Museum of the Nanyue King

When construction workers leveled Xianggang Hill in 1983 for an apartment block, they accidentally broke into the burial chamber of King Zhao Mo of Nanyue (137-122 BCE) — completely undisturbed for 2,000 years. The tomb is now preserved in situ underneath a purpose-built museum that walks you through the seven chambers as the archaeologists found them. The headline exhibit is the king's jade burial suit (silk-thread-sewn, 2,291 jade pieces), one of only three intact in China. Other highlights: the silver casket of the ceremonial bronze incense burner, an early Han dynasty drinking-horn cup made of one piece of jade, and the king's seal (the only Han royal seal ever found archaeologically). The museum itself is small enough to do in 90 minutes, but the level of preservation is world-class. ¥10 entry, closed Mondays. Combine with Yuexiu Park (10 min walk).