It's said that if you don't visit Foshan's Zu Miao (Foshan Zu Temple), then you simply haven't seen Foshan. 

An essential Foshan attraction, the temple is a magnificent example of ancient Chinese architecture. Built by Taoists during the Northern Song Dynasty, the temple survived a devastating fire in the late Yuan Dynasty, and the Cultural Revolution, perhaps owing to the presence of an enshrined, 2.5 tonne bronze statue of Beidi (literally: north pole), the Taoist god of water and guardian of the city. 

At the temple, you'll find ample statues of water creatures like snakes and frogs, sleepless sentinels meant to protect the city from the floods that often afflict this part near the Pearl River delta.

The temple, lavishly decorated and ornate, is part of a larger complex, the Foshan Museum, which contains rich displays and collections pertaining to Cantonese opera and martial arts.