Museum of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King, Guangzhou

The largest king's tomb of the western-han dynasty(137BC-122BC).

Watch the video guide at 1st floor service hall, then it is easy for you to stroll around.

The most interesting thing is the jade shroud sewn with silk thread for the king.

In the north of china, gold is used instead of jade, cause gold can be found easily and cheap. (Burma is famous jade supply resoure).

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The tomb of the second Nanyue King, Zhao Mei of the Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-24 A.D.), was discovered by chance in June 1983. Hidden 20 meters (65 feet) underground, the tomb is made up of 750 huge stones with colourful murals. The mausoleum is found behind the museum, which you visit first, and is included in the price of the museum.

Open: 9am-5.30pm every day. Admission: RMB12.

The jade burial suit was specially designed for the king’s corpse. Stretching 1.73 meters in length, the garment was made up of 2,291 pieces of jade with silk thread. The custom to dress the dead in jade originated from the belief that jade could keep the corpse from rotting. Of the tens of burial garments found in China, the one from the Nanyue King mausoleum is the oldest. At the time of excavation, pieces of what was left of the burial suit were scattered on the ground. It took three years before archaeologists restored the entire burial suit.

Open: 9am-5.30pm every day. Admission: RMB12.

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The Museum of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King was opened in 1988 at the site of the tomb of the second Nanyue King, Zhao Mei of the Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-24 A.D.), which was discovered by chance in June 1983. The museum exhibits over 11,000 relics from the tombs as well as other pieces such as a collection of 400 ceramic pillows and bronzes unearthed in other tombs nearby. But the highlight of the museum is a silk-jade shroud made up of 2,291 pieces of jade. Though jade garments with pieces connected by gold, silver, or copper are not uncommon, this garment with jade pieces connected by silk is the only one of its kind in the world. In addition, three sets of bronze serial bells, thirty-six bronze vessels, thirty-six bronze mirrors, and three gold seals give visitors a glimpse of the ancient Nanyue Culture. More photo's can be found in one of my travelogues.

Open: 9am-5.30pm every day. Admission: RMB12.

Museum of the Western Han Dynasty and Mausoleum of the Nanyue King
In 1983, bulldozers uncovered the intact tomb of Emperor Wen Di, who ruled in Southern China from 137 to 122 B.C. It was one of the great archelogical finds of recent years and you can now visit that tomb. The Museum itself gives great information on Chinese history. It is the ideal place to begin your sightseeing.

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More photo's of some of the bronze ritual burial items found in various tombs in the local area.

Open: 9am-5.30pm every day. Admission: RMB12.