightseeing in Chancheng district, kk and I made a summary statement on the bus bound for Shunde-the climate, food status and historical and cultural sites here are somewhat low-key similar to Quanzhou.
Quanzhou was once the largest port in the world during the Song and Yuan Dynasties, while Foshan was the first of the "Four Towns in the World" (Foshan Town, Hankou Town, Jingdezhen Town and Zhuxian Town) in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It was famous for its iron smelting and pottery sculpture. As a port city, it was also an important trading city in ancient times.
Economically, Quanzhou's GDP ranks first in the province, while Foshan follows Shenzhen and Guangzhou closely in Guangdong, and the latest data leads the four cities in the first quarter of 222.
Like many well-known brands in Quanzhou, Foshan's enterprises are all famous. Country Garden, Midea, Hisense, FAW, Haitian ...
25% of rice cookers, 33% of range hoods, 43% of water heaters and 48% of microwave ovens in the world are all produced in Foshan, which is known as the "home appliance capital".
Foshan is really overwhelmed by Guangzhou and Shenzhen. At least for tourism, few people come here to travel specifically.
I don't know if I am familiar with it, but a long history has given birth to Foshan's unique Lingnan culture.
Cultural relics, ancient residential buildings and historical blocks all over the old city of Chancheng surprise foreign tourists.
Walking in historical and cultural blocks, you can always meet many old streets and lanes.
Many red brick walls and old houses are left over from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Although some of them are vacant and dilapidated, they have not been demolished, and they have been covered with counterfeit antiques like other cities.
since 219, the Foshan municipal government has reconstructed eight historical and cultural blocks in Chancheng district, including Pinzi Street, Liangyuan, Lianhuanan, Renwei, ancestral temple-Donghua Li, Xin 'an Street, Nanfeng Guzao and Huoshi Grand Ancestral Hall. In the way of repairing the old, most of them retain the original appearance. Now, this huge project is a success.
The sunlight just happened to penetrate the lush buttonwood in the corner of the lane, forming mottled shadows. An old man basks in the sun in a wheelchair and enjoys the warm sunshine quietly. At this moment, time seems to go back to the past.
Narrow alleys extending in all directions are as long as capillaries in Foshan, a small city, which is very suitable for measuring with footsteps.
to me, this is the most attractive place in Foshan.
You don't need to do any strategies to visit Foshan. Foshan Tourism Bureau has given an official "Tour Map of Tourism and Cultural Routes", so just follow the map.
It starts at Tapo, passes through six historical and cultural blocks, and ends at Zhongshan Park. Take a quick look at the flowers and browse the essence of the old city of Chancheng, Foshan in one day. Personally, it is highly recommended.
of course, the best way is to take a walk for a few days without rushing, which is another taste.
As a starting point, Tapo has some symbolic significance. There are Buddhas in Foshan, pun intended.
In the second year of Zhenguan in Tang Dynasty (628), villagers built houses in Tapogang, and even found three bronze Buddha statues. People called Tapogang the Mountain of Buddhists and donated money to rebuild Tapo Temple, where the Buddha statues were enshrined, and a stone list was set up with the word "Foshan" engraved on it. Foshan got its name from this.
Tapo Ancient Temple, after being repaired, slowly recovered its original glory and re-displayed the flower-and-bird murals. Unfortunately, the epidemic situation is not open, and there is no chance to see it internally.
"Before Foshan, there was a pagoda". At the beginning of Foshan, Tapo Street, a blessed place in the neighborhood, has now become a characteristic tourist attraction.
Starting from the Tapo Ancient Temple, walk 1 meters upwards, and it is the Hongsheng Memorial Hall. The original body is Cai Lifo Martial Arts School, which was founded in the first year of Xianfeng in Qing Dynasty.
As we all know, Foshan is the main birthplace of China Southern School Wushu. The exhibition hall is small, and it briefly introduces the development of Hongsheng Pavilion for more than 15 years. Unexpectedly, Cai Lifo Boxing is still one of the most popular boxing styles in the world, which is quite influential in the international martial arts world.
Next door is a small park in the street, which is surrounded by high-rise residential buildings. Walking in it, there is a wonderful feeling.
Go west along Tapo Street, cross Funing Road, and Xin 'an Street is opposite the road.
unlike the crowded Lingnan Tiandi business district, Xin 'an Street is quiet and calm, with occasional pedestrians passing by.
Not far away, I saw the colorful bell-sealed volcanic wall in the shape of a begonia, a typical Lingnan architectural style. This building used to be an ancient temple of the Lord protector with a history of more than 4 years.
the ancient temple of Lord protector was built in the Ming dynasty, and it has been repaired and expanded many times in the Qing dynasty. There are some ancient monuments such as the mountain gate, the fragrant pavilion and the front hall. On the beam frame of the eaves gallery, you can see colorful reliefs, creating a rich and luxurious scene.
It used to be the Xiyou Guild Hall of Nail Shop, the trade guild hall of Foshan Iron-frying Shop, the only surviving ancient handicraft master temple in Foshan, and an important witness to the development of Foshan iron-smelting industry.
Today, the ancient temple of Lord protector has been transformed into Foshan Metallurgical History Exhibition Hall, which shows the rise and fall of Foshan Metallurgical Industry in the past 5 years through objects and pictures. Walking into the ancient temple of Lord protector is like stepping into the long history of smelting and casting in Foshan.
Mr. Luo Yixing wrote in "Iron Capital of the Empire" that Foshan was born of iron, gathered by iron, and dominated the world by the name of iron capital. "Most residents take iron smelting as their business", and the grand occasion at that time can be seen in Fenjiang Zhuzhi Ci written by Mei Xuanshu, a Qing dynasty:
The clay mounds next to the ancestral temple were piled up by discarded cast iron clay molds, and there are still sites.
Foshan became the imperial iron capital of Ming and Qing dynasties, and even "the smelting of Foshan is all over the world", and the iron wares such as wide pots are sold well at home and abroad.
if you walk from east to west on Xin' an Street, you will come to Yabang Street where it meets.
On Yabang Street, there is the Hongsheng Ancestral Hall, the oldest existing private martial arts school in Foshan, which was established by Zhang Yan (word Hongsheng), a famous boxing teacher of Cai Lifo, in the first year of Xianfeng in the Qing Dynasty (1851).
There is nothing left in the original site, and the new museum is in Tapo Street mentioned above. The former residence of Chen Sheng, the first disciple of Zhang Yan, is also not far away.
diagonally opposite the Hongshengzu Pavilion, there is a courtyard that looks antique. Walking into the small courtyard on the second floor, the bauhinia tree with two tree crowns intertwined is just blooming and fragrant.
After reading the sign, I realized that this was the former site of Jiefang School, which was a large-scale private school in Foshan during the Republic of China. The school building is dilapidated, but you can overlook the quaint street view of red bricks and blue tiles on the second floor.
There are always surprises when you wander around this old street and alley, which is a great pleasure of traveling. Look at this old tree that covers the roof in the narrow alley, accompanying the old house, just like lovers, and so on.
The century-old wells and trees in Shengyuan Street, creative shops, romantic shops, rummage theaters, pubs and other shops in Tongxin Lane are like a small 798 art district.
Yinggang in Ming Dynasty is the highest place in Foshan town, which can be overlooked (one of the eight scenic spots in Foshan in Ming Dynasty is "Yinggang overlooking"). The old house is still inhabited by people, full of human fireworks.
In Gu Xiang, where Yinggang community is criss-crossed, there are many historic sites with blue bricks and old houses with red bricks. Walking among them, there is a feeling of time crossing, like breaking into the "Peach Blossom Garden" in the bustling downtown area.
The soul of a city remains in its old buildings. For local residents, it is common, but for travelers like us, it is a novelty.
not far from Xin' an street, it is a historical and cultural block with the densest cultural relics, the largest scale and the most intact traditional style in Foshan-Donghua Li block of Zumiao.
located in the middle of the old city of Chancheng, Donghua Li, the ancestral temple, is undoubtedly the most representative among the eight historical and cultural blocks in Foshan.
as early as the Qing dynasty, donghuali was called "the first street in lingnan". It has always been inhabited by rich officials and merchants, so it is extremely elegant in both architectural form and interior decoration. Fortunately, many buildings are well preserved. Let's get a glimpse of it.
Now Donghua Li has another more modern name-Lingnan Tiandi, which is the landmark and business card of Foshan.
On the premise of protecting cultural relics, inject modern fashion atmosphere, and let Donghua Li glow with new vitality.
Walking in Lingnan, history and modernity keep flashing.
Xicha, izakaya, R Us Entertainment City, Cat Cafe and Bookstore are interspersed with Jane's Villa, Longtang Poetry Club, Wedding House and Confucius Temple without any sense of disobedience.
It's a rare experience to enjoy the ancient architecture while eating while shopping.
What's more, there are various thematic exhibitions held from time to time, which are the favorites of Wen Qing and Xiao Qingxin, and the favorites of online celebrity people.
If you are tired of shopping, you can choose milk tea, coffee and beer. If you are hungry, there are delicious food and attractive snacks from all over the world, so you can be rich and frugal.
When we were in Foshan, it was just before the Spring Festival, and the whole Lingnan Tiandi block was decorated with festive atmosphere. Everywhere, lanterns are decorated, red lanterns are hung high, and there is a Spring Festival market, which is quite popular.
the most beautiful thing is the night view. At the beginning of the Hua Deng, under the neon light, the cool combination of ancient architecture and modern light and shadow perfectly deduces a new Foshan.
It's a bit like Lan Kwai Fong in Hong Kong. It's a must-see for young Foshan people in their nightlife.
After visiting Lingnan Tiandi, there is another place nearby-the ancestral temple, where "coming to Foshan is like coming here for nothing".
To Be Continued