Nanyue King Wen's Mausoleum

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.

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.

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.

This is the mausoleum site, the palace is at a separate site. For foreigners, 10 yuan per to enter, can buy tickets at the door. But needs a separate advance booking to enter the tomb area itself, that currently requires input of a China phone number to proceed. We went on a weekend, tickets fully booked, could not get any at the door at all. AR goggles are 50 yuan to rent, has adult and kids mode, in Chinese. But felt a bit uncomfortable to wear throughout so we kept taking it on and off. Only 29 exhibits that it can be used at.

Very interesting museum . Can have a glimpse into the Chinese history . Very informative . Get displayed artifacts

Definitely worth it! So many details and very organized. As foreigner however you need cash to pay the entrance!

One of my favorite museums in Guangzhou. They have so many antiques from the era of Han Dynasty. They also have a good gift shop within a variety of souvenirs. It was popular so you might encounter many people during visit. It would be better to go in the morning time.