Marquis of Haihun State Site Museum
南昌汉代海昏侯国遗址博物馆 Haihun Marquis State Site Museum · Xinjian District, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
In the former fief of the deposed Han emperor Liu He, see the hoof-shaped gold, bamboo slips and more than ten tonnes of wuzhu coins behind the life of a Western Han marquis.
Know before you go
- Do not enter archaeological excavation areas or fenced-off zones
- do not use flash at the lacquerware and bamboo-slip display cases
- do not climb the burial mounds in the cemetery
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
The tomb of the Marquis of Haihun is in Xinjian District, Nanchang. Its occupant, Liu He, was once Prince of Changyi; in 74 BC he was put on the throne as emperor, but was deposed after just over twenty days on the throne and later enfeoffed as Marquis of Haihun, making him the only person in the Western Han to go from emperor to prince and from prince to marquis. The tomb park lies southwest of Zijin City, the capital of the Haihun marquisate. Rescue excavation began in 2011, the main burial chamber was cleared in 2015, and in March 2016 the occupant was confirmed as Liu He. The tomb yielded a large quantity of gold, including gold cakes, horseshoe-shaped gold and unicorn-hoof gold; the money store held about two million wuzhu coins weighing more than 10 tonnes in total, along with more than 3,000 bamboo and wooden slips and a lacquer screen painted with the life of Confucius. A site administration and site museum were established in 2016, and in 2020 the Nanchang Han Dynasty Marquis of Haihun State National Archaeological Site Park opened, with the museum located inside the park.
Local customs
- The site park is very large. The museum's halls display the bronzes, gold, jade, bamboo slips and lacquerware excavated from the cemetery, and the park also has the cemetery site and the Zijin City site among other areas to visit
- you get between areas by sightseeing cart or on foot. Local students and families in Nanchang often make it a weekend study-trip destination.
Religion & beliefs
- The Marquis of Haihun tomb park is a burial site, and the tombs of the marquis and his family all lie within it. Please show respect for the tombs: do not make noise in the tomb park site area, do not step on protected zones, and do not burn incense or paper offerings on the site. The park also contains the tombs of Liu He's family members
- please respect them as well.
Etiquette & taboos
Etiquette & taboos
Rules that apply here
China: At Qingming tomb-sweeping, no burning paper or open flames in wooded areas
Do
- Check whether the cemetery requires a reservation before you go
- Stay quiet while laying flowers, bowing and observing silence
- Consider flowers, tree planting or online memorials instead of burning paper
- Dress soberly for tomb-sweeping
- Take offering wrappers and rubbish with you when you leave
Don’t
- Don't burn paper, incense or candles, or set off firecrackers, in woods or grassland
- Don't talk loudly or joke around in the cemetery
- Don't block cemetery paths for long to take photos
During fire-prevention periods, burning paper, incense and candles is strictly banned in forest and grassland fire zones, and anyone who starts a wildfire may be held legally liable. Whether and where a cemetery allows burning is set by its own rules on site.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Xinhua: Two departments deploy safety measures for the Qingming holiday
China: Go through security before the metro, and park shared bikes in marked zones
Do
- Cooperate with the security check at the entrance and put bags through the scanner
- On the platform, wait beside the doors and let passengers off first
- Register with your real name in the app before riding a shared bike
- Park in a marked bay or an app-designated spot, and make sure the lock clicks shut
- If the brakes or lock don't work, switch bikes and report it in the app
Don’t
- Don't linger in the doorway or force your way through closing doors
- Don't leave bikes in traffic lanes, fire lanes or on tactile paving
- Don't let children under 12 ride shared bikes
If you refuse the security check you will not be let into the station. Badly parked bikes are removed, and riders may face action under local rules and the operator's terms.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: People's Daily Online: Beijing issues standards for shared bike technology, services, parking
China: No smoking anywhere on high-speed trains, and no phone calls in quiet carriages
Do
- Sit in the carriage and seat shown on your ticket
- Put large luggage in the racks at the carriage ends or overhead
- Use headphones for videos and music
- In a quiet carriage, step outside to make or take calls
- Before getting off, check around your seat and take your rubbish and belongings
Don’t
- Don't smoke anywhere on the train, including toilets and vestibules
- Don't take someone else's seat
- Don't choose a quiet carriage when travelling with babies or toddlers (12306 advises against it)
Smoking on a bullet train can set off smoke alarms and slow or even stop the train. Smokers are fined by the police and, according to reports, may also be barred from buying bullet-train tickets; official rules prevail. If someone breaks the quiet-carriage rules, tell the train staff.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Travel China Guide: Smoking on Chinese trains
China: Stay on open sections of the Great Wall and never carve the bricks
Do
- Walk only on open sections and marked routes
- On steep stretches, stop and steady yourself before taking photos, and watch your step
- Wear non-slip shoes, carry enough water, and turn back if you are tired
- Carry your rubbish down or put it in a bin
- Check opening arrangements before you go; official announcements prevail
Don’t
- Don't carve, write on or prise loose the bricks
- Don't climb over fences or onto closed, crumbling walls and watchtowers
- Don't run or push on steep sections
Carving the Great Wall counts as damaging a cultural relic: one visitor who carved his name at Badaling was given administrative detention and a fine by the police and was blacklisted by the scenic area. Closed sections are not maintained and can be dangerous.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: China News Service: Man detained for five days and fined 200 yuan for carving on the Badaling Great Wall
China: book popular sights in advance, under your real name, through official channels
Do
- Check the booking rules on the site's official website, mini program or account before you go
- Enter every companion's ID details in advance and pick an entry time slot
- Children, seniors and others with free or reduced tickets also book as required and show ID
- Book early for holidays and summer; popular dates often fill quickly
Don’t
- Don't trust third parties offering to grab tickets or sell 'insider' tickets
- Don't assume a free ticket means no booking is needed
- Don't count on buying tickets at the gate on peak days
Once a popular date is fully booked, you may be turned away. China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism requires sites to keep in-person ticket windows and to accommodate seniors and others, but on-site quotas are limited; booking windows, release times and visitor caps are subject to official announcements.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: China Daily: Ministry of Culture and Tourism requires all scenic areas to keep ticket windows
China: set up mobile payment before you go; hotels and tickets are booked under your passport
Do
- Link a foreign bank card to Alipay or WeChat Pay before departure
- Carry some cash in yuan for small stalls, remote areas or payment glitches
- Expect real-name checks at hotels, for train tickets and popular sights; use your passport
- Make sure the name and number on bookings match your passport exactly
- If a station gate cannot read your passport, use the staffed lane
Don’t
- Don't wait until you arrive to set up payment; verification can take time
- Don't assume cash alone or a bank card alone will work everywhere
- Don't book with details that differ from your passport
Without a working payment method, or with mismatched ID details, you may be unable to check in, buy tickets or enter sights. Payment limits, fees and platform rules are subject to official announcements.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Gov.cn: Payment services for foreign visitors to China
China: Queue, don't smoke where banned, and never carve on heritage sites
Do
- Wait your turn in line, and follow staff directions when it's crowded
- On buses and the metro, let passengers off first and offer seats to those in need
- Book popular sights and museums in advance, under your real name, through official channels
- Sort your rubbish into the right bins
- Use serving chopsticks and spoons, and order only what you can eat
Don’t
- Don't cut in line or walk side by side blocking the way
- Don't smoke where it is banned; many cities ban smoking in indoor public places and on public transport
- Don't carve or write on historic buildings or ancient trees, or climb on or touch relics
- Don't use flash or tripods in exhibition halls
- Don't talk loudly or play music out loud in public places
Staff will stop you from queue-jumping, smoking where banned or marking relics, and smoking in no-smoking areas or damaging relics can also lead to fines under the law. Fine amounts, booking methods and opening hours are as officially announced.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Palace Museum official site: Visit
Don’t DON'T
- Do not enter archaeological excavation areas or fenced-off zones
- do not use flash at the lacquerware and bamboo-slip display cases
- do not climb the burial mounds in the cemetery
- the park is exposed to strong sun in summer, so do not walk for long at noon
- do not litter or pick plants in the park
Locals appreciate DO
- First see the gold objects, bamboo slips and Confucius screen in the museum
- then go to the cemetery site to see the locations of the main tomb and the chariot-and-horse pit
- learn about the “27-day emperor” story of Liu He and what the historical records say
- compare with the Jiangxi Provincial Museum to see Han-dynasty relics from Jiangxi
Plan your visit
Practical info
Travel tips
- Allow half a day (3–4 hours). The site park is in the northeast of Xinjian District, Nanchang, about 45 km from downtown Nanchang and about 20 km from Changbei International Airport. Public transport is infrequent, so driving, a chartered car or a day tour from the city is most convenient. Tickets, reservation methods, opening hours and the operation of the park shuttle are subject to the official WeChat accounts of the site park and museum. Because it is far, set aside a separate half day, and on the way back visit the Jiangxi Provincial Museum in Honggutan or the Pavilion of Prince Teng. The park is large, so wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water and sun protection
- food options inside are limited, so pack lunch or snacks in the city before setting out. To see more artifacts from the tomb of the Marquis of Haihun, look out for touring exhibitions held from time to time at museums around the country.
Sources & verification notes
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