View source for Foshan

{{redirect|Fatshan|the battle|Battle of Fatshan Creek|other uses}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Foshan
| official_name      = <!-- Official name in English if different from 'name' -->
| native_name        = 佛山市
| native_name_lang   = zh
| other_name         = Fatshan; Fat-shun
| nickname           = {{lang|zh-hans|禅}} (Chan)
| settlement_type    = [[Prefecture-level city]]
| motto              = 
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
| border                 = infobox
| total_width            = 290
| image_style            = border:1;
| perrow                 = 1/2/2
| image1                  = Foshan Ancestral Temple 39539-Foshan (49042475643).jpg
| caption1                = [[Foshan Ancestral Temple ]]
| image2                  = Foshan TV tower 1.jpg
| caption2                = Foshan TV Tower
| image3                  = Century Lotus Sports Center & Fangta seen from Dongping Bridge.jpg
| caption3                = Century Lotus Sports Center
| image4                  = 黄公祠头门背 20240206.jpg
| caption4                = Museum of Cantonese Opera
| image5                  = Xiqiaoshan2.jpg
| caption5                = [[Mount Xiqiao]]
}}
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = 
| image_seal         = 
| seal_size          = 
| image_shield       = 
| shield_size        = 
| image_map          = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|type=shape|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|zoom=8|frame-lat=23.11|frame-long=113.01}}
| image_map1         = Guangdong subdivisions - Foshan.svg
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = Location of Foshan in Guangdong
| image_dot_map      = 
| pushpin_map        = 
| pushpin_label_position = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_map_caption = 
| pushpin_mapsize    = 
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flagicon|CHN}} [[China]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[Provinces of China|Province]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Guangdong]]
| seat_type          = Municipal seat
| seat               = [[Chancheng District]]
| subdivision_type3  = 
| subdivision_name3  = 
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name4  = 
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = [[Communist Party of China|CPC]] Committee Secretary
| leader_name        = Zheng Ke ({{lang|zh-hans|郑轲}})
| leader_title1      = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name1       = Bai Tao ({{lang|zh-hans|白涛}})
| leader_title2      = 
| leader_name2       = 
| leader_title3      = 
| leader_name3       = 
| leader_title4      = 
| leader_name4       = 
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = 
| established_title2 = <!-- Incorporated (town) -->
| established_date2  = 
| established_title3 = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
| established_date3  = 
| area_magnitude     = 
| unit_pref          = 
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_total_km2     = 3848
| area_land_km2      = 
| area_water_km2     = 690
| area_water_percent = 
| area_urban_km2     = 3848
| area_metro_km2     = 19870.4
| population_as_of   = 2020 census
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/china/guangdong/admin/|title=China: Guăngdōng (Prefectures, Cities, Districts and Counties) – Population Statistics, Charts and Map|website=Citypopulation.de|access-date=27 January 2022}}</ref>
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 9498863
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_metro   = 65594622
| population_density_metro_km2 = auto
| population_urban   = 9042500
| population_density_urban_km2 = auto
| population_blank1_title = <!-- Mun. Density rank -->
| population_blank1  = <!-- ([[List of China administrative regions by population density|4th]]) -->
| population_density_blank1_km2 = 
| population_blank2_title = 
| population_blank2  = 
| demographics_type2 = GDP<ref>{{cite book|author=广东省统计局、国家统计局广东调查总队|title=《广东统计年鉴－2016》|date=August 2016|publisher=[[China Statistics Press]]|isbn=978-7-5037-7837-7|url=http://www.gdstats.gov.cn/tjnj/2016/directory.html|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222072646/http://www.gdstats.gov.cn/tjnj/2016/directory.html|archivedate=2017-12-22}}</ref>
| demographics2_title1 = [[Prefecture-level city]]
| demographics2_info1 = [[CN¥]] 1.759 trillion<br />[[US$]] 166.8 billion
| demographics2_title2 = Per capita
| demographics2_info2 = CN¥ 127,085<br />US$ 19,699
| timezone           = [[China Standard Time]]
| utc_offset         = +8
| coor_pinpoint      = Foshan municipal government
| coordinates        = {{coord|23.0214|N|113.1216|E|type:adm2nd_region:CN-44_source:Gaode|format=dms|display=it}}
| elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use <ref> </ref> tags-->
| elevation_m        = 16
| elevation_ft       = 
| postal_code_type   = [[Postal code of China|Postal code]]
| postal_code        = 528000
| area_code          = [[Telephone numbers in China|(0)757]]
| iso_code           = [[ISO 3166-2:CN|CN-GD-06]]
| blank_name         = [[License Plate (China)|Licence plate prefixes]]
| blank_info         = {{ublist|{{lang|zh-cn|粤E}}|{{lang|zh-cn|粤Y}}<small> (for motor vehicles registered in Nanhai before February 2018)</small>|{{lang|zh-cn|粤X}}<small> (for motor vehicles registered in Shunde before February 2018)</small>}}
| website            = {{URL|foshan.gov.cn/}}
| footnotes          = 
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| pic = Foshan_(Chinese_characters).svg
| piccap = "Foshan" in Chinese characters
| picupright = 0.475
| c = {{linktext|lang=zh|佛山}}
| psp = Fatshan
| p = Fóshān
| w = Fo<sup>2</sup>-shan<sup>1</sup>
| mi = {{IPAc-cmn|f|o|2|.|sh|an|1}}
| gr = Forshan
| myr = Fwóshān
| bpmf = ㄈㄛˊ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ㄕㄢ
| j = Fat6saan1
| y = Fahtsàan ''or'' Fahtsāan
| ci = {{IPA|yue|fɐ̀t̚.sâːn|}} ''or'' {{IPA|yue|fɐ̀t̚.sáːn|}}
| tl = Pu̍t-suann
| l = "Buddha{{nbsp}}Mountain"
| showflag = py
}}

'''Foshan''' ({{IPAc-en|UK|f|oʊ|ˈ|ʃ|æ|n}}, {{IPAc-en|USalso|-|ˈ|ʃ|ɑː|n}}; [[Chinese language|Chinese]]: 佛山) is a [[prefecture-level city]] in central [[Guangdong]] [[province of China|Province]], China. The entire prefecture covers {{convert|3,848|km2|abbr=on|sp=us}} and had a population of 9,498,863 as of the 2020 census. The city is part of the western side of the [[Pearl River Delta]] megalopolis, a [[conurbation]] housing 86,100,000 inhabitants, making it the biggest urban area of the world.

Foshan is regarded as the home of [[Cantonese opera]], a genre of Chinese opera; [[Nanquan (martial art)|Nanquan]], a martial art; and [[lion dance|lion dancing]].

{{TOC limit|2}}
{{anchor|Names|Etymology}}

==Name==
[[File:Nieuhof-Ambassade-vers-la-Chine-1665 0837.tif|thumb|left|200px|"Faesan" (Foshan), from [[Johan Nieuhof]]'s 1665 ''Embassy of the [[Dutch East India Company]] to the [[Emperor of China]]'']]
''Fóshān'' is the [[pinyin]] [[romanization of Chinese|romanization]] of the city's [[Chinese language|Chinese]] name {{lang|zh|{{linktext|佛山}}}}, based on its [[Standard Mandarin|Mandarin]] pronunciation. The [[Chinese Postal Map|Postal Map]] spelling "Fatshan" derives from the same name's local [[Cantonese language|Cantonese]] pronunciation. Other romanizations include '''Fat-shan'''<ref>{{cite EB1911|volume=XV|wstitle=Kwang-Tung}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|year=1956|author=Theodore Shabad|title=China's Changing Map: A Political and Economic Geography of the Chinese People's Republic|location=New York|publisher=Frederick A. Praeger|lccn=55-11530|oclc=916993074|page=166|url=https://archive.org/details/chinaschangingma0000shab/page/166/mode/2up|quote=With the exception of Shiukwan on the Canton-Hankow railroad, Kwangtung’s regional centers are situated along the coast, notably in the Canton delta. There, in addition to Canton, are the cities of '''Fatshan''', Kongmoon and Shekki. The metropolis of western Kwangtung is Tsamkong, and Pakhoi is the chief town of the western panhandle.}}</ref> and '''Fat-shun'''.<ref name=eb9>{{cite EB9|mode=cs2|wstitle=China|ref={{harvid|''EB''|1878}}|volume=5}}</ref> Foshan means "[[Buddha]]{{nbsp}}Mountain" and, despite the more famous present-day statue of [[Guanyin|Guanyin (or Kwanyin)]] on [[Mount Xiqiao]], who isn't a Buddha, it refers to a smaller hill near the centre of town where three [[Chinese bronzes|bronze]] [[Chinese sculpture|sculptures]] of [[Buddha]] were discovered in AD 628. The town grew up around a monastery founded nearby that was destroyed in 1391.<ref name=mcds>{{citation |last=McDermott |first=Joseph P. |title=State and Court Ritual in China |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=qgYdycfeJyAC&pg=PA281 281]}}.</ref>

==History==
===Pre-20th century===
Foshan remained a minor settlement on the [[Fen River (Guangdong)|Fen River]] for most of China's history. It developed around a [[Tang dynasty|Tang]]-era [[Buddhist monastery]] that was destroyed in 1391.<ref name=mcds/> The [[Foshan Ancestral Temple]], a [[Taoist temple]] to the [[Heidi (god)|Northern God]] (''Beidi'') that was rebuilt in 1372, became the new focus of the community by the 15th century.<ref name=mcds/>

By the early [[Ming dynasty|Ming]], Foshan had grown into one of the four great markets in China, primarily on the strength of its local [[Chinese porcelain|ceramics]] but also on account of its metalwork.<ref name=poetry>{{Cite book |last=Vogel |first=Ezra F. |title=One Step Ahead in China: Guangdong under Reform |date=October 1990 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NU2NLLjO1fUC |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=NU2NLLjO1fUC&pg=PA182 182] |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=9780674639119 |access-date=2016-10-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030141657/https://books.google.com/books?id=NU2NLLjO1fUC |archive-date=2016-10-30 |url-status=live }}</ref> Under the [[Qing dynasty|Qing]], its harbor on the Fen River was limited to ships of a thousand tons' burden but it remained well connected with Guangdong's other ports.<ref name=poetry/> By the 19th century, Foshan was considered the "[[Birmingham, England|Birmingham]] of China", with its steel industry responsible for the consumption of the majority of the province's iron production.<ref name=eb9/>

===20th century and onwards===
Foshan was connected to [[Guangzhou]] and [[Sanshui]] by rail in the early 20th century.<ref name=poetry/> The Ancestral Temple was converted into the [[Foshan Municipal Museum]] upon the victory of the [[Chinese Communist Party|Communists]] in the [[Chinese Civil War]] in 1949.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}

Foshan remained primarily focused on ceramic and steel production until the 1950s, when it became an [[urbanization in China|urbanizing]] political center. On 26 June 1951, it left [[Nanhai County]] to become a separate [[county-level city]] and, in 1954, it was made the seat of the prefectural government.<ref name=poetry/> Its economy stagnated as a result of the [[Cultural Revolution]]—traditional ceramic ware was forbidden and its workshops were turned to producing [[Maoism|Maoist]] and [[Chinese Civil War|Revolutionary]] [[wikt:trinket|folderol]]—but it continued to grow, reaching 300,000 people by the 1970s, making it the province's second city after Guangzhou.<ref name=poetry/>

As early as 1973, however, its agriculture and consumer industries were permitted to become an export production base and a modern highway linked it to Guangzhou soon after. This permitted its party secretary [[Tong Mengqing]] and mayor [[Yu Fei (politician)|Yu Fei]] to take full advantage when [[Deng Xiaoping]] introduced [[Chinese economic reform|his Opening Up policies]] after the fall of the [[Gang of Four]].<ref name=poetry/>

In 1983, Foshan was promoted to a [[prefecture-level city]] with its former core becoming the new [[Chancheng District]] but lost the southwestern half of its former territory to [[Jiangmen]].<ref name=poetry/> On 8 December 2002, [[Shunde District|Shunde]] and [[Nanhai District|Nanhai]] joined its urban core as a full district.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

Since 2020, a Japanese-themed street in Foshan has become a hit with young people unable to travel abroad due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic|coronavirus pandemic]].<ref name=SCMPstreet>{{cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3103711/chinese-unable-travel-abroad-are-flocking-mock-japanese|title=Chinese, unable to travel abroad, are flocking to a mock Japanese street in Guangdong|website=[[South China Morning Post]]|date=1 October 2020|author-last1=He|author-first1=Huifeng}}</ref> The 100m-long road called Ichiban Street has been outfitted by a local property developer to resemble famous commercial streets in Japan, complete with a sakura tree, an icon of Japan.<ref name=SCMPstreet/> The "exotic" street is attracting young people from nearby cities like Guangzhou, Zhongshan and Zhuhai as the younger Chinese generation likes many things about Japanese culture and design.<ref name=SCMPstreet/> After negative responses and anti-Japanese sentiment, all Japanese signage was removed and the street has been mostly abandoned.

==Geography==
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|colspan=9 |{{Location map+ |Guangdong |width=800 |float=center | places=
	{{Location map~ |Guangdong |lat_deg=23|lat_min=07|lon_deg=113|lon_min=15|background=skyblue|position=right|label=<small>'''[[Guangzhou]]'''</small>}}
	{{Location map~ |Guangdong |lat_deg=22|lat_min=33|lon_deg=114|lon_min=06|background=skyblue|position=right|label=<small>'''[[Shenzhen]]'''</small>}}
	{{Location map~ |Guangdong |lat_deg=22|lat_min=16|lon_deg=114|lon_min=09|background=skyblue|position=right|label=<small>'''[[Hong Kong]]'''</small>}}
	{{Location map~ |Guangdong |lat_deg=23|lat_min=03|lon_deg=113|lon_min=43|background=skyblue|position=right|label=<small>'''[[Dongguan]]'''</small>}}
	{{Location map~ |Guangdong |lat_deg=23|lat_min=01|lon_deg=113|lon_min=07|background=skyblue|position=right|label=<small>'''Foshan'''</small>}}
	{{Location map~ |Guangdong |lat_deg=22|lat_min=35|lon_deg=113|lon_min=04|background=skyblue|position=right|label=<small>'''[[Jiangmen]]'''</small>}}
	{{Location map~ |Guangdong |lat_deg=23|lat_min=06|lon_deg=114|lon_min=24|background=skyblue|position=right|label=<small>'''[[Huizhou]]'''</small>}}
	{{Location map~ |Guangdong |lat_deg=22|lat_min=31|lon_deg=113|lon_min=21|background=skyblue|position=bottom|label=<small>'''[[Zhongshan]]'''</small>}}
	{{Location map~ |Guangdong |lat_deg=22|lat_min=16|lon_deg=113|lon_min=34|background=skyblue|position=right|label=<small>'''[[Zhuhai]]'''</small>}}
	{{Location map~ |Guangdong |lat_deg=22|lat_min=10|lon_deg=113|lon_min=33|background=skyblue|position=right|label=<small>'''[[Macau]]'''</small>}}
	{{Location map~ |Guangdong |lat_deg=23|lat_min=03|lon_deg=112|lon_min=27|background=skyblue|position=right|label=<small>'''[[Zhaoqing]]'''</small>}}
	{{Location map~ |Guangdong |lat_deg=22|lat_min=11|lon_deg=112|lon_min=18|background=skyblue|position=right|mark=Cyan pog.svg|label=<small>[[Enping]]</small>}}
	{{Location map~ |Guangdong |lat_deg=22|lat_min=40|lon_deg=112|lon_min=45|background=skyblue|position=right|mark=Cyan pog.svg|label=<small>[[Heshan, Guangdong|Heshan]]</small>}}
	{{Location map~ |Guangdong |lat_deg=22|lat_min=22|lon_deg=112|lon_min=41|background=skyblue|position=right|mark=Cyan pog.svg|label=<small>[[Kaiping]]</small>}}
	{{Location map~ |Guangdong |lat_deg=23|lat_min=21|lon_deg=112|lon_min=41|background=skyblue|position=right|mark=Cyan pog.svg|label=<small>[[Sihui]]</small>}}
}}
|}
Foshan lies on the [[Fen River]] in the estuaries making up the west side of the [[Pearl River Delta]]. [[Guangzhou]] lies {{convert|25|km|sp=us}} to the northeast, [[Zhongshan]] to the southeast, [[Jiangmen]] to the south, [[Qingyuan]] to the north, and [[Zhaoqing]] to the west.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news |title = Foshan |url = http://www.bing.com/maps |website = Bing Maps |access-date = May 28, 2016 |first = Samuel |last = Farrell |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160527232457/http://www.bing.com/maps/ |archive-date = May 27, 2016 |url-status = live }}</ref>

===Climate===
Foshan experiences a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Cfa'').

{{Weather box
| width = auto
| metric first = y
| single line = y
| collapsed = Y
| location = Foshan ([[Nanhai District]]), elevation {{convert|30|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1951–present)
| Jan high C = 18.3
| Feb high C = 19.7
| Mar high C = 22.3
| Apr high C = 26.7
| May high C = 30.5
| Jun high C = 32.4
| Jul high C = 33.7
| Aug high C = 33.6
| Sep high C = 32.2
| Oct high C = 29.4
| Nov high C = 25.2
| Dec high C = 20.4
| Jan mean C = 14.0
| Feb mean C = 15.7
| Mar mean C = 18.6
| Apr mean C = 23.0
| May mean C = 26.6
| Jun mean C = 28.6
| Jul mean C = 29.5
| Aug mean C = 29.4
| Sep mean C = 28.1
| Oct mean C = 25.1
| Nov mean C = 20.7
| Dec mean C = 15.8
| Jan low C = 11.1
| Feb low C = 12.9
| Mar low C = 15.9
| Apr low C = 20.3
| May low C = 23.7
| Jun low C = 25.8
| Jul low C = 26.5
| Aug low C = 26.3
| Sep low C = 25.0
| Oct low C = 21.9
| Nov low C = 17.4
| Dec low C = 12.6
| Jan record high C = 26.7
| Jan record low C = -1.9
| Feb record high C = 27.1
| Feb record low C = 2.3
| Mar record high C = 30.7
| Mar record low C = 3.4
| Apr record high C = 34.5
| Apr record low C = 10.5
| May record high C = 35.6
| May record low C = 14.9
| Jun record high C = 37.1
| Jun record low C = 18.7
| Jul record high C = 38.5
| Jul record low C = 22.8
| Aug record high C = 38.5
| Aug record low C = 23.3
| Sep record high C = 37.8
| Sep record low C = 19.6
| Oct record high C = 34.2
| Oct record low C = 10.7
| Nov record high C = 30.6
| Nov record low C = 4.4
| Dec record high C = 28.8
| Dec record low C = 3.1
| year high C = 
| year low C = 
| year high F = 
| year low F = 
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 53.1
| Feb precipitation mm = 54.4
| Mar precipitation mm = 95.8
| Apr precipitation mm = 161.5
| May precipitation mm = 260.9
| Jun precipitation mm = 308.1
| Jul precipitation mm = 226.6
| Aug precipitation mm = 266.3
| Sep precipitation mm = 211.1
| Oct precipitation mm = 78.7
| Nov precipitation mm = 42.2
| Dec precipitation mm = 35.2
| Jan humidity = 71
| Feb humidity = 76
| Mar humidity = 79
| Apr humidity = 80
| May humidity = 79
| Jun humidity = 80
| Jul humidity = 77
| Aug humidity = 77
| Sep humidity = 74
| Oct humidity = 67
| Nov humidity = 67
| Dec humidity = 65
| unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 7.2
| Feb precipitation days = 9.3
| Mar precipitation days = 13.8
| Apr precipitation days = 14.6
| May precipitation days = 17.2
| Jun precipitation days = 18.5
| Jul precipitation days = 16.5
| Aug precipitation days = 15.8
| Sep precipitation days = 12.3
| Oct precipitation days = 5.3
| Nov precipitation days = 5.7
| Dec precipitation days = 5.7
| year precipitation days = 
| Jan sun = 104.3
| Feb sun = 75.1
| Mar sun = 61.8
| Apr sun = 73.2
| May sun = 112.5
| Jun sun = 132.6
| Jul sun = 178.8
| Aug sun = 167.5
| Sep sun = 157.0
| Oct sun = 170.5
| Nov sun = 150.8
| Dec sun = 140.4
| year sun = 
| Jan percentsun = 31
| Feb percentsun = 23
| Mar percentsun = 17
| Apr percentsun = 19
| May percentsun = 27
| Jun percentsun = 33
| Jul percentsun = 43
| Aug percentsun = 42
| Sep percentsun = 43
| Oct percentsun = 48
| Nov percentsun = 46
| Dec percentsun = 42
| source 1 = [[China Meteorological Administration]]<ref name="cma graphical">{{cite web |url=http://data.cma.cn/data/weatherBk.html |script-title=zh:中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data |publisher=[[China Meteorological Administration]] |language = zh-hans |access-date=28 May 2023}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web|url=https://experience.arcgis.com/template/e724038fda394e9d9b7921f10fd1aa55/page/%E7%BA%AF%E8%A1%A8%E6%A0%BC%E7%BB%9F%E8%AE%A1-(%E5%AF%B9%E6%AF%948110%E5%8F%98%E5%8C%96)/?org=UQmaps |script-title=zh:中国气象数据网|publisher=[[China Meteorological Administration]] |language = zh-hans | access-date =28 May 2023 |title=Experience Template }}</ref> all-time extreme temperature<ref>
{{cite web|date=19 January 2016 |url=https://gd.sina.cn/news/fs/2016-01-19/detail-ifxnqrkc6634032.d.html |script-title=zh:疯传佛山周日有暴雪 气象台：不可能是真的  |publisher=Southern Metropolis Daily |language = zh-hans |access-date=28 September 2024}}</ref>
| source = 
}}

==Economy==
Foshan has been well known for its [[Chinese porcelain|ceramics]] since the [[Ming dynasty]], although it was forced to cease production during the [[Cultural Revolution]].<ref name=poetry/>

Foshan had a [[RMB|¥]]0.8 trillion [[gross domestic product]] in 2015,{{Needs update|date=June 2025}} raising its per capita GDP past [[USD|$]]10,000.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}} [[Shunde District]] in particular has a high manufacturing output, with its 3,000+ electronical appliance factories responsible for more than half of the world's [[air conditioner]]s and [[refrigerator]]s.<ref name=machub>{{Cite web |url= http://www.macauhub.com.mo/en/2015/09/11/foshan-from-buddhist-hill-to-world-manufacturing-centre/ |title=Foshan: From Buddhist Hill to World Manufacturing Centre |website= MacauHub |date= 11 September 2015 |access-date= 30 October 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150928034732/http://www.macauhub.com.mo/en/2015/09/11/foshan-from-buddhist-hill-to-world-manufacturing-centre/|archive-date= 28 September 2015|url-status= dead |author-last1=Chan|author-first1=Thomas}}</ref> Foshan now has more than 30 towns specialized in particular industries, including furniture, machinery, and beverages.<ref name=machub/>

The Foshan Hi-Tech Development Zone, established in 1992, is a planned industrial area spanning 7.55 km² (2.92 sq mi). Its strategic location provides convenient access to major transportation networks, including proximity to the G325 national highway and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. The zone is a hub for several key industries, notably automobile assembly, biotechnology, and chemicals processing.<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://rightsite.asia/en/industrial-zone/foshan-hi-tech-development-zone/ |title=RightSite.asia {{!}} Foshan Hi-Tech Development Zone |access-date=2012-04-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426182040/http://rightsite.asia/en/industrial-zone/foshan-hi-tech-development-zone |archive-date= 2012-04-26 |url-status=dead |language=en}}</ref>

==Administration==
Foshan administers five [[Administrative divisions of the People's Republic of China#County level|county-level divisions]], all of which are [[District of China|districts]], including Chancheng, Nanhai, Sanshui, Gaoming and Shunde.

These are further divided into 32 [[Administrative divisions of the People's Republic of China#Township level|township-level divisions]], including 11 [[Subdistricts of China|subdistrict]]s and 21 [[Town (China)|towns]].

Foshan is close to Guangzhou and considers its link with Guangzhou to be very important. As such, it is part of the [[Pearl River Delta]] and [[Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area]] metropolis, centered on Guangzhou.
{|class="wikitable" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"
|-
| rowspan=2 |
<div style="position: relative" class="left">
{{Image label begin|image=Administrative Division Foshan.png|width=450|link=}} 
{{Image label|x=460|y=460|scale=450/750|text=[[Chancheng District|'''Chancheng''']]}}
{{Image label|x=460|y=360|scale=450/750|text=[[Nanhai District|'''Nanhai''']]}}
{{Image label|x=550|y=580|scale=450/750|text=[[Shunde District|'''Shunde''']]}}
{{Image label|x=390|y=230|scale=450/750|text=[[Sanshui District|'''Sanshui''']]}}
{{Image label|x=210|y=580|scale=450/750|text=[[Gaoming District|'''Gaoming''']]}}
{{Image label end}}
</div>

{|class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="text-font:90%; width:auto; text-align:center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"
|-
! colspan="10" |'''Administrative divisions of Foshan'''
|-
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 |[[Administrative division codes of the People's Republic of China|Division<br />code]]<ref>{{cite web |language=zh-hans |url=http://files2.mca.gov.cn/cws/201502/20150225163817214.html|script-title=zh:中华人民共和国县以上行政区划代码|publisher=[[Ministry of Civil Affairs]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402113603/http://files2.mca.gov.cn/cws/201502/20150225163817214.html|archive-date=2015-04-02}}</ref>
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Division
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Area<br />{{small|(km<sup>2</sup>)}}<ref>{{cite book |language=zh-hans |author=Guangzhou Bureau of Statistics (广州市统计局) |script-title=zh:《广州统计年鉴2013》|date=August 2013 |publisher=[[:zh:中国统计出版社|China Statistics Print]] |isbn= 978-7-5037-6651-0}}</ref>
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Population (2020)
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Seat
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Postal<br />code
!! scope="col" colspan=4 |Subdivisions<ref>{{cite book |language=zh-hans |author=Ministry of Civil Affairs |author-link=Ministry of Civil Affairs |script-title=zh:《中国民政统计年鉴2014》|date=August 2014 |publisher=[[:zh:中国统计出版社|China Statistics Print]] |isbn= 978-7-5037-7130-9}}</ref>
|-
!! scope="col" |[[Subdistrict (China)|Subdistricts]]
!! scope="col" |[[Town (China)|Towns]]
!! scope="col" |[[Residential community|Residential<br />communities]]
!! scope="col" |[[Villages of the People's Republic of China|Administrative<br />villages]]
|- style="font-weight: bold"
| 440600 || Foshan || 3848.49 || 9,498,863 || [[Chancheng District|Chancheng]] || 528000 || 11 || 21 || 408 || 328
|-
| 440604 || [[Chancheng District|Chancheng]] || 154.15 || 1,330,262 || [[Zumiao Subdistrict]] || 528000 || 3 || 1 || 89 || 54
|-
| 440605 || [[Nanhai District|Nanhai]] || 1073.94 || 3,667,247 || [[Guicheng Subdistrict, Foshan|Guicheng Subdistrict]] || 528200 || 1 || 6 || 183 || 67
|-
| 440606 || [[Shunde District|Shunde]] || 806.55 || 3,229,090 || [[Daliang Subdistrict, Foshan|Daliang Subdistrict]] || 528300 || 4 || 6 || 93 || 108
|-
| 440607 || [[Sanshui District|Sanshui]] || 874.22 || 803,226 || [[Xinan Subdistrict, Foshan|Xinan Subdistrict]] || 528100 || 2 || 5 || 22 || 48
|-
| 440608 || [[Gaoming District|Gaoming]] || 939.64 || 469,038 || [[Hecheng Subdistrict]] || 528500 || 1 || 3 || 21 || 51
|}

{|class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed" style="text-font:90%; width:auto; text-align:center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"
! colspan="4" |Administrative divisions in Chinese and varieties of romanizations
|-
! English !! Chinese !! Pinyin !! Guangdong<br />Romanization
|-
| [[Chancheng District]] ||{{lang|zh-hans|禅城区}} ||Chánchéng Qū ||xim4 xing4 kêu1
|-
| [[Nanhai District]] ||{{lang|zh-hans|南海区}} ||Nánhǎi Qū ||nam4 hoi2 kêu1
|-
| [[Shunde District]] ||{{lang|zh-hans|顺德区}} ||Shùndé Qū ||sên6 deg1 kêu1
|-
| [[Sanshui District]] ||{{lang|zh-hans|三水区}} ||Sānshuǐ Qū ||sam1 sêu1 kêu1
|-
| [[Gaoming District]] ||{{lang|zh-hans|高明区}} ||Gāomíng Qū ||gou1 ming4 kêu1
|-
! Foshan city !!{{lang|zh-hans|佛山市}} !!Fóshān Shì !!fed6 san1 xi5
|}
|}

==Language==
Located in the [[Sanyi]] region, the local dialects are based on [[Yue Chinese|Cantonese]] and often used by the city natives, particularly among older generations.{{citation needed|date=June 2025}} As the current national language, [[Standard Chinese|Mandarin]] is the ''[[lingua franca]]'' of government, business, and education—whereas the local dialects are used on informal occasions.

==Transportation==
[[File:Foshan railway station.jpg|thumb|Foshan railway station]]
In 2013 to 2014, Foshan planned to improve public transportation by putting forward six measures:<ref name="Foshan's public transportation new plan">[http://www.fsjtw.gov.cn/zwgk/ghjh/201408/t20140826_4719116.htm Foshan City Transportation Bureau home page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108184531/http://www.fsjtw.gov.cn/zwgk/ghjh/201408/t20140826_4719116.htm |date=2015-01-08 }} Foshan City Transportation Bureau. Retrieved February 1, 2014</ref>

===FMetro===
{{Main|Foshan Metro}}
The first line of [[FMetro]] opened in 2010, and another two lines are completed in 2021 and 2022.

The existing line of [[FMetro]] network:
* [[Guangfo Metro|Line 1 (Guangfo Line)]]: From [[Xincheng Dong station|Xincheng Dong Station]] to [[Lijiao Station]]
* [[Line 2 (Foshan Metro)|Line 2]]: From [[Nanzhuang station|Nanzhuang Station]] to [[Guangzhou South Railway Station]]
* [[Line 3 (Foshan Metro)|Line 3]]: From {{stl|FSM|Shunde College Railway Station}} to [[Zhongshan Park station (Foshan Metro)|Zhongshan Park Station]] & [[Lianhe station|Lianhe Station]] to [[Foshan University station|Foshan University Station]]

===Rail===
Foshan is a main interchange for railway routes linking [[Guangzhou]], [[Hong Kong]] and western Guangdong Province. It is connected with Hong Kong via the [[Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation|KCRC]] [[Guangdong Through Train]] service from [[Foshan railway station]], an inter-city train service that was extended from Guangzhou to Foshan in the 1990s.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}}

===Aviation===
The city is served by [[Foshan Shadi Airport]], and later the [[Pearl River Delta International Airport]]. It is also served by [[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]].

==Education==
{{expand section|date=July 2020}}
[[File:Foshan University Front Gate.jpg|thumb|[[Foshan University]]'s front gate]]
Like other government schools in mainland China, [[Standard Chinese|Mandarin]] is the primary language of instruction in Foshan's government schools.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}

=== Universities ===
* [[Foshan University]]
* [[South China Normal University]] (Foshan campus)
* Southern Medical University (Shunde campus)
* Guangdong  University of Finance & Economics (Sanshui campus)

=== Schools ===
* [[Nanhai Senior High School]]

==Sports==
Foshan is one of the host cities for the [[2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup]].<ref>{{cite press release |url= https://www.fiba.basketball/basketballworldcup/2019/news/fiba-basketball-world-cup-2019-high-ranking-loc-officials-confirmed-fiba-to-open-three-offi |title= FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 high-ranking LOC officials confirmed, FIBA to open three offices in China |date= 14 June 2016 |publisher= [[FIBA]] |access-date= 7 September 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180320110409/http://www.fiba.basketball/basketballworldcup/2019/news/fiba-basketball-world-cup-2019-high-ranking-loc-officials-confirmed-fiba-to-open-three-offi |archive-date= 20 March 2018 |url-status= live }}</ref>

The city hosted events during the [[2010 Asian Games]]. [[Synchronized swimming]] at the [[Foshan Aquatics Center]] and [[boxing]] at the [[Foshan Gymnasium]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Guangzhou Asian Games Venues and Transportation|url=https://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/guangdong/guangzhou/asian-games-venues.htm|access-date=2019-04-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419215821/https://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/guangdong/guangzhou/asian-games-venues.htm|archive-date=2019-04-19|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2014 the city hosted [[The Foshan Open]] golf event on the [[European Challenge Tour]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/guangdong/foshan |title= The Foshan Tour |work= European Challenge Tour |publisher= PGA European Tour |access-date= 20 November 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150318003238/http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/guangdong/foshan/ |archive-date= 18 March 2015 |url-status= live }}</ref>

Two professional football teams have played in Foshan. From 1989 to 1997 [[Foshan Fosti F.C.|Foshan Fosti]] (now disbanded) played at the [[New Plaza Stadium]] in Chancheng (now demolished). Foshan Fosti mainly played in the second tier, but did play in the eight team top tier in 1993. In 2007, newly created [[Guangdong Sunray Cave F.C.|Guangdong Sunray Cave]] played at [[Nanhai District Stadium]] (now demolished), before moving to the [[Century Lotus Stadium]] in 2008. Sunray Cave then moved to Guangzhou, although did play the final games of the 2013 China League One back at Century Lotus Stadium. They returned to Guangzhou in 2014 and then disbanded.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wildeastfootball.geezerbuild.com/2018/02/football-foshan-matters/|title=Football in Foshan and why it matters – Wild East Football|website=wildeastfootball.geezerbuild.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-07-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708155010/http://wildeastfootball.geezerbuild.com/2018/02/football-foshan-matters/|archive-date=2018-07-08|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Destinations==
[[File:GZ FS Prayers 3.jpg|thumb|[[Foshan Ancestral Temple]]]]
* [[Crowne Plaza Foshan Hotel]]
* [[Foshan Ancestral Temple|Foshan Ancestral Temple (Zumiao)]]
* [[Nanfeng Kiln]]
* [[Liang's Garden]]
* [[Wong Fei-hung Memorial Hall]]

==Sister cities==
{{More citations needed section|date=December 2020}}
* {{flagdeco|JPN}} [[Itami, Hyōgo|Itami]], [[Hyōgo Prefecture|Hyōgo]] Japan
* {{flagdeco|FRA}} [[La Possession]], [[Réunion]], France (since 1989)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ville-lapossession.mobius.re/la-possession-ville-des-jumelages.html |title=Ville de la Possession – Jumelages |access-date=2012-05-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120517100919/http://ville-lapossession.mobius.re/la-possession-ville-des-jumelages.html |archive-date=2012-05-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* {{flagdeco|MUS}} [[Port Louis]], Mauritius
* {{flagdeco|US}} [[Oakland, California]], United States
* {{flagdeco|US}} [[Stockton, California]], United States
* {{flagdeco|CAN}} [[Markham, Ontario]], Canada (Friendly co-operative)
* {{flagdeco|AUS}} [[Townsville]], Queensland, Australia
* {{flagdeco|UK}} [[Medway]], United Kingdom
* {{flagdeco|POL}} [[Starogard Gdański]], Poland
* {{flagdeco|Grenada}} [[St. George's, Grenada|St. George's]], Grenada
* {{flagdeco|DEU}} [[Ingolstadt]], [[Bavaria]], Germany (since 2013)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www2.ingolstadt.de/index.phtml?object=tx%7C1842.55.1&NavID=1842.86&Aktuell_ID=13449 |title=Stadt Ingolstadt – Aktuelles |access-date=2019-12-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822222905/http://www2.ingolstadt.de/index.phtml?object=tx%7C1842.55.1&NavID=1842.86&Aktuell_ID=13449 |archive-date=2017-08-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/neuburg/Ingolstadt-und-Foshan-id27503787.html |title=Ingolstadt und Foshan |date=24 October 2013 |access-date=2014-08-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921202624/http://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/neuburg/Ingolstadt-und-Foshan-id27503787.html |archive-date=2017-09-21 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Au Tak]] (1840–1920), Hong Kong entrepreneur 
* [[Jeremy Bray]] (1930–2002), British politician
* [[Cai Feihu]] (born 1964), professor, engineer and businessman
* [[Cao Yuanhang]] (born 1991), Paralympian
* [[Sun Chan (Chen Shen)|Sun Chan]] (born 1932), Peruvian-Chinese artist
* [[Chan Wah-shun]] (c.1836–1906), martial arts teacher of Ip Man
* [[Chen Jintao]] (1870–1939), technocrat who founded the Bank of China
* [[Cheok Hong Cheong]] (1851–1928), Australian missionary, political activist, writer, and businessman
* [[Cheng Yu-tung]] (1925–2016), Hong Kong billionaire
* [[Cheung Wing-sing]] (1897–1960), wife of Wing Chun master Ip Man
* [[Chin Siu-ho]] (born 1963), Hong Kong actor and martial artist
* [[Chow Chi-yuen]]{{Citation needed|date=June 2025|reason=I could not find any evidence that [[Chow Chi-yuen]] has any relation to Foshan.}} (1900–1971), Hong Kong entrepreneur and the founder of [[Chow Tai Fook]] 
* [[Chow Kwen Lim]] (1928–2016), founder and the chairman of Chow Sang Sang Jewellery Company
* [[Dang Fong]] (1877 or 1879–1955), disciple of the Chinese Kung Fu folk hero Wong Fei Hung 
* [[Eu Tong Sen]] (1877 -1941), businessman in Malaya, Singapore and Hong Kong
* [[Feng Feng (footballer)|Feng Feng]] (born 1968), footballer
* [[Foo Ping-sheung]] (1895–1965), diplomat and politician in the early Republic of China and later in Taiwan
* [[Little Pete|Fung Jing Toy]] (c.1864–1897), American gangster
* [[Stanley Fung]] (born 1945), Hong Kong actor and film director
* [[Merdan Ghappar]], model and prisoner
* [[He Xiangjian]] (born 1942), co-founder of [[Midea Group]]
* [[Hu Zaobin]] (1897–1942), painter
* [[Huang Mingda]], diplomat 
* [[Huang Shaoqiang]], (1901–1942), artist 
* [[Ip Ching]] (1936–2020), Hong Kong martial artist  
* [[Ip Chun]] (born 1924), martial artist and actor in the style of Wing Chun
* [[Ip Man]] (1893–1972), [[Wing Chun]] grandmaster and [[sifu|instructor]] of [[Bruce Lee]]
* [[Kang Youwei]] (1858–1927), political thinker and reformer in China of the late Qing dynasty
* [[Ko Lai Chak]] (born 1976), Hong Kong table tennis player
* [[Kwong Wui Chun]] (c.1955), Hong Kong businessman
* [[Lai Shanzhang]] (born 1992), Paralympic cyclist
* [[Lam Cho]] (1910–2012), Hung Ga Grandmaster
* [[Lam Sai-wing]] (1861–1943), Hung Gar martial artist
* [[Law Kar-ying]] (born 1946), Hong Kong Cantonese opera singer and actor
* [[Lee Heung-kam]] (1932–2021), Hong Kong Cantonese opera singer and actress
* [[Lee Hoi-chuen]] (1901–1965), opera singer and actor
* [[Lee Shau-kee]] (born 1928), Hong Kong business magnate, investor, and philanthropist
* [[Leung Bik]] (1843–1911), Wing Chun martial artist
* [[Leung Chu Yan]] (born 1979), Hong Kong table tennis player 
* [[Leung Jan]] (1826–1901), [[Wing Chun]] master, doctor and [[sifu|instructor]] of [[Ip Man]]
* [[Li Jian (footballer, born 1989)|Li Jian]] (born 1989), footballer
* [[Li Wenfan]] (1884–1953), revolutionary and politician
* [[Li Yingjian]] (born 1991), footballer
* [[Li Zhaohuan]] (1898–1969), educator, politician and banker
* [[Li Ziliu]] (1932–2022), politician
* [[Liang Dunyan]] (1857–1924), Qing dynasty diplomat and politician
* [[Liang Jiahong]] (born 1988), sprinter
* [[Liang Shiyi]] (1869–1933), minister who served as premier of China 
* [[Liang Yanfen]] (born 2000), Paralympic athlete
* [[Liang Youyu]] (1521–1556), Ming dynasty scholar
* [[Lin Liang]] (c.1424－1500), imperial painter
* [[Anqi Luo]] (born 1996), Canadian table tennis player 
* [[Luo Zhi]] (1915–1949), revolutionary activist and leader in Xinjiang
* [[Ma Man-kei]] (1919–2014), Chinese-Macanese businessman, tycoon, entrepreneur and politician
* [[Ma Yexin]] (born 1999), tennis player
* [[Mai Shaoyan]] (born 1979), field hockey player
* [[Evergreen Mak Cheung-ching]] (born 1968), Hong Kong actor
* [[Mok Kwai-lan]] (1892–1982), fourth spouse of Lingnan martial arts grandmaster Wong Fei-hung
* [[Antonio Ng]] (born 1957),  Macanese politician
* [[Ou Daren]] (1516–1596) Ming dynasty scholar
* [[Ou Mengjue]] (1906–1992), politician
* [[Ou Shizi]] (1234–1324), Song dynasty scholar
* [[Pan Kou-ang]] (born 1939), Taiwanese former sports shooter
* [[Pan Nam]] (1911–1995), martial artist and Grandmaster of the Wing Chun style
* [[Pu Jun Jin]] (born 1984), racing driver
* [[Quan Hansheng]] (1912–2001), economic historian
* [[Philip Rees (medical missionary)|Philip Rees]] (1877–1912), English medical missionary
* [[So Chan]], martial artist and folk hero who lived during the late Qing dynasty
* [[So Cheung-wing]] (born 1960), Hong Kong businessman and politician
* [[Su Changlan]] (born c.1971), civil rights activist
* [[Su Xiongfeng]] (born 1987), long jumper
* [[Tan Pingshan]] (1886–1956), revolutionary socialist 
* [[Sun Ma Sze Tsang]] (1916–1997), Cantonese opera singer and actor in Hong Kong
* [[Death of Wang Yue|Wang Yue]], (2009–2011), toddler whose death was attributed to the [[bystander effect]].
* [[Wang Jingwei]] (1883–1944), politician
* [[Wong Fei Hung]] (1847–1925), [[Hung Ga]] master and doctor, honored at a [[Wong Fei-hung Memorial Hall|memorial hall]] in Chancheng
* [[Wong Kei-ying]] (c.1815–1886), [[Hung Ga]] master, doctor, father of [[Wong Fei Hung]] and one of the members of the [[Ten Tigers of Canton]]
* [[Wong Wah-bo]], martial artist and opera singer of the late Qing dynasty
* [[Wu Dixi]] (born 1962), badminton player
* [[Wu Jianren]] (1866–1910), writer of the late Qing period
* [[Wu Yee-sun]] (1900–2005), Hong Kong entrepreneur and billionaire 
* [[Xu Liang]] (1893–1951), diplomat and politician in the Republic of China
* [[Yam Kim-fai]] (1912–1989), Cantonese opera actress 
* [[Yang Guoqiang]] (born 1954), entrepreneur
* [[Yang Huiyan]] (born 1981), businesswoman billionaire
* [[Yang Jiechang]] (born 1956), contemporary artist
* [[Yau Lit]] (1864–1936), revolutionary 
* [[Yuen Kay-shan]] (1889–1956), Grandmaster of Wing Chun
* [[Zhou Wanfeng]] (born 1979), field hockey player
* [[Zhang Yinhuan]] (1837–1900), ambassador
* [[Zheng Yanfen]] (1902–1990), politician affiliated with the Kuomintang

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category inline}}
* {{wikivoyage inline}}

{{Navboxes
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{{Guangdong topics}}
{{Guangdong}}
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{{World's most populous urban areas}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Foshan| ]]
[[Category:Populated places with period of establishment missing]]
[[Category:Prefecture-level divisions of Guangdong]]
[[Category:National Civilized City]]
[[Category:National Famous Historical and Cultural City]]