Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum

Covering an area of 80,000 square meters (about 20 acres), Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum is located in Purple Mountain in the east suburb of Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province. As the mausoleum of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the father of the Republic of China, it is considered the Holy land of Chinese people both home and abroad. With deep historical significance, magnificent architecture and beautiful scenery, it is a must see when visiting Nanjing.

Dr. Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925) was a great forerunner of the Chinese democratic revolution and led by Dr. Sun the Chinese people brought down the corrupt rule of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and ended 2,000 years of the feudal monarchy system, which led the people into a new age.

The majestic construction inside the Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum was started in 1926 and completed in 1929. The whole scenic area represents an alarm bell as seen from the air, symbolizing the noble spirit and heroic efforts of Dr. Sun Yat-sen's devotion to the Chinese people, fight of oppression and wining the independence of the country. Facing south, the structures, along with the mountain ascends gradually along with the central axis line running from south to the north and is regarded as the most outstanding mausoleum in the country's modern architectural history.
Dr. Sun Yat-sen
Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum
A statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen
A Statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen
Pavilion erected by Kuomintang
Pavilion Built by Kuomintang

Traveling along the marble road, firstly you will arrive at half-moon square in the south of the Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum. It is understated and modest, while endowing grandeur to the Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum. Then at the entrance stands the great marble Paifang (memorial archway) on which is written 'Bo Ai' meaning 'love'. Through Paifang there is a Passway of 480 meters (about 1,574 feet) long and 40 meters (about 131 feet) wide, on both sides of which stand orderly pine and cypresses trees. Continuing forward to the end of the Passway, there is the Frontispiece, standing some 16.5 meters (about 54 feet) high and 27 meters (about 88 feet) wide. The Frontispiece has three archways, each of which has a pair of symmetrical enchased copper gates. Four Chinese characters are inscribed on the lintel over the doorways written by Dr. Sun Yat-sen meaning 'the world is commonwealth', which fully explains the cause he struggled for during his life. Through the Frontispiece is a pavilion made of marble, in which a great stele, 9 meters (about 29 feet) high and 4 meters (about 13 feet) wide, was erected by Kuomintang in memory of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. On the stele there are carved just 24 Chinese characters and no epitaph as people think that there are no words capable of representing this giant of modern China.
Mausoleum gate with Three Archways
Mausoleum Gate with Three Archways
Dr. Sun Yat-sen''s Mausoleum, Nanjing
Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum, Nanjing
Through the Pavilion, climbing along the stairs upward, the Sacrificial Hall is your next encounter. Here is the highest place of the Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum, some 158 meters (about 518 feet) high. The Sacrificial Hall is located in the center of this plateau. It is an Alhambresque construction combining the architectures of both China and the West and is 30 meters (about 98 feet) long, 25 meters (about 82 feet) wide and 29 meters (about 95 feet) high.
Sightseeing Train
The Sightseeing Train

Around the Sacrificial Hall, there are two 12.6-meter-high (about 41 feet) Huabiao, ornamental columns like those in Tiananmen Square. Entering the Hall, a 4.6-meter-high (15 feet) stone statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen sits in the center. He wears long gown with eyes facing forward, with an open book on his lap, demonstrating the wisdom of the great thinker. At the foot of the statue, there are six embossments exhibiting in vivid pictures Dr. Sun Yat-sen's glorious life and struggles in his revolution. The door of the tomb is in the center of the back wall.

The whole tomb is a hemispherical in shape, with the marble coffin of Dr. Sun Yat-sen set in the center of the chamber. His white marble statue rests atop the rectangle coffin, under which this historical giant forever sleeps.

Around the Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum there are many memorial buildings such as the Zhengqi Pavilion, Open-air Music Hall, Waxwork Home of Democratic Revolution, the Sun Yat-sen Museum and so on.
 

How to get to Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum

1. Take metro line 2 and get off at Xiamafang Station, and then walk north for 15 minutes to get there.
2. Take bus 34 to Zhongshanling Tingchechang.
Nanjing Bus / Metro Search
 
Entrance Fee Mausoleum is free, but visitors need to use their passports to book the tickets in advance.
The reservation system of the official website and Wechat account is available from 7:00 to 22:00; and visitors can also book it on site through machines, which are available from 8:00 to 17:00.
The free ticket covers Entrance to the Mausoleum, the Stele Pavilion, the Sacrificial Hall and the Burial Room.
The Open-air Music Hall charges CNY 10.
CNY 100 for a combo ticket covering the Open-air Music Hall, Xiaoling Mausoleum of Ming Dynasty, Linggu Temple, and Meiling Palace.
Free for children under 1.4m (4.6 feet).
Opening Time: 08:30-17:00;
Closed on Monday except on holidays and Nov. 12 & Mar. 12 (anniversary of Dr. Sun Yat-sen's birth and death);
The Burial Room is also closed at weekends except on holidays.
The Open-air Music Hall: Mar. - Nov.: 6:30 - 18:30; Dec. - Feb.: 7:00 - 17:30.
 

Tips:

After visiting the Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum, one may also pay a visit to the nearby attraction sites, Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum and Linggu Temple by sightseeing bus, battery car or small train. The sightseeing bus, small train and battery car ticket is CNY 10 per person, and the tourist special line costs CNY 2 for a single trip.

 Nearby Attraction:
Plum Blossom Hill
Nanjing Underwater World
Meiling Palace

Further Reading:
Top 10 Things to Do in Nanjing
12 Best Places to Visit in Nanjing
- Last updated on Jun. 20, 2022 -
Questions & Answers on Dr. Sun Yat-sen\s Mausoleum
Asked by Harry from CANADA | Oct. 06, 2019 00:30Reply
Sun Yat Sen Mausoleum - ticket booth
I will be travelling to Nanjing later this month. Looks like I will have to reserve the ticket on-site. Where is the location of the ticket booth at the mausoleum?
Answers (1)
Answered by Adam from USA | Oct. 12, 2019 01:39
00Reply


From June 1st, 2018, tourists need to book online in advance. Then you can just swipe your passport or show your QR code to the staff to visit it.
Asked by Nicole Acuti from ITALY | Jul. 30, 2019 08:52Reply
How can we book the tickets of Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum on the spot and where?
(and from when until when?)
Thank you
Answers (1)
Answered by Demi from USA | Aug. 04, 2019 18:15
00Reply


Nowadays, you need to book the ticket online in advance. Individual tourists and travel agents can make reservations up to 30 days in advance through the official website of Zhongshan Mountain National Park (7:00-22:00 every day). Sorry, the web link are not allowed to put here.
Asked by Robert Clothier from UNITED KINGDOM | Jun. 21, 2019 05:46Reply
I will be visiting Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum on Thursday 18th July 2019.
Do I need a ticket? If yes, where to I buy one from? And can I buy the ticket online before I arrive? Thanks.
Answers (2)
Answered by Rose from CANADA | Jun. 23, 2019 23:27
00Reply


Mausoleum is free, but visitors need to use their passports to book the tickets in advance. It is difficult for foreigners booking online so you can book it on the spot.
Answered by Kaz from CHINA | Jul. 08, 2019 08:10
00Reply


All that info is in the article
Asked by Willy from INDONESIA | Jun. 18, 2019 06:50Reply
If I go to Dr. Sun Yat Sen's and Ming Xiaoling memorial on 1st of July on Monday, is it open?
Answers (4)
Answered by Willy from INDONESIA | Jun. 18, 2019 06:54
00Reply


How about Sunday on 30th of june? is it also open?
Answered by Jesse from USA | Jun. 18, 2019 18:17
00Reply


No, it is closed on Monday.
Answered by Willy from INDONESIA | Jun. 19, 2019 09:02
00Reply


How about the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum? Is it open on Monday?
Answered by Jesse from USA | Jun. 19, 2019 22:56
00Reply


Yes, it opens everyday and the opening time is 9:00 - 17:00.
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