The Nanyue King Museum (南越王博物院) is a national first-class museum in Guangzhou built around the 2,100-year-old stone tomb of Zhao Mo, the second king of Nanyue. Many guides and maps still use its older name, the Museum of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King. Since 8 September 2021 that museum has been one of two sites of the Nanyue King Museum.
The two sites are the Site of King's Tomb at 867 Jiefang North Road in Yuexiu District, which this guide focuses on, and the Site of Palace and Garden at 374 Beijing Road. The Tomb site charges ¥10. The Palace site is free, but you still have to reserve.
Both sites are open Tuesday to Sunday from 09:00 to 17:30, with last entry at 17:00. They are closed on Mondays unless the Monday is a national public holiday. Every visitor needs a real-name booking, made through the museum's WeChat official account '南越王博物院'.
This guide covers the tomb, the main finds, tickets and booking (including the separate booking for the lower tomb chamber), metro and bus routes to both sites, and the gate change at the Palace site that has been in force since October 2026.
History of the Nanyue Kingdom and King Zhao Mo
Nanyue was a kingdom in southern China during the Western Han period, and its palace stood in what is now central Guangzhou. Zhao Mo was its second king and ruled from 137 to 122 BC.
The tomb was found by chance in 1983, during construction work on Xianggang Shan (Elephant Hill) in central Guangzhou. The burial lies about 20 metres beneath the hill. A museum opened on the site in 1988 as the Nanyue King Museum of the Western Han Dynasty.
A second museum, the Archaeological Site Museum of Nanyue Kingdom Palace, opened in 2014 on the site of the kingdom's palace in the old city centre. On 8 September 2021 the two merged to form today's Nanyue King Museum. The official English website still uses the title "the Museum of Nanyue King's Mausoleum" and calls the two areas the "Site of King's Tomb" and the "Site of Palace and Garden".
Knowing that the two sites belong to one museum avoids a common mix-up. The tomb, the jade burial suit and the ¥10 ticket are at Jiefang North Road. The palace remains are at Beijing Road, and that site is free. Browse other sights in the city on the Guangzhou attractions hub.
Layout of the King's Tomb Site
The King's Tomb site has three parts: the main exhibition building, the comprehensive exhibition building and the tomb protection area, which covers the original stone tomb.
The museum's permanent exhibition, "The Nanyue Treasures", shows the finds from Zhao Mo's tomb. The site also displays a collection of ceramic pillows donated by Yeung Wing Tak and his wife.
The comprehensive exhibition building is also where you buy paid guide services, at the desk on the first floor.
- Main exhibition building
- Permanent exhibition: The Nanyue Treasures
- Finds from the tomb, including the jade burial suit
- Comprehensive exhibition building
- Donated ceramic pillow collection
- Paid guide desk on the first floor
- Tomb protection area
- The original seven-part stone tomb
- Lower chamber needs a separate free booking
Must-See Highlights: The Silk-Jade Burial Suit and Emperor Wen Seal
The best-known object is Zhao Mo's silk-and-jade burial suit, made of 2,291 pieces of jade.
Look also for the "Emperor Wen" seal, another of the finds from the tomb.
Two smaller pieces are worth finding. One is a gold-inlaid bronze tiger tally. The other is a Persian silver box, the earliest imported object found in China to date.
All of these finds come from the tomb on the same site. That is the main reason to visit this site: you can see the objects and the tomb they were buried in on the same trip.
Inside the Seven-Part Stone Tomb
Zhao Mo's tomb is built of stone chambers. It is nearly 11 metres long, more than 12 metres wide, and divided into seven parts. It sits under the tomb protection area, about 20 metres beneath Xianggang Shan.
The remains of 15 people buried with the king were also found in the tomb.
The tomb display closed on 9 October 2025 for preventive conservation and reopened on 16 December 2025. The upper level is fully open. The lower level of the tomb chamber is not covered by the ¥10 ticket. It needs a separate free reservation, one ticket per person, which you can make up to one day ahead. Entry is checked against your ID.
Visitor numbers in the lower level are limited. A news report on the museum's December 2025 announcement said the lower level takes 50 visitors per hour between 09:00 and 17:00, with a stay of up to 20 minutes, and that children under 14 must be with an adult. If seeing the lower chamber matters to you, book it as soon as booking opens.
Tickets and Opening Hours (2026)
Opening hours: both sites open Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00-17:30. Ticket collection and entry stop at 17:00. The museum is closed on Mondays, except when the Monday is a national public holiday. Some third-party sites say the museum is open every day, which is wrong.
King's Tomb site prices: a full ticket costs ¥10. Older listings show ¥12, which is out of date. A half-price ticket costs ¥5 and is for full-time students up to undergraduate level, people aged 60-64, and one companion of a blind, intellectually disabled, double-lower-limb disabled or otherwise severely disabled visitor.
Free entry, but a ticket is still needed: people aged 65 and over, under-18s, people with disabilities, active and retired military personnel, veterans and martyrs' families, firefighting and rescue personnel, eligible blood donors and certified low-income households.
Palace site: free, with a reservation. Lower tomb chamber: free, with its own reservation, as described above.
How to book: every visitor books by real name. Open the WeChat official account '南越王博物院', choose 王墓展区 (King's Tomb site) or 王宫展区 (Palace site), then 门票讲解预约, and arrive in the time slot you booked. For the lower chamber, the path is 王墓展区 → 门票讲解预约 → 墓室下层参观. The menus are in Chinese, so a translation app helps. You can also buy King's Tomb tickets at the ticket window with a valid ID.
At the gate, the official ticket information says visitors from mainland China swipe their ID card. Visitors from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and overseas scan the QR code from their booking. Carry the ID you used to book.
Getting There
King's Tomb site (867 Jiefang North Road, Yuexiu District): take Guangzhou Metro Line 2 to Yuexiu Park station and use Exit E. The Yuexiu Park, Jiefang Beilu Intersection (解放北路口) and Panfu Road bus stops are also nearby.
Palace and Garden site (374 Beijing Road): take Metro Line 1 or Line 2 to Gongyuanqian station and use Exit F, or take a bus to the Caiting (财厅) or Zhongshan Wulu stops.
Palace site gate change: since 8 October 2026 the East Gate on Zhongshan 4th Road has been closed until further notice. Enter and leave by the West Gate at 374 Beijing Road, next to the Guangdong Department of Finance. The museum's main Visit page still tells visitors to use the East Gate, but that is out of date.
Both sites are on Metro Line 2, so you can visit both in one day by metro. Check the official website or WeChat account before you set out for temporary changes.
Guided Tours and Visitor Services
Both sites run a free guided tour every day at 09:30 for up to 20 people. Places go to whoever arrives first, so be there early if you want to join.
If you would rather have a guide at a different time, buy a paid guide service at the desk on the first floor of the comprehensive exhibition building at the King's Tomb site. The museum also offers an online audio guide that you can use on your phone as you walk round.
Luggage storage is available. Ask staff on arrival if you are carrying bags.
Practical Tips
Book before you go, especially for weekends and public holidays, and book the lower tomb chamber at the same time. Remember that both sites are closed on Mondays, except on national public holidays. Plan to arrive well before 17:00, when entry stops.
Carry the ID you booked with, because tickets are issued by real name and the lower chamber is checked against ID. Wear comfortable shoes, since the visit involves walking between buildings and the tomb area. Follow staff instructions in the tomb, and do not touch the stonework.
The Palace Site and Nearby Sights
The museum's second site, the Site of Palace and Garden, stands on the remains of the Nanyue kingdom's palace in the old city centre. Entry is free with a reservation, and the opening hours and Monday closure are the same as at the Tomb site.
Since 8 October 2026 the Nanyue Palace Garden hall (南越宫苑馆) has been closed for an exhibition change, along with the East Gate. The Nanhan Palace hall, the outdoor areas, the exhibition building and the ancient well hall are still open. Use the West Gate on Beijing Road.
Other Guangzhou sights to pair with a visit include the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. For more of the region's history, the Guangdong Museum is worth a separate visit. Families could save the Chimelong Safari Park for another day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Nanyue King Museum's opening hours?
Both sites are open Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00-17:30. Ticket collection and entry stop at 17:00. The museum is closed on Mondays, but it opens on national public holidays.
How much is a ticket to the Nanyue King's Tomb?
A full ticket to the King's Tomb site is ¥10. A half-price ticket is ¥5 for full-time students up to undergraduate level and people aged 60-64. People aged 65 and over and under-18s get in free, but they still need a free ticket. The Palace site is free.
Do I need to book in advance?
Yes. The museum books every visitor by real name. Reserve through the WeChat official account '南越王博物院' (menu: 王墓展区 or 王宫展区, then 门票讲解预约) and arrive in the time slot you booked. You can also buy tickets for the King's Tomb site at the ticket window with a valid ID.
Is the lower tomb chamber included in the ticket?
No. The lower level of the tomb chamber needs its own reservation, one ticket per person. It is free and can be booked up to one day ahead in the WeChat account under 王墓展区 → 门票讲解预约 → 墓室下层参观. Entry is checked against ID.
How do foreign visitors get in?
The official ticket information says visitors from mainland China enter by swiping their ID card at the gate. Visitors from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and overseas enter by scanning the QR code from their booking.
How do I get to the King's Tomb site by metro?
Take Metro Line 2 to Yuexiu Park station and use Exit E. The museum is at 867 Jiefang North Road. Buses stop at Yuexiu Park, Jiefang Beilu Intersection and Panfu Road.
Where is the second site, and how do I get there?
The Palace site (Site of Palace and Garden) is in the old city centre, and admission is free with a reservation. Take Metro Line 1 or 2 to Gongyuanqian station, Exit F. Since 8 October 2026 the East Gate on Zhongshan 4th Road and the Nanyue Palace Garden hall are temporarily closed, so enter and leave by the West Gate at 374 Beijing Road.
Are there free guided tours?
Yes. Both sites run a free guided tour every day at 09:30 for up to 20 people, first come, first served. Paid guide services can be bought at the desk on the first floor of the comprehensive exhibition building. The museum also offers an online audio guide.
The King's Tomb site of the Nanyue King Museum lets you see Zhao Mo's stone tomb and the finds from it, including the 2,291-piece jade burial suit, in one visit. The Palace and Garden site on Beijing Road adds the remains of the kingdom's palace, and entry there is free.
Before you go, book a real-name ticket through the WeChat account '南越王博物院', reserve the lower tomb chamber separately, and remember that both sites close on Mondays. At the Palace site, use the West Gate on Beijing Road while the East Gate stays closed.
For official details, visit the Nanyue King Museum (Tomb Site) – Museum of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King official site and Nanyue King Museum (Tomb Site) – Museum of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King on Wikipedia.
