Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Nanjing – Ticket Price, Opening Hours, Location, and Highlights

The Bo’ai Arch stands at the entrance of Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum. This granite memorial archway features two large golden Chinese characters, “博爱” (Bo’ai, meaning “universal love”), handwritten by Sun Yat-sen himself. Built in 1930, the arch is a traditional three-gate structure, standing 11 meters tall and 17.3 meters wide. It is supported by four stone pillars connected by six horizontal beams, reflecting a strong influence of traditional Chinese architectural style.

Designed in the form of classical wooden structures, the arch is constructed from massive Fujian granite. Its roof is adorned with blue glazed tiles, adding a distinct aesthetic touch. At the base of the four stone pillars are large rectangular stone pedestals, with decorative drum stones placed at the front and back. The surface of the arch is intricately carved with patterns of lotus petals, clouds, and traditional architectural motifs, enhancing its historical and artistic value.

The Second Gate is located at the end of the mausoleum path and serves as the main entrance to Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum. In front of the gate is a large cement platform, with a flight of 20 steps leading up to the entrance. The gate faces south and has a rectangular layout, measuring 27 meters wide, 16.5 meters high, and 8.8 meters deep. It is entirely constructed from Fujian granite.

Above the central doorway on the southern side, a stone plaque bears the inscription “天下为公” (“The world belongs to all”), written in Sun Yat-sen’s own calligraphy. From the Second Gate to the Hall of Tribute, there are 392 stone steps arranged in eight sections, with a total elevation difference of 73 meters. These 392 steps symbolize the then-population of the Republic of China, which was 392 million. The steps are made of Suzhou granite. At the highest platform stand two decorative huabiao (ornamental columns), behind which lies the Hall of Tribute.

The Hall of Tribute is the main structure of Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, located at the highest peak of the site. It blends Chinese and Western architectural styles and stands 28.7 meters high, 30 meters long, and 24.7 meters wide. The southern facade features three arched entrances with intricately designed bronze double doors. Above these doorways, inscriptions read “Democracy,” “Civil Rights,” and “People’s Livelihood.” The central door bears a vertical plaque with Sun Yat-sen’s handwritten phrase, “天地正气” (“The noble spirit of heaven and earth”).

At the center of the hall is a 4.6-meter-tall seated statue of Sun Yat-sen, sculpted from Italian white marble by French artist Paul Landowski in Paris. Surrounding the hall are bas-reliefs depicting Sun Yat-sen’s revolutionary achievements. The eastern and western walls are inscribed with Sun Yat-sen’s Outline of National Reconstruction in his own handwriting, along with The Testament of the Premier, written by Hu Hanmin and others. The hall’s dome is adorned with a large emblem of the Kuomintang (Nationalist Party).

The interior of the Hall of Tribute contains a circular burial chamber, measuring 18 meters in diameter and 11 meters in height. Located at an altitude of 165 meters, the chamber is 700 meters from the starting point, with a vertical drop of 73 meters. The chamber’s ceiling is decorated with a mosaic of the Kuomintang party emblem, while the floor is paved with white marble.

At the center lies a long-shaped tomb, with a white marble reclining statue of Sun Yat-sen sculpted by Czech artist Gottfried Götz based on the body’s likeness. Beneath the statue is Sun Yat-sen’s final resting place, placed in an American-made bronze coffin. The tomb measures 4 meters in diameter and 5 meters in depth, sealed with reinforced concrete. Visitors can walk around the circular chamber, viewing the reclining statue on the coffin from behind a white marble railing.

The Amphitheatre is located to the southeast of the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum Square. It was built between 1932 and 1933 during the 21st and 22nd years of the Republic of China, with a cost of 95,000 yuan. The amphitheatre covers an area of approximately 4,200 square meters and was designed by Guan Songsheng and Yang Tingbao.

The Amphitheatre is part of the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum’s supporting structures, primarily used for music performances and speeches during ceremonies commemorating Sun Yat-sen. Its architectural style blends both Chinese and Western elements. The design integrates natural surroundings, incorporating the features of ancient Greek architecture in its layout and elevation. In terms of detailed design, however, it draws heavily from the classical gardens of Southern China, particularly in the treatment of structures such as the screen wall and the music stage.

The Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall consists of three main sections: the Scripture Tower, the Three Principles of the People Stone Carving Gallery, and the Monk’s Quarters. Covering an area of over 9,500 square meters, the Memorial Hall is nestled in the dense forest between Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and Linggu Temple, designed in the classical style of a Qing Dynasty Lama Temple.

The Memorial Hall was designed by the renowned architect Lu Shusen and was completed in the winter of 1936, during the 25th year of the Republic of China. It stands as one of the many commemorative buildings within the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum Complex.

The main building of the Memorial Hall rises to a height of 20.8 meters, with a green glazed tile roof and a yellow glazed tile ridge. The central part of the ridge is adorned with a copper Huagao, a decorative umbrella-like structure. The beams, columns, and lintels are all elaborately painted. Inside, the hall houses classic works and precious historical materials, such as photographs of Sun Yat-sen and his famous writings.

In front of the building, on a flower platform at the center of the square, stands a 2.6-meter-tall bronze statue of Sun Yat-sen. Behind the hall is a 125-meter-long stone gallery, engraved with the full text of his work, The Three Principles of the People.

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