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. He served as Director of the
Guangzhou Museum. == Personal life ==