Located in the heart of Foshan City, Foshan Ancestral Temple is surrounded by bustling commercial areas and is easily accessible. From Guangzhou, you can take the Guangfo Metro and get off at the Ancestral Temple station. It was originally built during the Northern Song Dynasty’s Yuanfeng years and gradually became a complete and distinctive temple architecture with strong local characteristics. Today, the Ancestral Temple is a classic scenic spot in Foshan and a postcard of the city.
Foshan Ancestral Temple includes the Ancestral Temple ancient architecture complex, Confucius Temple, Huang Feihong Memorial Hall, Yip Man Hall, and other attractions. Upon entering through the main gate and following the central axis from south to north, you will encounter the Ten Thousand Blessings Stage, Jinxiang Pond, Three Gates, Front Hall, Main Hall, and Qingzhen Tower, all of which are distinctive. The Jinxiang Pond, located in front of the Three Gates, is a testament to the craftsmen’s skill in making a trapezoidal pond appear rectangular due to visual differences. The Three Gates are the main entrance to the Lingying Temple, leading to the main body of the Ancestral Temple.
The main hall of the Ancestral Temple houses many precious artworks, such as the arms and armor, a giant bronze mirror with a diameter of 1.31 meters, large bronze cauldrons, bells, and incense burners. The architectural decorations extensively use pottery, wood carving, brick carving, and plaster. These buildings are of great historical reference value, housing numerous deities. Within Foshan Ancestral Temple, you can rent an audio guide for 10 yuan per device for up to four hours, with a deposit of 100 yuan. If you wish to delve deeper into the history of the Ancestral Temple, renting an audio guide is recommended. Alternatively, you can join a tour group as many visit the temple daily.
In addition to traditional architectural decorations, another appealing aspect of the Ancestral Temple is the exhibition of Foshan martial arts, including the Yip Man Hall and Huang Feihong Memorial Hall. The Yip Man Hall contains valuable photographs and letters of the martial arts master Yip Man, allowing you to gain a deeper understanding of him. The Huang Feihong Memorial Hall, located to the north of the Three Gates, not only displays his life story but also exhibits novels, movies, dramas, and even comics about him. Inside the hall, there is a real photo of Huang Feihong, which many visitors pose with. A real photo of ‘Aunt Thirteen’ is also displayed in the hall.
Opening hours are from 08:30 to 18:00 all year round.
For those under 18 years old and over 5 meters tall, with an ID card or student ID card, they can enjoy half-price. Students: Full-time undergraduate and below students (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions) can enjoy half-price with their valid student ID cards. Visually impaired people, intellectually disabled people, people with disabilities in both lower limbs and other severely disabled people (level one and two): One accompanying person is allowed to enjoy half-price with valid documents.
