On December 25, the "Exploration And Practice: Special Exhibition on the 40th Anniversary of the Discovery of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King" kicked off at the Nanyue King Museum in Guangzhou, celebrating the 70 years of extensive field archaeological endeavors in Guangzhou. The exhibition showcases the discovery and preservation of the relics from the Nanyue Kingdom and the utilization of the archaeological findings.
The Nanyue Kingdom was an ancient state in Lingnan area from 203 B.C. to 111 B.C. Its territory spanned a vast area of present-day Guangdong and Guangxi in China, as well as northern Vietnam. The capital was located in today's Guangzhou.
As a significant part of Guangzhou's archaeological achievements, the "Nanyue Kingdom Relics" include the mausoleum of the Nanyue King, the site of the palace of the Nanyue Kingdom, and the site of the wooden Watergate of Nanyue Kingdom. These relics serve as crucial historical evidence of Lingnan's integration into a multi-ethnic state since the Qin and Han dynasties. Many artifacts have been exhibited in countries like Japan, Germany, the United States, Canada, and the UK.
Excavation of the mausoleum of the second Nanyue king Zhao Mo, which was discovered in 1983, yielded over 1,000 precious artifacts. The tomb remains the largest and best-preserved Han Dynasty painted stone chamber tomb in the Lingnan region.
The site of the palace of the Nanyue Kingdom is the earliest known palace complex discovered in China to date. Situated in the heart of Guangzhou's old city, it served as the administrative center for various jurisdictions since the Qin Dynasty, validating Guangzhou's role as the political, economic, and cultural hub of the Lingnan region.
In addition, the site of the wooden Watergate of Nanyue Kingdom is the earliest, largest, and most intact wooden sluice site discovered globally, immensely valuable for studying the development of ancient Chinese hydraulic engineering.
The exhibition centers around four main themes -- "Stunning Discoveries," "Perpetual Conservation," "Proactive Innovation," and "Cultural Inheritance." Through unearthed artifacts, archival images, various tools, and cultural and creative products, the exhibition showcases the process of discovery and excavation at the three major Nanyue Kingdom sites, as well as the museum's achievements in protecting and utilizing cultural relics. Some precious artifacts are displayed for the first time, including bronze mirrors, copper pots and date seeds, bronze ovens with clay traces, and valuable lacquerware.
Furthermore, the exhibition includes diverse interactive installations, allowing visitors to virtually "enter" archaeological sites, view 3D holographic renderings of treasures on screens, or take "photos" with artifacts, engaging in immersive exhibition experiences.
Time: 9:00-17:30 (closed on Mondays), until February 25, 2024
Venue: 3rd floor, General Exhibition Building, the King's Tomb exhibition area of Nanyue King Museum (南越王博物院王墓展區綜合陳列樓三樓)
Add.: No.867, Jiefang North Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou (廣州市越秀區解放北路867號)
Nearest metro station: Take Metro Line 2 and get off at Yuexiu Park Station (越秀公園站), use Exit E
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