The Nanyue King Mausoleum is located in Xianggang Hill (49.7 meters above sea level) on the western end of the Xiuyue Park on North Jiefang Road. The mausoleum, with a history of more than 2,000 years, was built for Zhao Muwei, the self-proclaimed “Wen Di” (Emperor Wen) and the second king of the Nanyue Kingdom, whose capital was based in Panyu in the early Western Han Dynasty, and the grandson of Qin-dynasty General Zhao Tuo, who unified Lingnan region. The mausoleum was discovered in 1983 when Xianggang Hill was leveled to make way for a dormitory building. It is buried about 20 meters below the hill.
The Nanyue King Mausoleum is the earliest and largest early Han-dynasty mausoleum ever discovered, featuring the richest burial objects even seen. It also contains a painted coffin chamber with murals. The coffin chamber is built entirely of stone. Artifacts uncovered from the mausoleum, particularly brassware and pottery, exhibit cultural features typical of the Yue ethnic group in South China.
The jade suit worn by the occupant of the mausoleum has been restored to its original condition. It's the earliest and only complete “silk-thread jade suit” among all Western Han jade suits ever found in China. A number of invaluable rare objects, including a blue plat glass panel, the world's first set of color print copperplate moulds and African ivorie, have also been uncovered from the mausoleum.
Admission fee: RMB ￥ 12 per person
Address: No.867 North Jiefang Road, Guangzhou City
Traffic: Take Bus No.7, 24, 58, 87, 244, 273, 182, 519, 528 or 552 and get off at the Yuexiu Park station or Panfu Road station; alternatively, take Metro Line 2 and get off at the Yuexiu Park Exit E. |
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