Mausoleum of Nanyue King, Western Han Dynasty

Mausoleum of the Nanyue King is the oldest and largest tomb with the richest funerary objects in South China. Zhao Mei, the owner of the tomb, is the second king of Nanyue State of the Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-24 A.D.).With an area of 100 ㎡, the tomb is divided into 3 parts, namely Front Hall Chambers, Central Coffin Chambers and Rear Food Storeroom. A total of 7 chambers are approached via a long tomb passage. The 7 chambers show different burial articles, illustrating what it takes to compose a typical tomb of an emperor in ancient China. Sets of rare treasure, banquet implement, arms, terracotta horses and wagons, exhibited at the Front Hall Chambers, are supposed to boast off the paramount power of the emperor whilst the sati concubines, cooks, guards, musicians are to entertain the emperor even after his death.

The brilliant local civilization of Nanyue Kingdom, though much underestimated in historic records by Central China historians, finally got strong statement from these exceptionally elaborate bronze ware, iron ware, pottery and jades buried in the mausoleum. They unveil a panorama of the Nanyue Kingdom where agriculture thrived, domestic trade flourished and sea route for foreign trade was opened.