Foshan is in Guangdong Province, southern China, in the western Pearl River Delta. It's a core city of the Greater Bay Area and sits directly west of Guangzhou — the two are effectively one continuous metro area.

Is Foshan near Guangzhou?

Very. The two cities are directly adjacent, roughly 20–25 km between centres, and linked by the Guangfo metro line and high-speed rail. Locals talk about 'Guangfo' as a single urban area.

Foshan has around 9.5–9.6 million permanent residents across five districts and about 3,800 km², making it the third-most-populous city in Guangdong after Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

Where is Foshan?

Foshan is a major city in Guangdong, China, in the Western Pearl River Delta; core city of the Greater Bay Area. It lies directly west of Guangzhou — ≈20–25 km between city centresbetween centres — and the two are so closely joined that people speak of “Guangfo” as one metro area.

Last verified 15 June 2026

Next door to Guangzhou

Foshan adjoins Guangzhou on its eastern edge. The Guangfo Line metro and frequent high-speed trains tie the two together, which is why many people visit Foshan as a day trip from Guangzhou — or stay in Foshan and dip into Guangzhou. See Foshan ↔ Guangzhou.

A city of five districts

Foshan is divided into 5 districts, with Chancheng District as the central seat. It's the 3rd-most-populous (after Guangzhou & Shenzhen) city in Guangdong, with a population of ≈9.5–9.6 million permanent residents across roughly ≈3,800. Explore them on the district map.

Common questions

Where is Foshan?: Foshan is in Guangdong Province, southern China, in the western Pearl River Delta. It's a core city of the Greater Bay Area and sits directly west of Guangzhou — the two are effectively one continuous metro area.
Is Foshan near Guangzhou?: Very. The two cities are directly adjacent, roughly 20–25 km between centres, and linked by the Guangfo metro line and high-speed rail. Locals talk about 'Guangfo' as a single urban area.
How big is Foshan?: Foshan has around 9.5–9.6 million permanent residents across five districts and about 3,800 km², making it the third-most-populous city in Guangdong after Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

Next: what Foshan is famous for.