Mausoleum of the Nanyue King

A must on your itinerary in Guǎngdōng, this superb mausoleum from the 2000-year-old Nanyue kingdom, accidentally discovered in 1983, is now one of China's best museums.

The mausoleum houses the tomb of Zhao Mo, second king of Nanyue and grandson of the fabled Qin general Zhao Tuo, who was sent south by the emperor in 214 BC to quell unrest and established a sovereign state with Guǎngzhōu as its capital. Shortly after Zhao Mo's death, the Han plundered the kingdom, claiming the territory as their own. One of the mausoleum's highlights is Zhao Mo's burial suit, made of thousands of tiny jade tiles – jade was thought to preserve the body and make one immortal. The English audioguide is recommended.

Also related to the history of Nanyue kingdom are the recently excavated, surprisingly well preserved remnants of a Nanyue-era water gate in the basement of a shopping mall. The tiny museum here has excellent displays on the history of combating water woes in China.