Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall

Overview

The Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (中山纪念堂) is an iconic octagonal auditorium at the foot of Yuexiu Hill, built between 1929 and 1931 to honour the founder of the Republic of China. Designed by Lü Yanzhi, it blends traditional Chinese palatial rooflines with modern engineering — the 47-metre-span dome had no internal columns when completed.

Highlights

• The Great Hall: A 4,729-seat auditorium with superb acoustics, still used for performances and civic ceremonies.
• Surrounding Gardens: Lush grounds with century-old kapok trees (Guangzhou's city flower) and a full-size bronze statue of Sun Yat-sen.
• Exhibition Hall: Historic photographs and documents charting Sun Yat-sen's life and the birth of modern China.

History

Construction began three years after Sun Yat-sen's death in 1925, funded by public donations. The hall has since been designated a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Site.

Visitor Tips

• Combined Ticket: A joint ticket covers the memorial hall interior and the adjacent Guangzhou Museum.
• Best Season: March — the kapok trees bloom in fiery red.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours.