

Check out our guide to life in Foshan
Foshan is the perfect city for experiencing the best of Chinese ingenuity. It’s considered the home of the Cantonese versions of Chinese opera, kung fu and lion dance. Foshan has also been known for its beautiful ceramics since the Ming Dynasty. If that’s not enough, it’s also the birthplace of Cantonese cuisine. Plus, it’s a major manufacturer with 3,000+ electrical appliance factories and over 30 towns specialising in specific industries. Foshan literally means “Buddha Mountain”. The name refers to a discovery of three bronze sculptures of Buddha in a small hill in the middle of town in 628 CE.
Foshan Fast Facts
Prefecture-level city
Founded – 1115 to 1234 CE
Population – 7,197,394
Foshan Weather
Hottest Month July (30 °C avg)
Coldest Month January (14 °C avg)
Wettest Month June (223.5 mm avg)
Windiest Month January (8 km/h avg)
Annual Rainfall 1061.6 mm (per year)
10 Things to See and Do in Foshan
Mount Xiqiao
A highlight of this national park is the 77m high Guanyin statue at the summit of Mt Xiqiao.
Qing Hui Yuan
One of the Four Great Gardens of Guangdong with pavilions, bridges, art, and rare plants.
Shunfengshan Park
Gardens, sculpture and pagodas make this tranquil park a great place to jog or unwind.
Xiqiaoshan National Arts Studios
The complex includes performances, film studios and realistic replicas of Chinese landmarks.
Foshan Lingnan World
Gorgeous restored old town with shops, bars and restaurants, some serving western food.
Qiandeng Lake
Take a tranquil stroll or bike around the lake, take a boat out, or picnic near the pagodas.
Baomo Garden
The perfect garden to visit if to see lots of koi, traditional structures and water features.
Wong Fei-hung Memorial Hall
Fascinating museum in memory of martial artist, physician, and folk hero Wong Fei-hung.
Guangdong Cantonese Opera Museum
A must-see for those interested in the origins and history of Cantonese Opera.
Guangdong Foshan Huagai Road Pedestrian Street
The colourful architecture makes this area a lovely place to walk, shop and eat.
Cost Of Living
ITEM | RMB | GBP | AUS | RAND |
Cinema | 60 | 6.85 | 12.53 | 125.31 |
Water | 2.19 | 0.25 | 0.46 | 4.57 |
Beer in a bar | 14 | 1.60 | 2.92 | 29.24 |
Beer in a shop | 5 | 0.57 | 1.04 | 10.44 |
Coke | 3 | 0.34 | 0.63 | 6.27 |
Meal at a cheap restaurant | 18 | 2.06 | 3.76 | 37.59 |
Meal at an average restaurant | 30 | 3.43 | 6.27 | 62.66 |
Meal at a high end restaurant | 95 | 10.85 | 19.84 | 198.41 |
Gym per month | 331.93 | 37.90 | 69.33 | 693.24 |
City bus | 3 | 0.34 | 0.63 | 6.27 |
Monthly utility bills (electricity, heating, water, rubbish) | 330 | 37.68 | 68.93 | 689.21 |
Loaf of bread | 12 | 1.37 | 2.51 | 25.06 |