How Persian silverware ended up in Guangzhou 2,000 years ago

In the 1980s, archaeologists discovered the untouched tomb of Zhao Mo, the second ruler of China's Nanyue Kingdom in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. Among its treasures, a Persian-styled silver box adorned with floral motifs stands out, alongside African ivory and Red Sea frankincense. These artifacts confirm Guangzhou's role as a "global trade hub" over 2,000 years ago, linking ancient China to Persia and other regions.

Zhao Mo's tomb reshapes historical understanding, positioning the Nanyue people as early "global shoppers" who bridged Eastern and Western civilizations. Today, Guangzhou's modern skyline echoes its ancient harbor's legacy, maintaining its role as a gateway between worlds for over two millennia. The silver box, silent yet eloquent, embodies connection across deserts, seas and centuries.