Foshan Ancestral Temple | See the combination of ancient architecture and traditional art!

Foshan has many ancient buildings and historical sites, and the Foshan Ancestral Temple is the most representative. It combines the belief in the Northern Emperor with Lingnan-style architecture and decoration. The ceramic sculptures on the roof ridge and the gray sculptures on the eaves and roof are exquisite. It also retains a large number of ancient architectural styles and crafts, including wood carvings, brick carvings, stone carvings, ceramic sculptures, and gray sculptures, which are known as the "three carvings and two sculptures." Stepping into the Ancestral Temple is like traveling back in time to ancient Lingnan. The ancient buildings are a sight to behold. Walk along the central axis of the Ancestral Temple, and you can see the Wanfu Stage after passing the Double Dragon Wall. It is said to be the oldest and best-preserved ancient stage in South China. There are free Cantonese opera performances here on the 6th, 1st, and 15th of each month. Continue forward, and you will see the Lingying Archway standing tall. The carved beams and painted buildings show exquisite craftsmanship, and every detail carries the traces of time and historical stories. The main hall is located in the deepest part of the Ancestral Temple Museum. It was built in the fifth year of the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty. It has a Xieshan-style roof, and the shape is solemn and elegant. The main ridge has ceramic sculptures of people, vertical and horizontal ridges, and mythical animals added during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty. The hall is surrounded by walls on three sides, open to the south, with a patio in the middle. The hall contains a statue of the Northern Emperor and a stone-carved altar made during the Zhengtong period of the Ming Dynasty, as well as a large gilded statue from the Qing Dynasty, making the hall even more majestic. Foshan is also the birthplace of Southern martial arts, and has produced famous martial arts masters such as Wong Fei-hung, Ip Man, and Bruce Lee. Wing Chun, Choy Li Fut, and Hung Kuen also originated in Foshan. The Ancestral Temple Museum also has the Ip Man Hall and Wong Fei-hung Memorial Hall. There are many decorative details on the roof ridge of the Drum Tower worth appreciating. After the visit, you can go to Wong Fei-hung Square to watch the lion dance performance. With the exciting sound of gongs and drums, the lion comes to life, sometimes leaping majestically, sometimes playing cutely, showing the lion's joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness vividly, making it a feast for the eyes.