"The Doctor Sun Yet-sen Mausoleum" Top 5 Page for this destination Nanjing Things to Do Tip by Paul2001

The Doctor Sun Yet-sen Mausoleum is probably the most important and for certain the most visited of the attractions on the Purple Mountain. Knowing so little of the life of Dr. Sun Yet-sen and his significance in Modern Chinese history, my visit to the mausoleum and the nearby museum on his life was to wander into a great unknown.
Dr. Sun Yet-sen is consider the father of modern China. It was under his leadership that the archaic near feudal empire that was China in the early 20th century was overthrown and replaced by the Republic of China. In doing this, Dr. Sun Yet-sen was able to unite people right across a broad scope of the political spectrum at that time. Although Dr. Sun Yet-sen was eventually disposed himself he is now considered to be one of the most revered political figures in China today.
Dr. Sun Yet-sen died in 1925 of liver cancer. For four years he was entombed in the Azure Clouds Temple outside of Beijing. In 1929 his remains were removed to this massive mausoleum. The mausoleum spans an area of 85,000 square meter. It begins at an archway and proceeds up the slope of the Purple Mountain. A long stairway leads you up to the tomb itself. As you proceed you pass through a three arched gate, where calligraphy by Dr. Sun Yet-sen is displayed, and then to a Tablet Pavilion. Finally after a long walk up the slope you arrive at the Sacrificing Hall where Dr. Sun Yet-sen's remains are entombed in a large coffin. Overall I was very impressed by the whole scale of the mausoleum and I think that it does justice to this noble figure.

Directions: On the south slope of the Purple Mountain.