Foshan

Foshan (, ; ) or Fatshan (also Fatsan, Jyutping: Fat6saan1) is a prefecture-level city in central Guangdong Province, China. The entire prefecture covers and had a population of 9,498,863 as of the 2020 census. The city is part of the western side of the Pearl River Delta megalopolis, a conurbation housing 86,100,000 inhabitants, making it the biggest urban area of the world.

Foshan is regarded as the home of Cantonese opera, a genre of Chinese opera; Nanquan, a martial art; and lion dancing.

Name

Fóshān is the pinyin romanization of the city's Chinese name , based on its Mandarin pronunciation. The Postal Map spelling "Fatshan" derives from the same name's local Cantonese pronunciation. Other romanizations include Fat-shan and Fat-shun. Foshan means "BuddhaMountain" and, despite the more famous present-day statue of Guanyin (or Kwanyin) on Mount Xiqiao, who isn't a Buddha, it refers to a smaller hill near the centre of town where three bronze sculptures of Buddha were discovered in AD 628. The town grew up around a monastery founded nearby that was destroyed in 1391.

History

Pre-20th century

Foshan remained a minor settlement on the Fen River for most of China's history. It developed around a Tang-era Buddhist monastery that was destroyed in 1391. Soon its harbor on the Fen River was limited to ships of a thousand tons' burden but it remained well connected with Guangdong's other ports. The 100m-long road called Ichiban Street has been outfitted by a local property developer to resemble famous commercial streets in Japan, complete with a sakura tree, an icon of Japan.

Geography

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Foshan lies on the Fen River in the estuaries making up the west side of the Pearl River Delta. Guangzhou lies to the northeast, Zhongshan to the southeast, Jiangmen to the south, Qingyuan to the north, and Zhaoqing to the west.

Climate

Foshan experiences a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa).

Economy

Foshan has been well known for its ceramics since the Ming dynasty, although it was forced to cease production during the Cultural Revolution. Foshan now has more than 30 towns specialized in particular industries, including furniture, machinery, and beverages.

Administration

Foshan administers five county-level divisions, all of which are districts, including Chancheng, Nanhai, Sanshui, Gaoming and Shunde.

These are further divided into 32 township-level divisions, including 11 subdistricts and 21 towns.

Foshan is close to Guangzhou and considers its link with Guangzhou to be very important. As such, it is part of the Pearl River Delta and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area metropolis, centered on Guangzhou.

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{|class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="text-font:90%; width:auto; text-align:center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"

! colspan="10" |Administrative divisions of Foshan

!! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Division<br />code

!! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Division

!! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Area<br />

!! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Population (2020)

!! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Seat

!! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Postal<br />code

!! scope="col" colspan=4 |Subdivisions

!! scope="col" |Subdistricts

!! scope="col" |Towns

!! scope="col" |Residential<br />communities

!! scope="col" |Administrative<br />villages

|- style="font-weight: bold"

| 440600 || Foshan || 3848.49 || 9,498,863 || Chancheng || 528000 || 11 || 21 || 408 || 328

| 440604 || Chancheng || 154.15 || 1,330,262 || Zumiao Subdistrict || 528000 || 3 || 1 || 89 || 54

| 440605 || Nanhai || 1073.94 || 3,667,247 || Guicheng Subdistrict || 528200 || 1 || 6 || 183 || 67

| 440606 || Shunde || 806.55 || 3,229,090 || Daliang Subdistrict || 528300 || 4 || 6 || 93 || 108

| 440607 || Sanshui || 874.22 || 803,226 || Xinan Subdistrict || 528100 || 2 || 5 || 22 || 48

| 440608 || Gaoming || 939.64 || 469,038 || Hecheng Subdistrict || 528500 || 1 || 3 || 21 || 51

{|class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed" style="text-font:90%; width:auto; text-align:center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"

! colspan="4" |Administrative divisions in Chinese and varieties of romanizations

! English !! Chinese !! Pinyin !! Guangdong<br />Romanization

| Chancheng District || ||Chánchéng Qū ||xim4 xing4 kêu1

| Nanhai District || ||Nánhǎi Qū ||nam4 hoi2 kêu1

| Shunde District || ||Shùndé Qū ||sên6 deg1 kêu1

| Sanshui District || ||Sānshuǐ Qū ||sam1 sêu1 kêu1

| Gaoming District || ||Gāomíng Qū ||gou1 ming4 kêu1

! Foshan city !! !!Fóshān Shì !!fed6 san1 xi5

Language

Located in the Sanyi region, the local dialects are based on Cantonese and often used by the city natives, particularly among older generations. As the current national language, Mandarin is the lingua franca of government, business, and education—whereas the local dialects are used on informal occasions.

Transportation

thumb|Foshan railway station

In 2013 and 2014, Foshan planned to improve public transportation by putting forward six measures:

FMetro

The first line of FMetro opened in 2010, and another two lines are completed in 2021 and 2022.

The existing line of FMetro network:

Line 1 (Guangfo Line): From Xincheng Dong Station to Lijiao Station
Line 2: From Nanzhuang Station to Guangzhou South Railway Station
Line 3: From to Zhongshan Park Station & Lianhe Station to Foshan University Station

Rail

Foshan is a main interchange for railway routes linking Guangzhou (Guangzhou Railway Station, Guangzhoudong Railway Station and Guangzhounan Railway Station), Hong Kong and western Guangdong Province towards Guangxi.

Aviation

The city is served by Foshan Shadi Airport, and later the Pearl River Delta International Airport. It is also served by Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.

Education

thumb|[[Foshan University's front gate]]

Like other government schools in mainland China, Mandarin is the primary language of instruction in Foshan's government schools.

Universities

Foshan University
South China Normal University (Foshan campus)
Southern Medical University (Shunde campus)
Guangdong University of Finance & Economics (Sanshui campus)

Schools

Nanhai Senior High School

Sports

Foshan was one of the host cities for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

The city hosted events during the 2010 Asian Games. Synchronized swimming at the Foshan Aquatics Center and boxing at the Foshan Gymnasium.

In October 2014, the city hosted The Foshan Open golf event on the European Challenge Tour.

Two professional football teams have played in Foshan. From 1989 to 1997, Foshan Fosti (now disbanded) played at the New Plaza Stadium in Chancheng (now demolished). Foshan Fosti mainly played in the second tier, but did play in the eight team top tier in 1993. In 2007, newly created Guangdong Sunray Cave played at Nanhai District Stadium (now demolished), before moving to the Century Lotus Stadium in 2008. Sunray Cave then moved to Guangzhou, although did play the final games of the 2013 China League One back at Century Lotus Stadium. They returned to Guangzhou in 2014 and then disbanded.

Destinations

thumb|[[Foshan Ancestral Temple]]

Crowne Plaza Foshan Hotel
Foshan Ancestral Temple (Zumiao)
Nanfeng Kiln
Liang's Garden
Wong Fei-hung Memorial Hall

Sister cities

Itami, Hyōgo Japan
La Possession, Réunion, France (since 1989)
Port Louis, Mauritius
Oakland, California, United States
Stockton, California, United States
Markham, Ontario, Canada (Friendly co-operative)
Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Medway, United Kingdom
Starogard Gdański, Poland
St. George's, Grenada
Ingolstadt, Bavaria, Germany (since 2013)

Notable people

Au Tak (1840–1920), Hong Kong entrepreneur
Jeremy Bray (1930–2002), British politician
Cai Feihu (born 1964), professor, engineer and businessman
Cao Yuanhang (born 1991), Paralympian
Sun Chan (born 1932), Peruvian-Chinese artist
Chan Wah-shun (c.1836–1906), martial arts teacher of Ip Man
Chen Jintao (1870–1939), technocrat who founded the Bank of China
Cheok Hong Cheong (1851–1928), Australian missionary, political activist, writer, and businessman
Cheng Yu-tung (1925–2016), Hong Kong billionaire
Cheung Wing-sing (1897–1960), wife of Wing Chun master Ip Man
Chin Siu-ho (born 1963), Hong Kong actor and martial artist
Chow Chi-yuen (1900–1971), Hong Kong entrepreneur and the founder of Chow Tai Fook
Chow Kwen Lim (1928–2016), founder and the chairman of Chow Sang Sang Jewellery Company
Dang Fong (1877 or 1879–1955), disciple of the Chinese Kung Fu folk hero Wong Fei Hung
Eu Tong Sen (1877 -1941), businessman in Malaya, Singapore and Hong Kong
Feng Feng (born 1968), footballer
Foo Ping-sheung (1895–1965), diplomat and politician in the early Republic of China and later in Taiwan
Fung Jing Toy (c.1864–1897), American gangster
Stanley Fung (born 1945), Hong Kong actor and film director
Merdan Ghappar, model and prisoner
He Xiangjian (born 1942), co-founder of Midea Group
Hu Zaobin (1897–1942), painter
Huang Mingda, diplomat
Huang Shaoqiang, (1901–1942), artist
Ip Ching (1936–2020), Hong Kong martial artist
Ip Chun (born 1924), martial artist and actor in the style of Wing Chun
Ip Man (1893–1972), Wing Chun grandmaster and instructor of Bruce Lee
Kang Youwei (1858–1927), political thinker and reformer in China of the late Qing dynasty
Ko Lai Chak (born 1976), Hong Kong table tennis player
Kwong Wui Chun (c.1955), Hong Kong businessman
Lai Shanzhang (born 1992), Paralympic cyclist
Lam Cho (1910–2012), Hung Ga Grandmaster
Lam Sai-wing (1861–1943), Hung Gar martial artist
Law Kar-ying (born 1946), Hong Kong Cantonese opera singer and actor
Lee Heung-kam (1932–2021), Hong Kong Cantonese opera singer and actress
Lee Hoi-chuen (1901–1965), opera singer and actor
Lee Shau-kee (born 1928), Hong Kong business magnate, investor, and philanthropist
Leung Bik (1843–1911), Wing Chun martial artist
Leung Chu Yan (born 1979), Hong Kong table tennis player
Leung Jan (1826–1901), Wing Chun master, doctor and instructor of Ip Man
Li Jian (born 1989), footballer
Li Wenfan (1884–1953), revolutionary and politician
Li Yingjian (born 1991), footballer
Li Zhaohuan (1898–1969), educator, politician and banker
Li Ziliu (1932–2022), politician
Liang Dunyan (1857–1924), Qing dynasty diplomat and politician
Liang Jiahong (born 1988), sprinter
Liang Shiyi (1869–1933), minister who served as premier of China
Liang Yanfen (born 2000), Paralympic athlete
Liang Youyu (1521–1556), Ming dynasty scholar
Lin Liang (c.1424－1500), imperial painter
Anqi Luo (born 1996), Canadian table tennis player
Luo Zhi (1915–1949), revolutionary activist and leader in Xinjiang
Ma Man-kei (1919–2014), Chinese-Macanese businessman, tycoon, entrepreneur and politician
Ma Yexin (born 1999), tennis player
Mai Shaoyan (born 1979), field hockey player
Evergreen Mak Cheung-ching (born 1968), Hong Kong actor
Mok Kwai-lan (1892–1982), fourth spouse of Lingnan martial arts grandmaster Wong Fei-hung
Antonio Ng (born 1957), Macanese politician
Ou Daren (1516–1596) Ming dynasty scholar
Ou Mengjue (1906–1992), politician
Ou Shizi (1234–1324), Song dynasty scholar
Pan Kou-ang (born 1939), Taiwanese former sports shooter
Pan Nam (1911–1995), martial artist and Grandmaster of the Wing Chun style
Pu Jun Jin (born 1984), racing driver
Quan Hansheng (1912–2001), economic historian
Philip Rees (1877–1912), English medical missionary
So Chan, martial artist and folk hero who lived during the late Qing dynasty
So Cheung-wing (born 1960), Hong Kong businessman and politician
Su Changlan (born c.1971), civil rights activist
Su Xiongfeng (born 1987), long jumper
Tan Pingshan (1886–1956), revolutionary socialist
Sun Ma Sze Tsang (1916–1997), Cantonese opera singer and actor in Hong Kong
Wang Yue, (2009–2011), toddler whose death was attributed to the bystander effect.
Wang Jingwei (1883–1944), politician
Wong Fei Hung (1847–1925), Hung Ga master and doctor, honored at a memorial hall in Chancheng
Wong Kei-ying (c.1815–1886), Hung Ga master, doctor, father of Wong Fei Hung and one of the members of the Ten Tigers of Canton
Wong Wah-bo, martial artist and opera singer of the late Qing dynasty
Wu Dixi (born 1962), badminton player
Wu Jianren (1866–1910), writer of the late Qing period
Wu Yee-sun (1900–2005), Hong Kong entrepreneur and billionaire
Xu Liang (1893–1951), diplomat and politician in the Republic of China
Yam Kim-fai (1912–1989), Cantonese opera actress
Yang Guoqiang (born 1954), entrepreneur
Yang Huiyan (born 1981), businesswoman billionaire
Yang Jiechang (born 1956), contemporary artist
Yau Lit (1864–1936), revolutionary
Yuen Kay-shan (1889–1956), Grandmaster of Wing Chun
Zhou Wanfeng (born 1979), field hockey player
Zhang Yinhuan (1837–1900), ambassador
Zheng Yanfen (1902–1990), politician affiliated with the Kuomintang