Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum

The Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum stands on the southern slope of Purple Mountain (Zhongshan) in Xuanwu District, Nanjing, Jiangsu, and is the resting place of Sun Yat-sen, founder of the Republic of China. Completed in 1929 to a design by architect Lu Yanzhi, the complex climbs the hillside along a single axis, and its blue glazed roof tiles and white granite walls are meant to echo the colours of the Nationalist flag. Visitors pass through a granite memorial archway and a gate carrying the inscription 'Tianxia Weigong' (All under heaven is for the public), then follow a long tree-lined approach to the base of the famous stairway. The 392 granite steps rise in a series of landings, and on a clear day the view back down the axis toward the city is the classic photograph of the site. At the top, the memorial hall contains a seated marble statue of Sun Yat-sen, and beyond it a circular tomb chamber holds a recumbent marble figure above the burial vault, which can be viewed from a gallery. Photography inside the hall and chamber is generally restricted, so most pictures are taken on the steps and forecourt. A full visit usually takes two to three hours including the walk from the entrance and the descent. Morning is the best time, when the light falls on the stairway and tour groups have not yet arrived. Weekends, national holidays and the spring blossom season bring heavy crowds, and queues for the timed entry slots can build quickly. The mausoleum sits within the wider Zhongshan Scenic Area, so many visitors combine it with the nearby Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, Linggu Temple and the Meiling Palace area. Entry is free but requires an advance online reservation with passport details for foreign visitors, and closure on Mondays is the norm outside public holidays. Comfortable shoes are advisable, since the approach and steps involve a good deal of walking and climbing.