Foshan is a famous cultural and historical city which is rich in local features. Foshan, the ancient town, is the original place of Guangdong opera and the home of martial arts. Through the years, talent persons come forth in large numbers: Li Wenmao——a famous actor of Guangdong opera, Huang Feihong——a well-known master of Chinese martial art, Bruce Lee——a celebrated movie star of Chinese martial art. Traditional dragon boat competitions, lion dances, Qiuse parade(autumn carnival), walking on the Tongji bridge pass on from generation to generation. All these attract numerous tourists from home and abroad.
The entertainment is various and colorful in Foshan city. Guangdong opera plays, modern dances, ballet dramas, symphony, popular mjusic and songs are held unbrokenly day and night. There are also cinemas, theatres, clubs, dance halls, bowling stadiums and golf courses in the city. These add more beautiful scenery to Foshan
♦ The Immaterial Cultural Heritages of Foshan
Chinese government Publicized the first two groups of “State Protected Immaterial Cultural Heritage Projects List”. The Shiwan Ceramic Art, Foshan Woodcarving Spring Festival Painting, Foshan Paper Cutting, Dragon Boat Telling and Singing, the Cantonese Opera, the Lion Dance of Foshan, etc. are among the list.
♦ Dragon Boat Telling and Singing 龙舟说唱
Originated during the Qing Dynasty and popular in Shude and Guangzhou Dialect area, the aria of the Dragon Boat Telling and Singing of Shunde is considered as the orthodox. Accompanied by the beats of gong and drum, the folk artist composed rhythmic balleads named “Dragon Boat” and sang them. Gradually this art form changed into a kind of tune of the Cantonese Opera.
♦ Foshan Lion Dance 佛山醒狮
Foshan Lion Dance is developed from Kungfu, integrated with dance art, and accompanied by gongs, drums, and cymbals. Started with Big-head Buddha Dance, i.e. the lion leader, and follows the program like, the lion going out of cave, reclining lion pick lingzhi and the traditional green picking, etc.
♦ Cantonese Opera
Cantonese opera is also known as Cantonese Daxi, Guangfu Xi. Foshan is one of the main original places of Cantonese Opera. The first guild of Cantonese Opera “Qionghua Hall” appeared in Foshan during the Wanli Period of the Ming Dynasty. Nowadays Guangdong Cantonese Opera School, Guangdong Cantonese Opera Theatre have been set up in Foshan, and the 2004 Qionghua Cantonese Opera Art Festival have been successfully held in Foshan. All these make Foshan a Cantonese Opera Center once again.
Ask a Question
