Soong Ching Ling Mausoleum

Soong Ching Ling Mausoleum

The Soong Ching Ling Mausoleum is a national AA-level tourist attraction, a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level, a classic red tourism destination, and a patriotic education base.

On May 15, 1981, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee approved Soong Ching Ling as a member of the Communist Party of China. On May 16, the 18th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 5th National People's Congress decided to confer upon her the honorary title of Honorary President of the People's Republic of China. On May 29, 1981, Soong Ching Ling passed away in Beijing at the age of 90 due to ineffective medical treatment for leukemia. In accordance with her will, her ashes were interred to the east of her parents’ graves at the Shanghai International Cemetery, now the site of the Soong Ching

The Sung Ching-ling Mausoleum is surrounded by lush pines and cypresses, exuding a solemn and tranquil atmosphere. A white marble statue of Soong Ching-ling stands amidst a bed of flowers. Behind the statue lies the burial site. In front of the grave rests a simple granite tombstone, with a pure white marble sarcophagus behind it. At the center of the cemetery lie the tombs of Soong Ching-ling’s parents, while to the west is the grave of Madam Li Yanyue. The mausoleum also houses a memorial hall and the Shanghai Children’s Museum, attracting a steady stream of visitors from near and far who come to pay their respects.

Soong Ching-ling (1893–1981), originally from Wenchang, Guangdong, was born in Shanghai and studied in the United States in her early years. In October 1915, she married Sun Yat-sen in Tokyo, Japan, during his revolutionary activities. During the ten years she spent with Sun Yat-sen, Soong Ching-ling devoted herself passionately to his revolutionary cause, becoming his loyal partner and comrade-in-arms. In April 1927, when Chiang Kai-shek betrayed the revolution, Soong Ching-ling completely broke with the reactionary forces and carried on the unfinished mission of Sun Yat-sen. In the 1930s, she co-founded the China Defense League with Lu Xun, Cai Yuanpei, and others to oppose the increasingly fascist rule of the regime. During the War of Resistance against Japan, Soong Ching-ling actively campaigned and leveraged her prestigious reputation and influence both domestically and internationally. She helped establish the “China Defense League” and tirelessly worked to foster, consolidate, and develop the united front against Japanese aggression, making significant contributions to supporting the war effort.

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, she became one of its key leaders and played an instrumental role in both domestic and international affairs. She held various important positions including Vice Chairperson of the Central People’s Government of the PRC, Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, Vice Chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and Vice President of the PRC. She was appointed Honorary Chairperson of the All-China Women’s Federation four consecutive times and served as Chairperson of the National Committee for the Protection of Children in China. On May 15, 1981, the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee unanimously decided to admit Soong Ching-ling as a full member of the Communist Party of China. On May 16, the NPC Standing Committee awarded her the honorary title of Honorary President of the People’s Republic of China. Soong Ching-ling passed away in Beijing on May 29, 1981, due to illness. The CPC Central Committee, the NPC Standing Committee, and the State Council held a grand state funeral in her honor. In accordance with her wishes, her ashes were laid to rest beside those of her parents.

The Soong Family Cemetery at the Shanghai International Cemetery was built in 1932, covering an area of 195 square meters. The entire cemetery is densely planted with pines and cypresses, creating a solemn and respectful ambiance. At the center of the cemetery stands a large granite tombstone marking the graves of Soong Ching-ling’s parents. To the west lies the grave of Madam Li Yanyue, who served Soong Ching-ling for over fifty years. To the east is the tomb of Soong Ching-ling. The gravestone is laid flat, measuring 1.2 meters in length and 0.6 meters in width, inscribed with three lines of text: “Tomb of Comrade Soong Ching-ling, Honorary President of the People’s Republic of China, 1893–1981, Erected on June 4, 1981.” In the square in front of the tomb stands a white marble statue of Soong Ching-ling. (National Cultural Heritage Administration)

Address: No. 21, Songyuan Road, Changning District, Shanghai

Type: Museum / Cemetery / Memorial

Recommended visiting time: 1–2 hours

Tel: 021-62754034

Official website: http://www.shsoongching-ling.com

Opening hours:

Mausoleum: 8:30–17:00 (Last entry at 16:30, closed at 17:00); Soong Ching-ling Memorial Hall: 9:00–17:00 (Last entry at 16:30); Children’s Museum: 8:45–16:45 (Last entry at 15:30). Closed on Mondays (extended to the first working day after national holidays).

Ticket information:

Free admission. Visitors may collect a free entry ticket on-site upon presenting a valid personal ID. Daily visitor numbers are limited to 2,000 or fewer.

Soong Ching-ling (1893–1981), Honorary President of the People’s Republic of China, was a modern female revolutionary and one of the founders of the PRC. Her ancestral home was in Gulu Garden Village, Changsa Town. She was born in Shanghai on January 27, 1893. She attended the McTyeire School for Girls in Shanghai in her early years and went to study at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia, USA, in 1908. She graduated in 1913 with a bachelor’s degree. Upon returning to China that same year, she began her revolutionary career as Sun Yat-sen’s secretary.

On October 25, 1915, Soong Ching-ling married Sun Yat-sen... More details about Soong Ching-ling ++

Further reading:

· Second Batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level