Foshan Zinan Cultural Tourism Zone (Boat Ride Experience Lingnan Water Town Charm)

If you want to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, let Zinan Cultural Tourism District take care of your time. This rural cultural tourism model built to 4A‑level scenic area standards hides the leisurely poetry of the Lingnan water town.

Set sail from the “Zinan Boat Tour – Water Journey”, where bougainvillea and century‑old banyan trees line the 5‑kilometre waterway, complementing each other along both banks. Passing by the Chinese Five Thousand Years Slab Mural Corridor, running your fingertips across the boat's rail feels like touching the textures of history.

Continuing along the waterway, the colourful Rainbow Garden comes into view, with its trendy giant windmill spinning merrily – don't be shy about pressing that shutter button.

While experiencing the “Zinan Boat Tour” programme, you can see the waterway culture corridors on both banks, comprising the 104‑metre‑long “Benevolent Zinan” purple copper relief corridor and the 1,000‑metre‑long themed ceramic slab mural corridors of “Five Thousand Years of Chinese Civilisation”, “Classic Cantonese Culture and Heritage” and “Foshan Intangible Cultural Heritage”, fully showcasing traditional Chinese culture and the distinctive charm of the Lingnan water town, where you can freely engage in dialogue with history and culture.

We heard that a batch of “little animals” has recently been introduced along the banks – chubby giant pandas, super cute giraffes... instantly turning the area into a “zoo”, perfect for those who are young at heart.

Along the way, you can also see the waterway culture corridors with Lingnan water town characteristics and the old Zinan Street lined with towering ancient banyan trees. Look up to see blue skies, white clouds, green trees and red flowers; look down to see a pool of clear water with shimmering ripples – it is practically a modern‑day embodiment of the leisurely life described in “leisurely viewing the southern mountains”.

After disembarking, visit the “Three Halls of Benevolence”. At the Cantonese Family Motto Hall, savour the wise sayings of the sages and grasp the wisdom of life passed down through farming and scholarly traditions. At the Zinan Village History Hall, feel the village's transformation over more than 400 years through the 100‑metre purple copper relief mural. At the Foshan Good People Hall, encounter heart‑warming stories and draw strength for doing good in everyday life.

When strolling through Zinan Village, be sure not to miss Fuyuan Garden and Renyuan Garden. These two Chinese‑style themed gardens are truly hidden gems for relaxation and excellent spots for capturing the charm of Lingnan style.

Pavilions, terraces and towers are beautifully arranged, with lush flowers and trees everywhere – every step reveals a scene that touches the heart. Sunlight filters through the branches and leaves, scattering golden specks across the stone paths. Take your time to savour the leisurely rural charm of Lingnan – absolutely perfect for zoning out and snapping some photos~