We booked a Didi to drive us from rainy Guangzhou to the rainy Swissotel in Foshan. The ride was uneventful. Upon our arrival at Swissotel, we were greeted by the deputy manager, Rose, who checked us in. She was very kind, helpful, and spoke excellent English. The hotel is quite tall, with fifty-one floors. Our room was located on the fortieth floor, and it was lovely, although the safe was not functioning. I called Rose, and she quickly sent someone to fix it.
That evening, we dined in the lounge on the fiftieth floor. However, it wasn't a typical lounge; instead of having snacks and drinks out, we ordered dinner from a menu. I chose sirloin steak while Peter opted for chicken, both complimentary. What was unusual was that we were the only guests there. The selection included soup, salad, bread, dessert, wine, beer, spirits, and soft drinks, and we were the sole diners.
On the fiftieth floor, there was an outdoor area where I could see a rainy sunset and numerous fresh herbs that the hotel cultivated for their dishes.
The next morning, we had breakfast again on the fiftieth floor, and we were relieved to see other guests present. After breakfast, I ventured 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 a ticket at the entrance for 10 CNY.
Outside the temple, there were several statues. The Zumiao Ancestral Temple is a vast Taoist temple established during the Song Dynasty, dedicated to Beidi, the northern god also known as the dark warrior. Today, this temple functions both as a temple and a museum.
The complex features several courtyards separated by gateways. One courtyard showcased a vibrant mural of two dragons, while another featured scenic gardens with bonsai trees, statues, and old cannons.
Throughout the courtyards, numerous lion statues could be found, including some traditional lion guards and a unique large group of lions unlike any I'd seen in other temples.
There were various sections within the temple. I explored the main temple complex, which was filled with statues. Just outside was a courtyard with a pond that had a stone turtle with a snake on its back.
There were additional temple buildings, some of which hosted different exhibitions, including those related to martial arts, temple restoration, and aspects of Chinese history.
I was surprised to discover an exhibition section dedicated to Syria as well. The temple featured numerous moon gates, pathways, and uniquely shaped gateways throughout its grounds.
One section had beautiful gardens, a fish pond, and many wishing trees. Some visitors were tossing wishes into the trees, while others had tied notes expressing their wishes onto wooden frames.
Interestingly, the temple holds daily lion dances. I thought I would miss this event due to the heavy rain, but it occurred later than usual, allowing me to see it. Everyone seemed eager 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 back entrance to visit Foshan Lingnan. This formerly inhabited village has been renovated and transformed into an area with restaurants, cafes, and shops, featuring beautifully preserved stone buildings that once served as homes and temples, including an old bell tower.
The old village features many narrow, winding lanes, some decorated with lanterns, including unique ones shaped like golden fish. Foshan is historically known for its pottery, and there were pottery shops and decorations throughout the area.
I had a brief look around one of the pottery shops, which was quite beautiful. I also admired a colorful clothing store and discovered several fountains and open squares within the village, as well as an open-air market adorned with large lanterns.
I stumbled upon a spacious courtyard surrounded by impressive buildings, and it was reassuring to see so many old structures preserved. There was a lively food street filled with restaurants and cafes offering a variety of dining options.
Returning to the hotel, I decided to check out the pool. Although it was an outdoor pool and quite chilly, I took a short swim nonetheless.
In the evening, we had dinner in the lounge but were pleasantly surprised to be upgraded to a complimentary buffet, which meant there were more guests around as well.
After dinner, I walked back to Foshan Lingnan to see it illuminated at night. It was stunning, but as the rain returned, I ended up getting soaked once again.
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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.
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.