Western Han Nanyue King Tomb Museum
The overall layout of the museum is centered on the ancient tomb and is built along the mountain combining with the steep slope and the trend of the hill. The layout realizes the combination of the comprehensive exhibition building, the ancient tomb preservation area and the thematic exhibition building, and the emphasis of the dignity of the ancient tomb.
The tomb of the Nanyue king is the most attractive scene in the museum. It is the catacomb of Zhao Mei who was the grandson of Zhao Tuo, a general of the Qin Dynasty, who unified the Lingnan area. Zhao Mei was the second king of the Nanyue principality which set its capital in Panyu in the early Western Han Dynasty, and entitled himself Emperor Wen. The tomb has a history of more than 2,000 years and is the earliest large mastaba with colored mural paintings in Lingnan area. The tomb was found by accident in 1983 when it was hidden about 20 meters below a mountain and it was build out of 750 big stones. There laid wooden boards at the bottom of the tomb, the sides of which were covered by stone slabs. The whole tomb was magnificent and complicated and specific in its layout with two stone doors dividing it into small closets.
Among the antiques from the tomb of the Nanyue King, the jade is one of the most important representatives. There are jades for ceremonies, funerals, decorations and practical usage in more than 200 excavated jades. They are the first collection of jades from the tombs of the Han Dynasty for its large number, plentiful variety and good preservation. Besides, the museum also displays dozens of various pottery pillows, porcelain pillows from the Tang Dynasty to the Yuan Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty. It is amazing that the museum has collected a large number and a great variety of the porcelain pillows and a great many kilns.
The museum not only displays these antiques in the long term but also often holds temporary exhibition so that it can present the magnificent development of human civilization from different angles. Up to now, the Museum of the Nanyue King has become an important educational and visiting place to present the history of Guangzhou.
Tips
The studio in the comprehensive building of the museum will play video tapes on the procedure of excavating the tomb for free (available in Mandarin, Cantonese, Minnan Language, English, French, German, Japanese and Spanish).
Travelers can obtain some relative materials about the Museum for free in the museum's hall.
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