Shunde Gastronomy & Art: Michelin Flavors & Tadao Ando
From double-skin milk and water town cuisine to the striking He Art Museum
An old saying goes: "Eat in Guangzhou, but the chefs come from Shunde." Recognized as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, Shunde is not just a food mecca—it has recently shined in architecture and art. This is a top-tier journey for both the palate and the eyes.
If you are a traveler with extremely high standards for food, the Shunde District of Foshan is an absolute must-visit. It has nurtured the most refined Cantonese cooking techniques and showcases unique urban charm through both heritage and innovation.
The Taste of Shunde: Daliang & Fengjian Water Town
The journey begins in the heart of Shunde—Daliang Subdistrict. Walking around the Huagai Road pedestrian street, you must bring a large appetite. Start with an authentic bowl of "Daliang Double-Skin Milk" made from local water buffalo milk—it's rich and melts in your mouth. Follow this with translucent "Shunde raw fish slices" (Yusheng) and crispy roast goose. After eating, we head to Fengjian Water Town, often called the "Zhouzhuang of Guangdong." Away from the city noise, it preserves Ming and Qing dynasty stone bridges and ancestral halls. Rent a small wooden boat to glide through the narrow waterways. At dusk, enjoy a local "private kitchen" meal (like Jun'an steamed pork or fish thick soup) in a farmhouse, experiencing the pure, slow-paced water town life.
Light, Shadow, and Art: He Art Museum (HEM)
Shunde's charm lies not only in tradition but in its world-class artistic taste. The next day, we visit the He Art Museum (HEM) in Beijiao Town. Designed by world-renowned architect Tadao Ando, this private museum is the hottest art landmark in the GBA. The building itself is a massive artwork. Its signature smooth concrete and unique double-helix staircase display ultimate geometric aesthetics under natural light. The museum houses a vast collection of precious modern and contemporary Chinese art that will leave you captivated.
Night Landmark: OCT Harbour PLUS
For the finale, we return to Daliang to visit Shunde OCT Harbour PLUS. This is a mega-complex that perfectly integrates a top-tier theme park with a traditional food district. You can find almost every famous historic Shunde restaurant here. As night falls, ride the 99-meter-tall "Shunde Eye" Ferris wheel to overlook the brightly lit cityscape—a perfect ending to this dual feast of taste and sight.
Daliang Food Street and OCT Harbour PLUS are easily reached via Foshan Metro Line 3 (Daliang Zhonglou and Shunde OCT Harbour stations). The He Art Museum in Beijiao is accessible via Guangzhou Metro Line 7 (Midea Station). Fengjian Water Town is further out; taking a taxi from Daliang is recommended.
Popular restaurants in Shunde (especially for raw fish and dim sum) have massive queues on weekends; avoid peak hours or get a queue ticket early. The He Art Museum requires advance booking via WeChat; visit on a sunny day for the best architectural photography.