Like there aren't enough places to visit in China... How about paying a visit to a city that tops the forgotten list? Have you even heard about Foshan?

This small city in Guangdong cannot compete with the glitz and glamor of Beijing or Shanghai, but if you want to get a real feel for what China is like, it's definitely a place to visit.

Martial arts enthusiasts have even more reason to go to Foshan. This modest city is the birthplace of some of the best martial artists of our times – the name Bruce Lee mean anything to you? I thought so...

Wing Chun, another form of Chinese martial arts, also has its roots in Foshan. Yip Man, whom some consider as the first martial arts master, and incidentally, was Bruce Lee's teacher, grew up in Foshan. Yip was the first to openly teach Wing Chun, training many practitioners who later became masters themselves.

Off for a holiday

Foshan is the third largest city in Guangdong, although by Chinese standards, it is quite small. After all, in the city proper, the population is only less than 4 million. The city, which has been in existence for hundreds of years, is best known for its porcelain products. Development in the Pearl River Delta has helped Foshan become an affluent city.

Foshan as a holiday destination is best suited for those who would like to get a bit of sun, but don't necessarily want to spend their days lazing around on the beach. The city is the perfect place to go if you want an active holiday and not be waited on hand and foot at some fancy hotel.

The climate is relatively mild, with temperatures around 26 degrees Celsius. Sometimes, in May and June, it doesn't even rain!

Oh and the food! Since Foshan is on the east coast of China, it means an abundance of fresh seafood. Freshly-cooked fish and the rice that Foshan is known for will definitely help you survive all the activities you're planning on your holidays.

Temples and opera

At night, the city bathes in a sea of lights. (Image: Wikipedia)Foshan is an interesting place to visit if you're interested in Chinese architecture. In which case, you shouldn't miss the Zu temple, where the city's guardian rests. Despite the many wars it has seen, much of the temple's original architecture is still intact. Today, the temple hosts Canton opera performances at night.

Lian Yuan, one of four famous private estates in Guangdong, is another place to go if you want to see examples of building styles of the Ming-Qing eras. Also nearby are some protected buildings from the Qing dynasty. These buildings are now private houses, but permission to visit them can be obtained from the tourist bureau.

You could also visit Shi Wan where an old porcelain furnace still stands. The furnace has been in operation since the Tang dynasty and its fire has supposedly never gone out. The porcelain that Foshan is famous for is still fired in the same furnace. You could also pay a visit to the many artists' workshop nearby.

Of course, you shouldn't pass up the chance to check out the many Wing Chun schools in Foshan. It's almost hard to imagine how much the teaching has changed in the old days when only a privileged few were taught the secrets of Wing Chun by their masters.

A visit to China does not necessarily have to be spent in the big and crowded cities. A “forgotten” place like Foshan can often surprise you in more ways than you can imagine.