After a few mishaps in Hong Kong and Macau, June in Guangzhou will be calmer and devoted to the few remaining monuments we have yet to discover. Starting with the city's finest museum, the Tomb of the Southern Yue King!    

The Tomb of the Southern Yue King

  We haven't visited many museums in Guangzhou yet, and this one comes at just the right moment to remedy that, especially since it's one of the most prestigious in China.

And for good reason: it was built on a royal tomb, that of Emperor Zhao Mo, over 2,000 years old.

After acquiring an audio guide for the modest sum of 10 yuan, we begin our visit with the main building. This houses various exhibition halls, notably featuring a large collection of porcelain pillows. One might think that the notion of comfort was a distinctly European idea!

The rear courtyard of the museum leads us to the famous tomb itself, which can be visited.

It is organized into several burial chambers where the emperor's servants and concubines of the Nanyue were meant to rest... The mausoleum is now entirely empty, save for a few animal remains proudly displayed.

The treasures have been carefully extracted and are now displayed in the adjacent building, which will be the subject of our next visit.

Ivory, jade, gold... the objects revealed here are of rare beauty and testify to the grandeur of the dynasty. Representations of the dragon and phoenix are omnipresent on seals and other sculptures, embodying the symbol of power.

The highlight of the exhibition is undoubtedly the king's funeral attire, or jade burial shroud, made up of 2,291 jade tiles sewn together with silk thread. Beside it also rest concentric jade discs, meant to ensure the sovereign's immortality.

The other halls contain traditional accessories from the era (jewelry, weapons, vases and other refined objects), which contribute to making the museum visit a truly immersive experience.

In short, here's a destination to recommend for anyone interested in Chinese culture!  

Yuexiu Park

  Not far from the museum lies Yuexiu Park (Yuexiu Gongyuan), which will give us the perfect opportunity to breathe in some fresh air during this hot and humid June month. We had already visited once before, but a sudden downpour had dampened our motivation to continue the walk.

This is undoubtedly the finest park in Guangzhou, stretching across several square kilometers right in the heart of the city. Nothing like the tiny Renmin Park then... We are therefore determined to explore it in more detail and try to find the famous statue of the five rams, which stands in the middle of the park. A legend tells that in ancient times, five celestial beings descended to Earth accompanied by five goats of different colors to distribute rice seedlings to the people. The immortals disappeared but the rams were turned to stone and remained in place. Since then, Guangzhou has been nicknamed "The City of the Five Rams" and this statue is certainly its symbol. We manage to spot the 11-meter statue after climbing several sets of steps, amid the many tourists who have come to admire it.

Nearby we find the Sun Yat Sen Monument (not to be confused with the Sun Yat Sen Memorial), standing 37 meters high and constructed in 1929 as a tribute to the Chinese revolutionary leader.

One also admires the Zhenhai Tower, built in 1380 and of unfailing elegance. Originally serving as one of the guard towers of the ancient city, it was converted in 1956 into a museum.

Zhenhai Tower

The rest of the afternoon is devoted to a leisurely stroll through the park, which is certainly not without its challenges given its uneven terrain. The presence of several lakes and lush vegetation is nonetheless a blessing for city dwellers like us, and we particularly appreciate the peace and tranquility of the place.

Here is a destination of choice for all tourists looking to escape for an afternoon...   To view our June photos, feel free to visit the Guangzhou gallery.