How to Visit Mausoleum of the Nanyue King

The museum is built on the burial site of Zhao Mo, the second king of Nanyue Kindom that existed for 93 years (203 BC - 111 BC) with 5 successive kings. Nanyue Kingdom was a dependent state of Western Han Dynasty in China (202BC- 9AD). The first king of Nanyue was Zhao Tuo who was sent here as one of local officials to quell the unrest at the end of Qin Dynasty (221BC－207BC) preceding Western Han Dynasty.

In the chaotic course of transition from Qin Dynasty (221BC－207BC) to Western Han Dynasty (202BC- 9AD), Zhao Tuo established his own kingdom in Lingnan Region with Guangzhou as his capital. His and other four later kings of Nanyue Kingdom had a hard time with Western Han Dynasty going through ups and turns, interwoven between wars and harmony.

Finally the kingdom was wiped off in the year 111BC by the Western Han Dynasty, hence the name for the museum - the Western Han Museum of the Nanyue King Mausoleum.

The tomb was discovered incidentally in June, 1983 when people were digging and measuring to build new apartments here. So the construction had to stop to make way for the building of the magnificent museum. In 1988 then museum was open to the public with a construction area of 17400 square meters.

The museum is mainly composed of three structures - the three-storey comprehensive exhibition hall by the Jiefang North Road, the burial site of the Nanyue King and another two-storey exhibition hall. The burial site is on Xianggang Hill just behind the three-storey comprehensive building. North of the burial site is the two-storey exhibition hall.

The three-storey Comprehensive Exhibition Hall displays a ceramic pillow exhibition and other special exhibition events like the Guangzhou exhibitions that are often changed. The two-storey Principal Exhibition Hall mainly accommodates the relics discovered for the tomb of the Zhao Mo in Nanyue Kingdom period.

Add: No. 867, Jiefang North Road, Guangzhou Zip Code: 510040 Opening hours: 9:00 - 17:30 It is open all year round except Feb 28 and August 31 - the two days are closed for restoration. Entrance fee: free of Charge Tel: 36182920、36182865

Now follow me to have a glimpse of the great museum in Guangzhou. All the items on show have their English captions. The museum also have audio English speaking tour guide service.

The vermilion facade of the museum. Add: No. 867, Jiefang North Road, Guangzhou

The Yeungs are ardent collectors and lovers of pottery and porcelain. Their main interest is focused on the collection of ceramic pillows. Through years of collection, they have built up a collection of over 200 pottery pillows.

They think all the works of arts are the common cultural heritage of mankind. They decided to donate all their collection to the public aimed at letting more people appreciate the ceratic pillow culture.

Beside the pillow show, the comprehensive exhibition hall also display the artifacts unearthed within Guangdong Province.

A pyramid-style glass cover atop the unearthed tomb on Xianggang Hill west of the Comprehensive Exhibition Hall and south of The Principal Exhibition Hall.

the Tomb Passager

Enter the antechamber and explore the underground tomb

Visiting the East Side Room

The tomb was built with over 700 huge stones and slabs carved with colorful murals. A great number of ancient artifacts, bronzeware and terra cotta ware were discovered.

The King of Zhao Mo was in the jade shroud with typical jade burial rite. In addition, 15 human sacrifices found in the tomb reflects the unique burial customs.

The unearthed objects are regarded as the light and national treasures of Lingnan culture.

Walk up to the Principal Exhibition Hall

Zhao Mo was in jade shroud

The unearthed jade carving

Guangzhou Half Day Tour from US$75 p/p Guangzhou Highlight Day Tour from US$80 p/p

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