In In June 1983,the tomb of Zhao mei,the second ruler of the kingdom of Southern Yue 2000 years ago,was unearthed in the city centre of Guangzhou.

Southern Yue Mausoleum Beneath Xianggang Hill

In June 1983,the tomb of Zhao mei,the second ruler of the kingdom of Southern Yue 2000 years ago,was unearthed in the city centre of Guangzhou. 

Inscribed on the two 12-metre-high exterior walls protecting the earthen red mausoleum structure are the figures of a man and a woman.There are also graphics representing lions and other

beasts.The fugues are extraordinary as they represent the sun and moon gods,and were designed to step on giant snakes symbolizing their power to expel evil spirits and their eagemess to make progress.Their farm was taken from relics uncovered in the mausoleum itself.

The museum has three levels of exhibition halls.The "star" is the mausoleum structure itself lying deep within Xianggang Hill.

The western chamber was designed as a storeroom for funeral object to,so many that there was absolutely no space to stand.Layer by layer heaps of ovary, gold, silver, bronze, iron, porcelain, jade, gemstone, glass, lacquered wood and bamboo sacrificial objects were unearthed.Even more exciting relics were excavated from the rear portion of the mausoleum where the ruler's coffin was placed.

It contained very little of its occupant, only pieces of teeth and the skull were left. He wore a jade burial suit, a face mask of gold, held a semi-circular jade tablet in his hand and was laid among heaps of precious gold, silver ware and gemstones.Of the nine seals that the corpse carried, a gold seal with a coiling dragon design was particularly important as the Chinese characters engraved on it said, "Wen Di Xi"(the Seal of Emperor Wen Di)-the key proof that the occupant of this huge underground mausoleum was actually Zhao Mei.

 
The Oldest Jade Burial Suit

The most exciting relic is the jade suit in which Zhao Mei was buried.This suit dates from the early Western Han Dynasty and is China's oldest jade burial suit discovered so far. It is made up of thousands of pieced of jade, each piece pierced at all four corners and tied together by silk thread.Much of the silk had rotted and it was quite an effort to reassemble the loose pieces of jade inlaid iron swords.The longer one, measuring 1.46 metres, is China's longest Han Dynasty iron sword.

These treasures are evidence of the marvelous works of art made in Guangdong some 2.600 years ago.It also gives people further knowledge about the cultural relationship between the Central Plains and Southern Yue Kingdom.

Southern Yue Mausoleum: Daily 9am-5.30pm. RMB 12, 5 (university students) and free for middle & elemental school students. 867 Jie Fang Bei Lu

Editor:Weiwei