Lingnan Impression: Foshan Ancestral Temple

Foshan Ancestral Temple, also known as 'Beidi Temple' or 'Lingying Shrine,' was first built during the Northern Song Dynasty (1078-1085). It is a national key cultural relic protection unit and a national AAAA-level tourist attraction. The Ancestral Temple is a folk museum that combines ancient Ming and Qing architectural art with traditional Foshan culture, dedicated to the Taoist deity Zhenwu Xuantian Shangdi. It is one of the three great treasures of ancient Lingnan architecture. The architectural complex is distributed along the north-south central axis, including Wanfu Stage, Lingying Archway, Jinxiang Pond, Bell and Drum Tower, Three Gates, Front Hall, Main Hall, Qingzhen Building, etc., with an overall layout that is orderly and solemn. The architectural decoration of the Ancestral Temple is exquisite and is praised as the 'Palace of Oriental Folk Art.' Its wood carvings, brick carvings, stone carvings, and gray sculptures are all beautifully crafted, especially the large deity platform in the main hall, which is a famous gold lacquer wood carving masterpiece in Chancheng. Additionally, the Ancestral Temple Museum includes the Confucius Temple, Huang Feihong Memorial Hall, and Ip Man Hall. The Confucius Temple was built in the third year of the Xuantong reign (1911) and is a protected cultural relic unit in Foshan; the Huang Feihong Memorial Hall and Ip Man Hall commemorate the famous martial artists Huang Feihong and Ip Man from Foshan, respectively. Here, you can enjoy traditional folk activities such as Cantonese opera performances and lion dance performances, experiencing the unique charm of Lingnan culture. The Ancestral Temple is not only a landmark building in Foshan but also a treasure of Lingnan culture. 📍Address: No. 21 Zumiao Road, Chancheng District, Foshan, Guangdong Province