We ordered a Didi to take us from rainy Guangzhou to the rainy Swissotel in Foshan. The ride went well. Upon our arrival at the Swissotel, Rose, the deputy manager, checked us in. She was very kind, helpful, and spoke excellent English. This hotel is quite tall, with fifty-one floors. Our room was on the fortieth floor and was lovely, although the safe wasn't functioning. I called Rose, and she quickly arranged for someone to fix it.
That evening, we dined in the lounge on the fiftieth floor of the hotel. However, it didn’t function as a typical lounge. Instead of snacks and drinks available, we had to order our dinner from a menu. I had sirloin steak while Peter enjoyed chicken, all complimentary. Interestingly, we were the only ones there. A spread was set out with soup, salad, bread, dessert, wine, beer, spirits, and soft drinks, and we were the only guests enjoying it.
We could access the outdoor area on the fiftieth floor, where I saw a rainy sunset and various fresh herbs the hotel cultivated for their kitchen.
The next morning, we had breakfast again on the fiftieth floor, and we felt relieved to see other guests joining us. After breakfast, I went out on my own to Foshan's top attraction - the Foshan Zumiao Ancestral Temple, which was just a ten-minute walk from the hotel. I purchased an entry ticket at the entrance for 10 CNY.
There were several statues outside the temple building. The Zumiao Ancestral Temple is a large Taoist temple that was originally built during the Song Dynasty, dedicated to Beidi, the northern god also known as the dark warrior. Nowadays, the temple serves both as a museum and a place of worship.
The temple complex consists of multiple courtyards divided by gateways. One courtyard featured a vibrant mural of two dragons, while another boasted scenic gardens with bonsai trees, statues, and several ancient cannons.
Inside the courtyards, there were numerous lion statues. While many were the usual lion guardians, one depicted a large group of lions, which I hadn’t seen in a temple before.
The temple has various sections, and I explored the main building filled with statues. Just outside was a courtyard with a pond that housed a stone turtle with a snake resting on its back.
There were several more temple buildings, some of which hosted various exhibitions, including displays about martial arts and the restoration of the temple, as well as exhibits related to Chinese history.
I was surprised to find a section dedicated to an exhibition about Syria. The temple features many moon gates, pathways, and uniquely shaped gateways.
One part of the temple had beautiful gardens, a fish pond, and plenty of wishing trees. Some visitors were tossing their wishes into the trees, while others tied their wishes onto wooden frames.
This temple hosts daily lion dances. I thought I might have missed it, but because of the heavy rain, it was delayed, allowing me to see it. Everyone wanted to touch the lions for good luck.
Inside the temple complex, there were several stalls selling souvenirs. After spending considerable time exploring the temple, I exited through the rear entrance to visit an area known as Foshan Lingnan. This area used to be a village, but all the residents have moved out, though it's unclear if it was voluntary or mandatory. It has since been renovated and is now filled with restaurants, cafes, and shops. The area features beautiful old stone buildings that have been wonderfully preserved, including an old bell tower.
The old village has many narrow, winding lanes, some adorned with lanterns—some in typical shapes and others shaped like golden swimming fish. Foshan is or was known for pottery, and I came across several pottery shops, decorative items, and a pottery fountain.
I took a quick look around one pottery shop and admired some stunning shops, particularly a very colorful clothing store. There were various fountains and spacious squares, along with an open-air market featuring large lanterns.
I discovered a large courtyard surrounded by impressive buildings, which was a relief given the preservation of these historical structures. There was a food street lined with enticing food models and numerous restaurants and cafes. Additionally, I spotted a statue of a giraffe and a large bear.
Back at the hotel, I decided to check out the pool. It was outdoors and quite chilly for swimming, but I took a short dip anyway. In the evening, we had dinner in the lounge, where we were upgraded to a complimentary buffet, which meant we weren't the only guests around.
After dinner, I walked back to Foshan Lingnan to see it illuminated at night. It was beautiful, but the rain started pouring, and I ended up soaked once again.
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We arranged a Didi to transport us from the rainy city of Guangzhou to the rainy Swissotel in Foshan. The trip went well. Upon arriving at the Swissotel, we were greeted by the deputy manager, Rose, who was extremely kind, helpful, and spoke excellent English. The hotel is quite tall, featuring fifty-one floors. Our room was located on the fortieth floor and was lovely, although the safe wasn't functioning. I called Rose, and she promptly sent someone to repair it.
We ordered a Didi to transport us from the rainy city of Guangzhou to the rainy Swissotel in Foshan. The trip was uneventful. Upon our arrival at the Swissotel, we were assisted by the deputy manager, Rose, who was very friendly and spoke great English. The hotel is quite tall, boasting fifty-one floors. Our room was on the fortieth floor and was beautiful, although the safe was malfunctioning. I called Rose, and she promptly dispatched someone to repair it.