Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum

The Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum sits on the southern slope of Purple Mountain (Zijin Shan) in Xuanwu District, Nanjing, in Jiangsu province, China. It is the resting place of Sun Yat-sen, the founding father of the Republic of China, and was completed in 1929 to a design by the architect Lu Yanzhi. Visitors approach along a tree-lined avenue and begin at a granite memorial archway before climbing a broad stone stairway of 392 steps, divided into eight landings, that rises about 70 metres to the sacrificial hall. The buildings are finished in blue glazed tiles that echo the colours of the Nationalist flag, and the ground plan is said to resemble a bell, a symbol of awakening. The stairway is the defining image of the site, and looking back down from the top landing gives a long view over the pine and cypress forest toward the city. Inside the sacrificial hall stands a white marble seated statue of Sun Yat-sen, with the text of his political principles carved on the walls. Beyond it, the tomb chamber holds a recumbent marble figure above the burial vault, which visitors can view from a circular railing. A typical visit runs two to three hours, including the walk from the entrance, the climb and time spent in the surrounding Zhongshan Scenic Area, which also holds the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum and Linggu Temple. Mornings on weekdays are the quietest. Weekends, public holidays and the spring blossom and autumn foliage seasons bring large domestic tour groups, and the stairway can become congested by late morning. Entry is free, but a real-name reservation with a passport is needed through the scenic area's WeChat mini-program, and daily quotas apply, so booking a few days ahead is sensible. The site is closed on Mondays except on national holidays. Photography is generally permitted on the steps and in the courtyards, though it is restricted inside the tomb chamber. Sturdy shoes and water are advisable, as much of the visit is spent climbing in the open with limited shade.