Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall

» Guangzhou, Guang Dong

Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Overview & Map Weather Transportation Information

Guangzhou Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall is really a magnificent octagonal building. It is not only one of the symbolic constructions in Guangzhou with its majestic appearance and the infused rich Chinese national color, but also an important place for large scale meeting and performance.

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen

Dr. Sun Yat-sen (1866 - 1925) was a revolutionary political leader who played a key role in overthrowing the Qing Dynasty. He was a founder of the Kuomingtang, and became the first president of the Republic of china when it was founded in 1912. Dr. Sun Yat-sen developed his revolution philosophy based on three principles of nationalism, democracy, and equalization - known as the Three Principles of the People. Sun Yat-sen was the uniting figure in post-imperial China, and is regarded as the Father of Modern china.

History

Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall is built in order to commemorate the contributions of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the great predecessor of Chinese revolution for democracy. It is a memorial construction donated by the people in Guangzhou and the overseas Chinese and is listed as one of the first class cultural relics in Guangdong Province. Designed by the famous Chinese architect, Mr. Lu Yanzhi, the construction started in 1929 and finished in October of 1931.

Before the liberation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall has already been badly damaged due to the lack of attention. After the liberation, the government has particularly appropriated some funds for several times to repair the memorial hall. Finally, in 1998, there appeared the completely new memorial hall after the careful repair. The memorial hall and the courtyard together cover an area of 62,000 square meters with the 6,600-square-meter's major building with a framework of steel work and reinforced concrete.

What to visit

The hall is a grand octagon building of typical Chinese architectural style. The masterpiece of architecture history is created with a span of 71 meters (about 78 yards) without a pillar but significant outlooks and delicate interior designs. As an important place for conferences and performances, it can hold thousands of people with sound equipment. In the hall there is also a display gallery showing pictures and letters of Dr. Sun Yat-sen.

"Tian Xia Wei Gong" (The World is for All)

In the front of the memorial hall, there erects the statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. And there hangs a golden slab with four Chinese characters of "Tian Xia Wei Gong" (The World is for All) written by Sun Yat-sen himself above the front door of the memorial hall. With the statue and the slab reflecting and corresponding to each other, there forms a magnificent scene which reminds people of the brilliant life experience of the great man.

The octagon pavilion

The central coping of the octagon pavilion of the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall is surrounded by the four decorating double eaves from the front, back, left, and right sides of it. The whole construction is majestic, solemn and rich in Chinese national culture.

Inside the memorial hall

Inside the memorial hall, there are tall and straight ancient but precious trees and cloud pillars with lifelike cranes on them, presenting a magnificent scene.

The audience house inside the memorial hall, with a domed roof which is a huge embedded sprung roof made of glasses that has no supporting pillars to impair the view but rarely produces echoes, is an outstanding construction among world-famous architecture.

Around the memorial hall

Around the memorial hall, yellow walls and red pillars decorated by blue glazed tiles, are shining in the sun, showing the resplendence and solemnity.

Back of the memorial hall

Back of the memorial hall, there is the Sun Yat-sen Monument erecting on the top of Yuexiu Mountain. The monument is so remarkable and stately that it seems to go clean through the sky.

When to visit

• Opening Hours: 08:00a.m. - 18:00p.m.
• Recommended Time for a Visit: 45 minutes
  

Getting there

Bus Route: 2, 27, 42, 56, 62, 74, 80, 83

Attractions around » Guangzhou, Guang Dong

Natural Scene

• Pearl River

Historical Site

• Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
• Chen Family Temple

Cultural Site

• Yuexiu Park
• Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
• Diaolou and Villages of Kaiping
• Chen Family Temple

Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Highlights

Sun Yat-sen attraction highlights

• Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Tomb
• Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
• Former Residence of Sun Yat-sen

Mausoleum in Great China

• Ming Tombs
• Confucius Cemetery
• Huangdi Tomb
• Ming Xiaoling Tomb
• Eastern Qing Tombs
• Western Qing Tomb
• Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Tomb
• Royal Tombs of Western Xia Kingdom
• Zhaoling Tomb
• Genghis Khan's Tomb
• Tomb of Qin Shihuang
• Zhaoling Tomb
• Tomb of Crown Prince Yi De
• Tomb of Princess Yongtai
• Tomb of Concubine Yang
• Han Yang Ling Museum
• Qianling Tomb
• Maoling Tomb
• Imperial Tombs of the North Song Dynasty
• Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
• Fuling Tomb
• Hairui Tomb
• Zhaojun Tomb
• Astana Tombs
• Tomb of Abakh Khoja
• Tomb of General Yue Fei
• Amannishahan Tomb
• Tomb of Prince Jingjiang

Museum in Great China

• Forbidden City
• Terracotta Warriors and Horses
• Shaanxi Provincial History Museum
• Sanxingdui Ruins
• Dunhuang Museum
• National Museum of China
• Shanghai Museum
• Weijin Art Gallery
• Gansu Provincial Museum
• Xi'an Banpo Museum
• Dinosaur Museum
• Han Yang Ling Museum
• Forest of Stone Steles Museum
• Tibet Museum
• Jingdezhen Ceramic History Museum
• Dongba Museum
• Chongqing Three Gorges Museum
• Hubei Provincial Museum
• Shanghai History Museum
• Great Wall Museum
• Memorial Hall to the Victims in the Nanjing Massacre
• Han Dynasty Tomb Museum
• Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
• Xianyang Museum
• Shandong Provincial Museum
• Nanjing Museum
• Meteorite Museum
• Salt History Museum
• Inner Mongolia Museum
• Hunan Provincial Museum
• National Tea Museum
• China National Silk Museum
• Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Luoyang Museum
• Chen Family Temple

Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall FAQ & Travelers's Tips

  Weather

1. How are the four seasons like in Guangzhou and when is the best time to go?

  Transportation

1. Noitce this when you take a taxi.

  Customs

1. What about the interesting festivals there?

  Other Hints

1. Here are some facts aboutCanton Fair.
2. Warning about Canton Fair
3. Dos and Don'ts to Stay Safe
4. Can I see any English channel there?
5. Beware of dangerous little girls
6. Ignore some cheap deals
7. Emergency numbers:

• How are the four seasons like in Guangzhou and when is the best time to go?

  Guangzhou is located in China's subtropical area with an all-year pleasant climate. Guangzhou's spring is humid and rainy; summer is a little hot with occasional typhoons. Temperature in autumn is very moderate, cool and windy. The good weather of autumn often lasts to November and December; the period from October to December is the best travel time. Winter is a little chilly but short. Sweaters are sufficient.

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• Noitce this when you take a taxi.

  Business names and addresses are also in Chinese. Print them out and show them to the taxi drivers. Most drivers do not speak English; many not even Cantonese.

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• What about the interesting festivals there?

  Besides traditional Chinese festivals such as Spring Festival, New Year, International Labor Day and National Day, Guangzhou celebrates some local festivals, such as the Dong Zhi (Winter Solstice) Day, on the 21st, 22nd or 23rd of the twelfth Chinese lunar month, is the important festival that Guangzhou people pay much attention to. Cantonese people consider this day as a family reunion day.

  In addition to local festivals, as a big city, Guangzhou also hosts international conferences and activities, of which the Canton Fair is the most influential

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• Here are some facts about Canton Fair.

  The Chinese Export Commodities Fair or Canton Fair originated in the spring of 1957. It is held biannually every spring and autumn in Guangzhou. This fair is the largest comprehensive international trade fair in China with the longest history, highest level, largest scale and the most merchants. It is held in Pazhou Exhibition Hall, Xingang Dong Lu, Haizhu District and Liuhua Lu Exhibition Hall, No. 117, Liuhua Lu.

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• Warning about Canton Fair

  The last two weeks of April and October (April 15-30 and October 15-30) coincide with the annual Guangzhou International Trade Fairs. Hotel room rates are unreasonably hiked up anything from 200% to 400%, including hostels! If you're not travelling to see the Trade Fair, you might want to consider another period of time.

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• Dos and Don'ts to Stay Safe

  Firearms are banned in the country except for police and military use, but the streets can still be dangerous for the unwary. Due to the enormous number of people from other mainland provinces flocking to Guangzhou in the hope of finding jobs (often unsuccessfully), the area surrounding the main train station has gained a notorious reputation for being chaotic, unsafe and rampant with petty crimes. Pickpockets are especially active here. In recent years, armed (large blades, knives, and such) robberies in the open and abductions which result in first degree murders have been on the rise in the city. Just bear in mind, when people become desperate, they will do anything to get what they want. If you are getting robbed, do not expect the crowd to help. And if they are armed, do not fight back. The best defense, as always, is common sense:

  • Do not flash your valuables in public.
  • Do not wander around by yourself late at night and remain alert at all times.
  • Use only official taxis and get advice from the government-run tourist office.

  With its vast, ever-increasing population, there will always be people (mostly from out of town) who just seem to be hanging around. Those unaccustomed to this may feel intimidated, especially Westerners who get stared at a lot. However, please remember that rural Chinese are not used to seeing a "Gwai Lo" (a Westerner), so their stares are merely out of interest, and should not be taken as something rude or offensive. In this respect, it is important to be aware that three out of 10 people in Guangzhou are migrants from other provinces.

  Traffic accident rates in Guangzhou (or China for that matter) are significantly higher than those of other countries. Use extra caution when crossing streets; use pedestrian bridges and tunnels whenever possible. Like everywhere else in China, cars do not yield to pedestrians. Instead, drivers automatically expect pedestrians to yield to them. So in most cases, they don't stop until it's too late. Due to the high number of traffic accidents and crimes involving motorcycles, they will be totally banned in Guangzhou starting in 2007. Once the most important mode of transportation in China, bicycles will be also limited to certain roads within the city.

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• Can I see any English channel there?

  Guangzhou Television (GZTV) has an English channel, offering entertainment and cultural programs. There are two English channels from Hong Kong, 'Pearl' and 'ATV World', available in most hotels, offer a great selection of prime time shows from US and UK.

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• Beware of dangerous little girls

  Beware of little girls selling flowers along the embakment of the Pearl River especially at the entrance of the Pier where you join the Pearl River Cruise. They will cling onto your legs and won't let go until a ransom is paid.

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• Ignore some cheap deals

  never be taken in by cheap offer of coach transport, only buy tickets from the window counter. don't be misled by the pictures of coaches display. you may not get what you see and pay for.

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• Emergency numbers:

  • Police: 110
    
  • Fire: 119
    
  • Medical: 120
    
  • Traffic accident: 122

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