Mausoleum Of The Nanyue King

Lonely Planet review

Just opposite the main entrance to Yuexiu Park, the superb Mausoleum Of The Nanyue King sits on the site of the 2000 year-old Nanyue Kingdom, discovered in 1983 when surprised workers discovered an ancient royal tomb in the course of excavation work for a shopping plaza. The tomb has been turned into one of China's best museums, making it a must on any itinerary.

The mausoleum houses the tomb of Zhao Mo, second king of Nanyue and grandson of the fabled Qin general Zhao Tuo, whom the emperor sent to the south in BC 214 to quell unrest. Zhao Tuo eventually established a sovereign state called the Nanyue Kingdom, with Guǎngzhōu as its capital. After the fall of the Qin and the establishment of the Han Dynasty in BC 206, Zhao Tuo declared himself king and was grudgingly recognized by the Han, who let him retain his local power. His grandson Zhao Mo succeeded him on the throne but ruled unsuccessfully. Shortly after Zhao Mo's death, the Han plundered the kingdom in BC 111, claiming the territory as their own.

On display in the museum are Zhao Mo's burial suit, made of thousands of tiny jade tiles - jade was thought to preserve the body and make one immortal - gold jewellery and trinkets, as well as other beautiful artefacts found at the tomb site. Some say that the Nanyue tomb rivals the Ming tombs in Běijīng. Everything in the museum is expertly displayed and the English audio guide is recommended.