Visit Guangzhou and explore the museums

📍Nanyue King Museum (Tomb Exhibition Area) This is the tomb of Zhao Mo (King Wen), the second king of the Nanyue Kingdom. Despite its small size, the tomb contains over a thousand artifacts and even 15 sacrificial individuals, showcasing the unique burial culture of Nanyue, which emphasizes "serving the dead as if serving the living"—bringing one's lifestyle into the afterlife. The tour guide mentioned that if the second king's tomb holds so many treasures, one can only imagine the extravagance of the first king's tomb. However, the first king's tomb has yet to be discovered. The first king, Zhao Tuo (King Wu), reigned for 67 years and lived to be over 100 years old. He was so long-lived that his son couldn't wait for him to pass away to inherit the throne, so the second king was actually his grandson. Two artifacts stood out the most during the exhibition💭. The first is the jade pendant set, composed of multiple jade pieces strung together. It was used to regulate etiquette and signify status. Essentially, two strings of jade were worn under the arms, and to avoid making clinking sounds while walking, one had to move slowly and gracefully. The second is the "Five-Stone Powder," an ancient elixir believed by emperors to grant immortality. The exhibit notes that consuming it in moderation could have detoxifying effects, but excessive or prolonged use could lead to poisoning. Perhaps it did work, which might explain King Wu's longevity. But can stones🪨 and crystals really be ingested? 🤔 *The tomb exhibition area is more interesting than the palace exhibition area.