Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum

中山陵

The mausoleum of Dr Sun Yat-sen. 392 steps rise from the Archway of Universal Love to the memorial hall. Blue tiles and white walls on a grand scale make it Nanjing's most important landmark.

The Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum lies on the southern slope of Purple Mountain (Zijin Mountain). It is the tomb of Sun Yat-sen, a pioneer of China's democratic revolution. Designed by the architect Lü Yanzhi and completed in 1929, it has been hailed as 'the first mausoleum of modern Chinese architecture'. The complex follows the mountain, rising step by step along a central axis from the Archway of Universal Love, the tomb road, the tomb gate and stele pavilion, to the memorial hall and burial chamber. There are 392 steps and eight terraces, and the plan takes the form of a Liberty Bell. The buildings have blue glazed tiles and granite walls. The memorial hall holds a white marble seated statue of Sun Yat-sen. In the burial chamber, a reclining statue lies above the round tomb, under which his remains are interred.

Highlights: looking back from the memorial hall terrace, the steps seem to vanish from view, leaving only the terraces, a clever feature of the design. Nearby attractions worth a detour include the music platform on the grounds (with flocks of pigeons and performances at weekends), the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Liufei Pavilion and Meiling Palace, which from above looks like a pendant on a necklace.

Admission is free, but you must book in advance with real-name registration through the official 'Zhongshan Mausoleum Scenic Area' WeChat account or mini-program. Entry is limited per day. The memorial hall is closed on Mondays, though the grounds remain open. In peak season, arrive before 8:30 a.m.

Getting there: take Metro Line 2 to Xiamafang station and transfer to the scenic-area sightseeing shuttle, or walk from Muxuyuan station along Mausoleum Avenue (Wutong Avenue, about 2 km). You can also take the shuttle from Ming Xiaoling for 10 yuan per ride. It is best combined with Ming Xiaoling and Meiling Palace as a one-day Zijin Mountain route; the mausoleum alone takes about 1.5–2 hours.

Note: photography is prohibited inside the memorial hall and burial chamber. Remove your hat and keep silent. There are many steps, so elderly visitors and children should go at their own pace.

Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum

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