Foshan is located in the northern part of the Pearl River, only 20 km away from Guangzhou with a population of 5.337 million and a land of 3 882 sq km.

Foshan's industries are on full wing at the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the new millennium. Since 1980s, its industries have been developing rapidly and a comprehensive industrial system is taking in shape.

Foshan was one of the four most famous ancient towns (Jindezhen in Jiangxi Province, Hankouzhen in Hubei Province and Zhuxianzhen in Henan Province) in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. So Foshan is especially rich in tradition and culture, and its traditional handicrafts and earthen wares have been flourishing for centuries, well known for its elegant design and fine craftsmanship. For example, Foshan colored ceramics, earthen wares, ceramic carvings, woodcarvings, paper cuts and architectural decorations. Besides, there are a lot of cultural and historic relics, displaying the long history of Foshan, where Yue opera was formed in the Ming Dynasty.

Foshan has been the center of the southern school of Chinese wushu. Kungfu master Bruce Lee was from Shunde City. Bruce carved his name in Hollywood in 1970s as a famous international film star of Chinese kungfu. Match was first introduced into China in 1865 and Qiaoming Match Factory, the first one in China, was set up in Foshan invested by Wei Shengxuan. China's national capitalism started much earlier here than any other places in China.

It wasn't recognized as a prefectural city until 1949 and now, under its administration there are two urban districts and four cities at county level: Shunde, Nanhai, Shanshui and Gaoming. Shunde and Nanhai are two of the four little economic dragons, while Shanshui and Gaoming are also on the list of the 100 most outstanding counties of economy in China.

Foshan City lies on the river plain with a subtropical climate and a rich rainfall, which is ideal for agriculture. Indeed, Foshan abounds in agricultural products: rice, sugarcane, peanuts, fruit and fresh flowers. Besides, Foshan's industries are on full wing at the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the new millennium.

Since 1980s, its industries have been developing rapidly and a comprehensive industrial system is taking in shape, focusing on traditional silk weaving, ceramics, pharmacy, plastics, machinery, food processing as well as high-tech industries, such as electronics, modern communications facilities and IT industries. Its GDP surpassed 100 billion in 2001, which has increased enormously in recent years, ranking 3rd in Guangdong, only second to Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Its GDP increased 28 times from 1978 to 2000, on annual average of 17%. Its GDP per capita is 2.6 times as much as the average of the province in 2000.

As an important part of the megalopolis of the Pearl River Delta planned, 23-km-long Guangzhou-Foshan Subway (No.4 Metro Line) is under construction. It runs in a circle, starting from Fangcun, via Nanhai to Foshan, then via Panyu back to Guangzhou.

 It is to be put in operation in 2005 and in time it takes only half an hour to go from Foshan to Guangzhou City Proper, or vice versa. Foshan and Nanhai will be greatly benefited by this convenience in many respects. To them, Guangzhou is just around corner.  

Informatization is the herald of the new economy in the present world. Foshan is doing well in this regard. It so far has 38 computers per 100 households and 200 000 Internet users, a figure that includes rural residents. Surfing the net has become a new hobby for Foshan inhabitants, from which they have reaped considerable benefit.

The Nanhai Agricultural and By-Products Market, the Huanqiu Seafood Products Market, the Dali Motorcycle Market and the Shiwan Ceramic Market all have their own websites. Customers can not only obtain prices, but also make transactions on-line. This type of e-business has struck a resounding cord in the consciousness of the people. Some traditional industries in Foshan, such as the textile industry, have upgraded through the application of information technology.

In addition, more than 5 000 enterprises have set up websites, paving the way for active e-business. Many enterprises use computer technology to aid decision-making, management and design, winning remarkable results.
 
The governmental departments of Foshan use the Internet to make the public aware of government affairs and to provide online services. The public security, education, public health and cultural departments, as well as the villagers' committees in Nanhai's Xiqiao, Shiwan's Zhangcha and the Pujun Community Committee in the urban area, have used information technology in management and service, greatly increasing efficiency and transparency of the governmental work. Primary and middle schools also list education in information technology as an important curriculum item, and lessons in this field have started from the third grade.

Foshan City consists of two urban districts: Foshan Urban District and Shiwan District. Shiwan is traditionally known as the Capital of Pottery of South China. Its ceramic manufacture began booming as early as in the Tang Dynasty. Visitors can enjoy the traditional way of making earthen wares at Nanfeng Kiln (also Gulong Kiln in history), the 500-year old ancient kiln in Shiwan and now under strict state protection. With a population of 172 480, the district has developed into a comprehensive base for ceramic production of all sorts, such as building materials, domestic utensils, household items, art works and handicrafts. Foshan is getting urbanized rapidly, and one can hardly tell where the city is and where the rural area is. Huangqi, Yanbu and Dali townships along Guangzhou-Foshan Highway have been connected, forming an urban corridor with factories ubiquitous. 

Foshan is rich in its cultural & historic legacies. The most renowned local in Foshan is Wu Yanren (1866-1910), who left behind over 30 novels. He was very dissatisfied with the late Qing Dynasty and criticized the dark side of the society with genius writing skills. Some of his novels are still popular today. Foshan Ancestral Temple, which is a collection of the tradition architectural achievements of the past. Liangyuan Garden and Qinghui Garden are two of the four most famous gardens of the Qing Dynasty in Guangdong Province. As one of the four famous gardens built in the Qing Dynasty, Liangyuan Garden is located in Foshan City, not far from Guangzhou. There are a variety of traditional buildings, pavilions and architectural decorations with local features, such as bizarre stones and thatched houses in it. Liang Jiuhua built the garden originally and the existing one was restored in 1984.

Foshan Ancestral Temple is not an ancestral temple actually. It was the first leading temple in Foshan and enjoyed so long a history that no other temples in the area can rival it. For a long time after the founding, the building functioned as the venue for the gentry to discuss local affairs. It was originally named the Northern King Temple when it was built to worship the Northern King during the reign of Yuanfeng (1078-1085) in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). It was believed that the Northern King had a magic power against floods. Locals built temples in the wish that the Northern King could help them get rid of the floods once and for all. The Northern King Temple enjoyed its popularity at that time, but burned down later. When it was rebuilt in the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), it was renamed the Ancestral Temple and unhooked a new function. Locals would come to pay tribute to their ancestors there. Later, a Wenmiao (Confucius) Temple was set up nearby in honor of Confucius.

The Ancestral Temple tells of a lot of things about Foshan's past. The architectural art, featured with wood carvings, ceramic and clay sculptures and brick engravings, is the quintessence of the style south of Mt.Qingling. It, now, houses a memorial museum of Huang Feihong, a well-known kungfu master of Lingnan Region. Today, Foshan Ancestral Temple is under provincial protection and under the care and guidance of Foshan City Museum.

Editor: Catherine