The main venue event for 2026 International Museum Day and China Tourism Day, themed "Connecting the World, Gathering Beauty in Foshan", was held on May 17 at Foshan Ancestral Temple Museum.

From the City of Kung Fu to a city of gastronomy, from museums and dragon boat culture to industrial tourism, Foshan is attracting growing numbers of visitors with its unique blend of tradition and modern vitality. Viral Diejiao dragon boat races and the city's booming industrial tourism sector, promoted under the slogan "Where there is a home, there are Foshan-made products", have further strengthened the appeal of "Visit Foshan, Embrace Lingnan".

At the launch ceremony, Foshan signed a batch of cultural tourism cooperation projects with regions including the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Chongqing, and Hunan. Covering cultural IP incubation, tourism collaboration, visitor exchange, scenic spot interaction, food culture tourism, and other fields, the projects will help build a high-quality cooperation network for integrated cultural tourism development.

On the same day, the permanent exhibition "Imperially Appointed Scholars: Foshan's Imperial Examination Culture" was officially unveiled. It is Guangdong's first special exhibition themed on the top scholar culture.

Interactive NPC parades and flash mob performances allowed visitors to immerse themselves in the charm of imperial examination culture. Various digital interactive installations also offered fun experiences, allowing visitors to virtually "top the imperial examination list". Visitors are invited to explore the exhibition and experience Foshan's profound Lingnan cultural heritage.