Mausoleum of King Nanyue

The Mausoleum of King Nanyue is a place to store valuable relics from the tomb of Zhaomei, a ruler who reigned in the 2nd century BC. This 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 the other world. An interesting exhibit is a suit made of jadeite stone. It may not have been easy to use and it is unknown whether it was used at all, but it always arouses admiration among tourists.

History of the search for the tomb

Since the location of the Mausoleum of King Nanyue was not known, the search for it lasted hundreds of years. People, out of interest or with a desire to get rich, gathered in groups or in pairs; some tried to find wealth alone. The mausoleum of King Nanyue was discovered quite suddenly during the excavation of a pit to create an artificial pond. This happened in Yuexiu Park. Having excavated 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 from these stones. There were about 750 of them. This significant event took place in 1983, then it delighted both historians and archaeologists. And indeed, some of the relics are exceptional; their analogues cannot be found anywhere in the world. Historians, having studied the artifacts, were able to confirm their guesses about the beginning of the Silk Road from the city of 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 be seen in the mausoleum

Now in the Mausoleum of King Nanyue there is a museum, which was built specifically for storing valuables. Its area is more than 14 thousand square meters, on which there are more than 10 halls. The most valuable are jade artifacts. 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.

Operating mode, address

The Nanyue King Mausoleum is open to visitors daily from 9:00 to 17:30, but tickets can only be purchased until 16:45. Entrance costs 12 yuan, for an audio guide you will have to pay an additional 10 yuan and leave a deposit of 200 yuan. You can also explore the relics in the Mausoleum of King Nanyue as part of an excursion, where the guide will not only tell the history of this or that object, but will also be able to answer any questions you may have. Address - 867 efang North Road, Yuexiu district.