Nanyue King Wen's Mausoleum

If you’re 60 and above it’s a discounted entry (bring passport if you’re a tourist). Tickets to enter the tomb need to be registered online a day ahead on the mausoleum’s website. No tickets? you can walk around the periphery of the entrance to the tomb in an air conditioned enclosure. The air outside was sweet at one corner due to two beautiful blooming Osmanthus trees. The exhibits of the tomb were an eye-opener. Some of the relics were restored (original) and where it was a replica, the info explaining the artefact will reflect this. The poster showing the many different types of fabrics manufactured way back then found in the tomb was just fascinating. There was also an exhibition (additional ¥ to enter) running concurrently about life on the Nile. And a permanent exhibition on ceramic pillows donated to the museum as well as other acquired pillows. The colour and sheen on these ceramics still look so good after so many years, a testament of the amazing workmanship of those craftsmen. Unlike other museums I’ve been to this one was very bustling with local and foreign visitors from young to old. Even on a Friday! Budget min 90minutes to enjoy the exhibits (especially if you need to translate those bits that aren’t in English).

Entrance fee: ¥10. Glad to still grab one so last minute. This is only entry to the main exhibit hall and does not include the tomb itself. It's free to enter the tomb but one needed to grab a separate ticket for it, which I missed. Thankfully it's included in the 1.5 hrs guided tour which I paid ¥150 for. They have a tour running every 15-20 mins, complete with ear pieces and I like that it runs as scheduled regardless of the number of people and our group this morning was just 6. This is the tomb of the 2nd King of the Nanyue Kingdom, whose grandfather used to be a general of Emperor Qin and was sent to Lingnan to defend this region. There are 7 chambers in this tomb, including remains of 15 persons, evidence of the inhumane practice of burying accompanying persons; 4 concubines, a young musician estimated to be in his late teens/early 20s and the cook and servers. This is also one thing about big countries with no lack of space, where they can just build the museum directly above and around the actual archaeological site. On the opposite side of the tomb is the museum showcasing the artefacts found in the tomb. Massive use of jade which they believed was key in communicating with the Gods and helps the soul move into afterlife. So much so the King's body was wrapped in a jade costume (丝线玉衣), many small pieces of jade tied together by silk threads, lying on jade plates and the surroundings stuffed with more jade pieces. After the tour ended, I went round again to take photos and go thru some of the exhibits that the guide skipped. 2.5 hrs well spent here! There's also a 南越王王宫 a short distance away which I guess I'll have to leave for another time.

2,200 years ago the area where Guangzhou lies was controlled by the Nanyue kingdom, which built an impressive palace. The footprint and remains of this can be explored at the moderately interesting Nanyue King Museum (Palace Exhibition Area). Far more interesting was the Nanyue King Museum (King Tomb Exhibition Area), home to the tomb of Zhao Mo, the second king of the Nanyue.

A fascinating and well-organized museum, not too big but packed with impressive relics, detailed exhibitions, and the stunning jade burial suit that really brings history to life. The layout makes it easy to explore without feeling overwhelming, and everything is displayed with great care. It’s a pity the underground tomb was closed for renovation during my visit, but overall it’s still a very rewarding and highly recommended stop when visiting Guangzhou.

Tickets can be purchased from the museum's Wechat link. Easy to buy and pay. Use QR code to scan for entry. Needless to say, the artifacts will blow you away if you are a history and art buff. The mausoleum is closed until end of Oct 2025 for renovations.

Very nice museum, I would recommend to take the 1 hr guided tour from the official team there, take note that currently the graveyard area undergoes renovation are is not accessible, still, the other areas are unaffected.

Quite an interesting museum. There’s limited slots per day to visit the underground tomb.

Visited on May 9, 2025. This museum mainly displays the original site of the 2,000-year-old stone chamber tomb of Zhao Mo, the second King of Nanyue State, and the precious unearthed cultural relics from the tomb. Zhao Mo ruled from 137 BC to 122 BC, and his tomb was discovered in downtown Guangzhou in 1983. The museum was opened in 1988, was named a Major National Historical Site in 1996 and is renowned for its rare assemblage of funerary artifacts representing the diffusion of cultures throughout the Lingnan region during the Han dynasty. Overall visit to the museum was nice and the staff were helpful.