This is Part III to my 3 day itinerary for Guangzhou. If you have not checked it out yet, Part I can be found here and Part II can be accessed via this link.

Nanyue King Wen’s Mausoleum

If you have ever been to Xian, you would have known the disappointment to have been informed that the actual Mausoleum of Qin Shihuang has yet to be opened to the public. I was therefore excited to visit King Wen’s Mausoleum while in Guangzhou as this is the actual Mausoleum.

 

The admission ticket costs just 12 RMB.

The attraction can be separated into three parts. The first, after the ticket entrance, contains various displays including an extensive display of burial building models and a rather unique display showcasing pillows in ancient China. The second part is the actual Mausoleum itself. You will get to visit and walk within the excavated burial rooms for the Emperor and his subjects (that were buried together with him). The third section is a museum containing various pieces excavated from the site. There is a audio guide available for rent at the main entrance for a nominal fee. My advice is to rent one as it provides some extra information left out from the description labels accompanying the items on display. The audio guide, however, only works for the museum (i.e. the 3rd section).

Do keep an eye out for:

Burial Building Models

These models apparently form part of the burial ritual. They supposedly may be of some use for their owners in the afterlife. I think these models are significant in two ways. First, they mark a gradual change in Chinese thinking regarding the afterlife. During the Qin (the period just before the rise of the Nanyue Kingdom), the models tend to be full sized models. This led to a waste of materials and labour resulting in much hardship for the people. Revolts were common. To avoid this problem, later dynasties downsized. I do believe that these building models reflect that change in thinking. Second, the models offer a snapshot of what architecture is like back then. Unlike 2 dimensional paintings, these models offer a glimpse of how buildings may have looked like.

The Mausoleum of King Wen

The Mausoleum is actually quite small unlike the fabled Mausoleum of Emperor Qin. There are no rivers of mercury to speak of. However, it is still awesome to know that you are in the actual tomb itself dating back more than 2000 years.

The tomb is now empty with all the artefacts having been removed. There are, however, explanation boards detailing the purpose of each room and who the occupants were. While it is not made clear in the text, these other occupants would have likely been alive when the Emperor died and would have either volunteered or have been volunteered to be buried together with their lord.

Do look out for the rather odd display at the entrance of the tomb. The purpose of this display is actually to show visitors the rather ingenious mechanism used to seal the tomb. The doors to the tomb are operated by a lever of sort. The lever, if depressed, would allow the doors to swing inwards. Once the doors are shut, unless there is someone from within that is able to step on the level, the tomb would be sealed.

 

Jade Suit and Emperor Seal

The ancient Chinese, like the Egyptians, always desired to find ways to preserve the human body after death. However, unlike the Egyptians, the Chinese believed that jade would protect the body from decay. This belief resulted in the creation of this beautiful jade suit which encased Emperor Wen’s body.

Also recovered from the excavation were the seals of the Emperor and his wives. Isn’t it amazing that such things can survive and remain intact after more than 2000 years?

Do also look out for the other intricate pieces of jade found in the tombs:

Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Memorial Hall

Once you are done exploring the Mausoleum, consider visiting the nearby Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Memorial Hall (Entrance Fee: 10 RMB).

I am always amazed that despite being associated with the Kuomintang (the party that founded the Republic of China), the Chinese government has shown much deference to Dr Sun being one of China’s founding fathers.

The Memorial Hall, as its name suggests, is not the actual place where Dr Sun is buried (which is actually in Nanjing). It is a hall built to commemorate his life and achievements. What I found out from my visit was that after his death, the many Chinese communities had commissioned memorial halls in cities where he had actively campaigned for a new modern China. Guangzhou, is one such place.

The complex is huge and is inspired by not only traditional Chinese architecture but also European ideas then filtering into China. So while you have the traditional Chinese look for the hall, it is fronted by squarish gardens reminiscent of gardens found through Europe.

The lower floor gives a good introduction into the life of Dr Sun and his many attempts to reform and found a new China. Whereas the upper floor gives a glimpse of how the Chinese nation had grieved his passing and also more information regarding the construction of the memorial hall itself.

What I found interesting was the design of the memorial hall. Unlike other memorial halls where the person being commemorated is either worshiped or at least depicted in some form of a statue in the center of the memorial hall, this hall in Guangzhou is different. The building is actually built around an auditorium. The architect then had wanted to carry on the legacy of Dr Sun who is known to give speeches to further the cause. In the same way, this auditorium was supposed to continue this struggle to reform China.

No.9 Spa Club

Once you are done, you can consider visiting Shamian Island or, like me, just slow down and pamper yourself during your last day in Guangzhou at one of Guangzhou’s many spas.

Unlike western spas, Chinese spas tend to offer a totally different experience that encourages a visitor to stay for hours to use their various facilities.

Such spas typically have different floors.

When you first visit a spa, you will be segregated. There are separate areas for males and females. For both, expect to find hot and cold pools similar to those in a Japanese bathhouse.  Once you are done soaking, you can change into a set of loose fitting clothes before heading over to the rest area. The rest area would typically have a lounge area for you to watch tv programs while doing foot massages, head massages, pedicures. There will also be a restaurant. Depending on the establishment, the food can be either free or paid.

Full body massages are done on a separate floor.

I visited No.9 Spa Club. Overall, the facilities were pretty good. While the place then was undergoing renovations, it didn’t affect the overall experience as the works were being carried out on a separate floor. My suggestion is to head over to the restaurant earlier as they appear to not refill the food towards the end of each dining service.

Pro-tip: If you are visiting Guangzhou on a business trip or just passing through for a night, one way to save money is to use such spas. For the price of a hotel room, you can get to use their facilities and dine for free. You can also nap there. There are lockers available. This assumes you travelling light with a small pack instead of a large luggage.

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