How was the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing designed?

The Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, located on Purple Mountain in Nanjing, was designed by architect Lu Yanzhi following a competition that saw over 40 submissions. Completed in 1929, it stands as one of the first significant modern constructions designed entirely by a Chinese architect.12

The design is a modern interpretation of ancient classical Chinese tomb architecture, drawing inspiration from the scale and style of imperial tombs from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Key features of the site include:12

• Layout: The mausoleum is organized along a north-south axis, beginning with a marble memorial archway.1
• Structure: From the air, the complex resembles a bell. The path is lined with pine and cypress trees, leading to a three-arched entrance with copper doors and a marble pavilion housing a 30-foot stela.1
• Memorial Hall: A steep staircase leads to the main memorial hall, which contains a marble seated statue of Sun Yat-sen and a ceiling tiled with the flag of the republic.1
• Burial Chamber: To the north, a circular chamber holds a recessed marble sarcophagus featuring a prostrate statue of Sun on top.1