Mausoleum of King Nanyue

The mausoleum of King Nanyue is a place for storing valuable relics from the tomb of Zhaomei, the ruler who reigned in the II century BC. He was one of the kings who believed in life after death, so they ordered household items to be placed in their tombs for a comfortable existence after leaving the other world. Vessels, mirrors, caskets, boxes and other household items that were actively used in everyday life were sent along with the rulers to another world. An interesting exhibit is a costume made of jadeite stone. It may not have been convenient to use and it is not known if it was used at all, but it is always admired by tourists.

The history of the tomb search

Since the location of the Mausoleum of King Nanyue was not known, his search lasted for hundreds of years. People gathered in groups or in pairs for the purpose of interest or with the desire to get rich, while others tried to find wealth alone. The mausoleum of King Nanyue was suddenly found during the excavation of a foundation pit to create an artificial pond. It happened in Yuexiu Park. After excavating the ground to a depth of more than 20 meters, the workers suddenly saw stones decorated with intricate carvings. The walls of the tomb were made of these stones. There were about 750 of them. This significant event took place in 1983, when it led to the admiration of both historians and archaeologists. Indeed, some of the relics are exceptional, and there are no analogues in the whole world. Historians, having studied the artifacts, were able to confirm their guesses about the beginning of the Silk Road from Guangzhou. To prove this theory, they used the fact that some of the objects were created many kilometers from the country's border.

What can you see in the mausoleum

Now there is a museum in the Mausoleum of King Nanyue, which was built specifically for storing valuables. Its area is more than 14 thousand square meters, which houses more than 10 halls. Jade artifacts are of the greatest value. In China, jade is considered a valuable material symbolizing power and wealth. About 200 jade relics are collected in the museum. At one time, they found applications in all spheres of life. These were objects for ceremonies, decorations, and they were also used for everyday life. An interesting exhibit is the burial shroud, which consists of thousands of jade plates.

Working hours, address

The Mausoleum of King Nanyue is open to visitors daily from 9:00 to 17:30, but tickets can only be purchased until 16:45. Admission costs 12 yuan, you will have to pay an additional 10 yuan for the audio guide and leave a deposit of 200 yuan. You can also explore the relics in the Mausoleum of King Nanyue as part of a guided tour, where the guide will not only tell the story of a particular object, but will also be able to answer your questions. The address is 867 efang North Road, Yuexiu district.