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Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum

Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum is situated at the foot of the south face of Purple Mountain (Zijin Shan) in the eastern suburb of Nanjing. Covering an area of over 133 hectares, it has a circumference of over 31square kilometers and its highest peak is 448 meters above sea level. Lying on the mountain, it faces the plain with the verdant mountain at its back, enjoying a regular layout and a spectacular appeal. The mausoleum was built in 1926 in honor of Dr. Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925), who is recognized as the Father of Modern China. He led the rebellion against the corrupt Qing government resulting in the 1911 revolution which put and end the feudal system. In turn, the Republic of China was founded. Today, the mausoleum has become a must-see tourist destination for all visitors to Nanjing.

 
The mausoleum was designed by Lu Yanzhi, an outstanding Chinese architect who was concurrently the architect of tomb construction at that time. Main buildings of the mausoleum are built with solid and beautiful granites and Jinshan stones which mostly came from Fujian province, Beijing, Suzhou, Qingdao and Hong Kong, etc. The whole construction of the mausoleum is symmetrical and looks like an alarm bell. It serves as a fine example of classical and modern beauty. 700 meters long with a 70-meter difference in height, the path from the mausoleum gate to the tomb-chamber has 393 steps and 10 platforms. The arched tablet, the tomb-path, the mausoleum gate, the tablet-pavilion, the sacrificial hall and the tomb-chamber are all vertically situated on one and the same axis. The archway and the top of the sacrificial hall are all covered with glazed blue tiles, appearing magnificent, spectacular, tranquil and solemn.
 
Memorial Archway of Universal Fraternity
As the entrance to the mausoleum, it is 17.3 meters high. In a wooden structure covered with glazed blue tiles according to Chinese tradition, it was built with huge granites from Fujian province. The horizontal board is engraved with “Universal Fraternity”, the hand-writing of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. 
 
Mausoleum Gate
A square capable of holding 10000 people is situated in front of the mausoleum gate which is 16.5 meters high, 27 meters wide and 8.8 meters deep. The upper stone-board is engraved with gold-gilded “The whole world as one community”, the hand-writing of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. 
 
Tablet Pavilion  
About 17 meters high and 12 meters long along both its sides, it is a square building with an arched gate respectively located in its east, south and west. The tomb-tablet stands in the middle of the pavilion. About 9 meters high in an oblong shape, the tomb-tablet is carved out of an entire block of granite weighing dozens of tons. A three-line gold-gilded tablet inscription was written by Tan Yankai. 
 
Sacrificial Hall 
At the top of the stairs is the sacrificial hall in the imitation of an ancient palace. It has multi-eaves covered by glazed blue tiles. The hall has three arched gates facing south. On the upper huge horizontal board sees the inscription of “Three Principles of the People” established by Dr. Sun Yat-sen (nationalism, democracy and people’s livelihood), an inscription written by Zhang Jingjian, one of the founders of KMT. Inside the hall stand black granite poles and a statue of Dr. Sun sculpted from white marble. Between the upper eave and the lower eave above the middle gate, there is a gold-gilded horizontal board inscribed with “Uprightness in the world”, the hand-writing of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. 
 
The Lobby of the Sacrificial Hall
The inner ceiling in the hall is featured by trapezoidal blocks fringed with novel and gorgeous porcelain patterns. On the left and right as well as in the front and at the back inside the hall, there are 12 huge black granite columns from Qingdao, making the hall higher and more spacious inside. A sitting statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen in Italian marble is seen in the center of the hall. It is a statue carved by Paul Lontsky, a famous French sculptor. 
 
Coffin Chamber  
It is a semi-hemispheric and sealed building. The center is a round marble pit encircled by exquisite white marble railings. A sleeping statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen carved by Gorge, a Czech sculptor, is seen in the center of the pit. The remains of Dr. Sun Yat-sen lie deep in a purple-copper coffin underneath. 
 
Depository of Buddhist Texts  
As a classic building in the imitation of a Lama Temple of the Qing dynasty, it was designed by Lu Shuseng and completed in 1936, with funds raised by Chinese Association of Buddhism. As it was seriously damaged during Japanese invasion in China, it underwent all-round renovation and repair in 1982, becoming Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Memorial Hall. 
 
The Bronze Statue of Dr.Sun Yat-sen 
"A great man, though passing away forever, shines with the sun and the moon." Presented by Umeya Shokichi, a Japanese friend of Dr. Sun Yat-sen in 1929, the bronze statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen stands imposingly in front of the Depository of Buddhist Texts. 
 
Sun Yat-sen’s Academy  
Rebuilt in 1994, it chiefly serves to carry out academic research into Sun Yat-sen’s ideology and cultural exchanges as well as exhibition. 
 
Music Stage
Situated in the south of Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum, it is an auxiliary building of the mausoleum designed by Guan Songsheng and Yang Tinbao, two famous Chinese architects. As an architectural example blending Chinese and Western styles, it ingeniously merges the natural environment with humane sceneries. Through wind and rain of over fifty years, this elegant music stage has become more charming, transcendent and splendid. 
 
Liuhui Waterside Pavilion
Built with 11000 yuan donated by Huangpu Military Academy in 1932, it is situated on Liuhui Lake in the south of Linggusi Road. With charming landscape and tranquil lake, the waterside pavilion is well set off by green trees and blue sky, constituting a dreamy painting. 
 
Guanghua Pavilion
Located on a small hill in the east of Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum, it was built in 1934 with donations from overseas Chinese. The pavilion has a tranquil and elegant environment as the best place for tourists to enjoy sceneries and serenity 
 
Yangzhi Pavilion
It was completed in 1932 with donations from Mr. Ye Gongchuo. “Yangzhi Pavilion” on the horizontal board facing south was inscribed by Mr. Ye himself. In April 1970, according to his last wish, his ash-urn was buried in the west of the pavilion as approved by premier Zhou Enlai at that time. 
 
Yongfeng House
Situated opposite to Xingjian Pavilion by Mausoleum Avenue, it is less than 100 meters away from the latter. It was completed in 1933 with 9000 yuan donated by Huangpu Military Academy. Destroyed in the war in 1937, it was rebuilt in 1993. 
 
Xingjian Pavilion
Completed in 1933 with 10000 yuan donated by Guangzhou municipal government, it is located at the confluence between Mausoleum Road and Ming Tomb Road, with Yongfeng House across the road. Tourists can have a break here. 
 
Meiling Villa
As the villa of Chiang Kai-sheik and his wife Song Meiling, it is formally called “Official residence for the chairman of KMT.” Since 1984, this magnificent, elegant and charming villa, also called “Meiling Palace,” has been open to tourists, hence becoming a famous scenic spot near Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum. 

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