Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum 中山陵

About Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum

Completed in 1929 to a design by Lü Yanzhi, it combines a modern national memorial with elements of traditional Chinese tomb architecture.

A long stairway establishes the main axis, passing gates and a stele pavilion before reaching the sacrificial hall. The seated marble figure of Sun gives the hall its central focus. The changing view back down the slope is part of the composition, so allow for the ascent rather than treating the hall as a roadside stop.

Following Sun Yat-sen's death in Beiping in March 1925, the Nationalist government and the Kuomintang built the mausoleum in Nanjing in accordance with his wishes, choosing a site on Purple Mountain (紫金山) east of the city. Construction began in January 1926; the sacrificial hall and other main buildings were finished by spring 1929, and Sun's remains were interred at a state burial ceremony (奉安大典) on June 1, 1929. The whole project, including expansion of the mausoleum grounds from 2,000 mu (亩) to 45,870 mu (亩) after 1927, was completed in 1931.

The mausoleum was designed by Lü Yanzhi (吕彦直). Its plan resembles an alarm bell, echoing Sun's political testament to 'rouse the masses.' A memorial archway, tomb gate, stele pavilion and sacrificial hall rise in sequence up the slope along a central axis, linked by a spirit way and stone steps within broad plantings that tie the buildings to the mountain's scale. The main structures combine classical Chinese palace roof forms with Western design and construction methods, in a somber blue-and-white color scheme.

The mausoleum was listed in the first batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level (全国重点文物保护单位) in 1961 and became one of the first national 5A tourist attractions (国家5A级旅游景区) in 2007. It is considered a landmark fusion of Chinese and Western architectural styles.

What to look for

• The stepped mountain axis links the entrance, stele pavilion and sacrificial hall.
• A seated marble figure of Sun Yat-sen provides the memorial hall’s focal point.

The surrounding area

The provincial capital suits museums and major historical sites; reserve time for different districts instead of treating it as one walking circuit.

Location & getting there

Getting to Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum

Approach the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum visitor area on Purple Mountain and confirm the access arrangement for the stairway and memorial hall; the mountain complex has several separate attractions.