During the Tang and Song Dynasties, the handicraft industry, commerce and culture in Foshan were very prosperous. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it developed into an important town in Lingnan, with many businessmen and developed industry and commerce. It was once known as the "Four Famous Towns" in China with Hankou Town in Hubei, Jingdezhen Town in Jiangxi and Zhuxian Town in Henan, and as the "Four Famous Towns" in the world with Beijing, Hankou and Suzhou. The four major industries of ceramics, textiles, casting and medicine are developing vigorously in the south. At the end of Qing Dynasty, Foshan became one of the cradles of modern national industry in China, and the first new reeling factory and the first match factory in China were born successively, and the "Bamboo Mouth Factory of Nanyang Brothers Tobacco Company" was established.
The long history has given birth to the unique charm of Lingnan traditional culture. Foshan is a famous hometown of pottery, Cantonese opera, martial arts, Guangzhou Yarn Center, Lingnan Medicine Center, South Foundry Center and Folk Art Center.
Foshan is the "Tao Dou of South China", and its pottery has a long history of more than 700 years. Since ancient times, it has the reputation of "Shiwanwa is the best in the world". Nanfeng ancient stove, built in the Ming Dynasty, is the oldest firewood burning dragon kiln in the world. It has been handed down from generation to generation for more than 400 years and is known as the "living fossil of ceramics". In 2005, Foshan won the title of "Ceramic Capital of China".
Foshan is the birthplace of Cantonese opera Southern Red Bean. Another name for Cantonese opera artists-"Children of the Red Boat" and Qionghua Guild Hall, the earliest organization of Cantonese opera, were born. It is a major feature of Foshan culture that folk spontaneously organize Cantonese opera to sing "private bureau", which has lasted for a long time. The Qionghua Cantonese Opera Art Festival held every year makes Foshan present a grand occasion of "berthing the red boat at night and watching Qionghua by ten thousand people".
Foshan is the "hometown of Lingnan medicine". The ancient Fangzheng medicine has a history of more than 400 years, and its products are complete, which can be divided into seven categories: ointment, Dan, pill, powder, tea, oil and wine. It is an essential Chinese patent medicine for craftsmen, home and travel, and a number of old and famous medicines such as "Huangxianghua" Ruyi Oil, "Fengxing" Medicinal Liquor and "Yuanjilin" Ganhe Tea have emerged.
The foundry industry in Foshan began more than 2000 years ago. In the Song Dynasty, pots, pans, bells and towers cast in Foshan were famous all over the country. By the Ming Dynasty, Foshan's casting technology had reached a fairly high level and became the smelting center in South China. During the Opium War, the cannons cast in Foshan played an important role in resisting foreign invasion.
Foshan is the cradle of folk art in the Pearl River Delta, which breeds and retains a large number of folk arts and folk customs that embody the essence of Lingnan culture, such as autumn scenery, lion dance, dragon dance, dragon boat rap and dragon boat race. Traditional handicrafts such as autumn colors, paper-cutting, woodblock New Year pictures, pottery sculptures, gray sculptures and brick carvings are exquisite and unique. At the end of 2005, six projects, including lion dance, Cantonese opera, dragon boat rap, Foshan woodblock New Year pictures, Guangdong paper-cutting and Shiwan pottery and plastic arts, which Foshan participated in the declaration, entered the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage lists.
Since ancient times, Foshan has been full of humanities and talents. Since the Tang and Song Dynasties, there have been nine champions in Guangdong, and Foshan ranks fifth. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it was a "humanistic country with both gas and gas standards". In modern times, Kang Youwei, the leader of the Reform Movement, political activists Zhang, Dai Hongci, Tan Pingshan, He Xiangning, Luo Dengxian and Deng Pei, national industrialists Chen Qiyuan, Jane and Jane Yujie, scientists Zhan Tianyou and Zou, writers Wu, Cantonese opera stars, Ma Shiceng, martial arts masters Liang Zan, Yin Huan and Bruce Lee, and famous doctors were born.
In recent years, focusing on the goal of building a famous cultural city, Foshan has promoted the integration of traditional historical culture and modern urban culture, shaped an open, inclusive and innovative Foshan cultural image, and made every effort to build a "cultural city" brand. The Forum of Asian Ministers of Culture, the 7th Asian Art Festival, the 6th China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival and the Guangdong International Music Summer Camp were successfully held, and a number of cultural activities with great influence at home and abroad were held. The construction of various cultural facilities is at the advanced level in the whole province and the whole country, and a multi-level supporting cultural service network has basically taken shape. Guangdong Cantonese Opera Theatre and Guangdong Cantonese Opera Museum settled in Foshan, and China Artists Association International Art Exchange Center settled in Shunde. Foshan Folk Art Research Association and Foshan Peacock Gallery Audio-visual Electrical Appliance Co., Ltd. were recognized as the first batch of national cultural industry demonstration bases; Shiwan Town Street in Chancheng District was awarded "Famous Charming Town in China", Daqitou Village in Sanshui District and Bijiang Community in Shunde District were awarded "National Famous Historical and Cultural Villages".
Foshan is rich in tourism resources and is a famous tourist attraction. Foshan ancestral temple, Xiqiao Mountain, Nanfeng ancient stove, Qinghui Garden, Zaoping Mountain, Nanguo Taoyuan, Chencun Flower World and Sanshui Lotus World were rated as "New Eight Scenes of Foshan". Among them, the ancestral temple in Foshan integrates ancient ceramics, wood carving, casting and architectural art, and is known as the "Palace of Oriental Art". Xiqiao Mountain is a national-level scenic spot with the reputation of "two famous mountains in South Guangdong". Shunde Qinghui Garden and Foshan Liangyuan are four famous gardens in Guangdong in Qing Dynasty. Gaoming Zaoping Mountain is the highest peak in Foshan. Chencun Flower World is the largest flower production and trading base and flower culture theme park in southern China. Sanshui Lotus World is a large-scale lotus ecological park with rich variety resources in the world. There are Li Donghua, Kang Youwei's former residence, Baolin Temple, Lubao Ancestral Hall, Huang Feihong Memorial Hall and Bruce Lee Memorial Hall, which allow visitors to appreciate the unique Lingnan culture. At present, Foshan's characteristic tourism with the theme of history and culture, southern martial arts, business exhibitions, industrial sightseeing, leisure and holiday, shopping and food, and beautifying home is in the ascendant.
Foshan has a long history of food culture and is the "hometown of food" in the Pearl River Delta. Foshan is one of the cradles of Cantonese cuisine and is known as "Eating in Guangdong and Learning in Foshan". Foshan has always been famous at home and abroad for its rich folk recipes, numerous restaurants and excellent cooking skills. In 2004, Shunde was named "the hometown of chefs in China" by China Cuisine Association. In order to promote Foshan's food culture, the "Foshan Food Festival" held during the "Eleventh" period every year has become a grand tourism festival integrating food, tourism, culture and art.