Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum Monument

Address: Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum (中山陵), Purple Mountain (Zijin Shan), Xuanwu District, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China

Website: http://www.njmuseum.com.cn (Nanjing museums / official pages)

Hours: Daily 8:30am-5:00pm (seasonal variations; check local notices)

Admission: CNY 40-70 (approx.) - varies for foreign and domestic visitors and for sections of the site

The Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum is a memorial complex on Purple Mountain in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, honoring Dr. Sun Yat-sen, a founding figure of modern China. It is a formally designed mausoleum and memorial built in the Republican era.

The complex is approached by a long axial stairway and contains a memorial hall and tomb chamber. Architectural details reflect a blend of traditional and modern design elements typical of the period, and the site is one of the principal modern monuments on Purple Mountain.

Construction of the mausoleum took place in the late 1920s under architects commonly associated with the Republican government; the complex was completed before the 1930s and became an important national memorial site. The tomb chamber houses Sun Yat-sen’s cenotaph and the memorial hall contains inscriptions and displays commemorating his role.

Located on Purple Mountain, the mausoleum is a few kilometres east of central Nanjing and is accessed by a stepped approach through landscaped parkland. It is often visited in combination with nearby historic sites on the mountain.

• Construction period and architect: Construction occurred in the late 1920s and the complex is associated with the Republican-era memorialization of Sun Yat-sen; the architect commonly credited is Lu Yanzhi.
• Close to other Purple Mountain sites: The site is on Purple Mountain in Nanjing and is commonly visited together with other Purple Mountain monuments such as Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum which lie nearby.

What to See#

• Main stairway and approach: The main stepped approach and stairway that leads up Purple Mountain to the tomb chamber and memorial hall, forming the principal axis of the complex.
• Tomb chamber and memorial hall: The tomb chamber and memorial hall constructed as part of the mausoleum complex, designed to house the cenotaph and memorial displays.
• Terraces and approaches: The surrounding landscaped terraces and approaches on Purple Mountain that connect the mausoleum with nearby paths and parks.

From Nanjing city centre (Nanjing Railway Station or Xinjiekou), take city bus routes or a taxi to Purple Mountain (Zijin Shan). Many tour buses include Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum on routes covering the Purple Mountain scenic area; there is parking at the site.

• Climb the 392 steps at sunrise to avoid crowds and see light spill across the mountain - the stair climb is part of the ritual.
• Combine the mausoleum with a visit to the nearby Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum and the Purple Mountain observatory for a full day.
• Wear sensible shoes - the approach includes several staircases and sloping stone paths.