Mai Yinghao

Mai Yinghao (; 15 July 1929 – 28 November 2016) was a Chinese archaeologist. He led the excavation of three major archaeological sites in Guangzhou: the Qin dynasty shipyard, the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King, and the Royal Palace and Garden of the Nanyue Kingdom. He served as Director of the Guangzhou Museum.

Career Mai was born on 15 July 1929 into a poor family in Panyu, Guangdong, Republic of China. He studied education at Guangzhou University but did not graduate. In September 1952, he began working at the Guangzhou Municipal Cultural Heritage Administration and received training in archaeology.

From 1953 to the 1980s, Mai worked for more than three decades in field archaeology. He also advised on the excavation and preservation of the Nanyue sluice and the two royal mausoleums of the Southern Han kingdom.

Mai was a strong advocate for building on-site museums at major archaeological sites. His efforts resulted in the establishment of the Museum of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King and the Nanyue Palace Museum.

Mai was diagnosed with cancer in July 2015. He died on 28 November 2016 in Guangzhou, at the age of 87. On 12 December, a special exhibition on his life was held at the Guangzhou Museum.