Guanghua Pavilion at the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum

Guanghua Pavilion at the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum

Guanghua Pavilion at the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum is a cultural tourism attraction.

Guanghua Pavilion at the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum

Among the auxiliary structures around the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, the most exquisite is undoubtedly Guanghua Pavilion. Perched on a hillside to the east of the mausoleum and nestled among lush pines and cypresses, this octagonal, double-eaved pavilion with a pointed roof was built with donations from overseas Chinese during the state funeral ceremony of Dr. Sun Yat-sen.

Guanghua Pavilion was designed by architect Liu Dunzhen. The construction was contracted to Fujian’s Jiang Yuancheng Stone Factory at a cost of 65,000 yuan. Work began in July 1931 and was completed in 1934. The entire pavilion is built from Fujian granite. Traditional Chinese decorative elements such as the ridges, roofing, eaves brackets, dougong (bracket sets), beams, columns, spandrels, and caisson ceilings are all carved from granite, using a total of 850 tons of stone.

Guanghua Pavilion stands approximately 13.33 meters tall and is 10 meters wide. It rests on a two-tiered square base: the lower tier has sides 22 meters long and is about 1.67 meters high, surrounded by sloping ground covered with grass; the upper platform is roughly 12.67 meters per side and enclosed by stone railings. The pavilion’s columns are round, totaling 12 — eight on the outer ring and four inside — each with a diameter of about 0.67 meters. The interior floor is elevated about 0.33 meters above the upper platform, accessed by stone steps around the perimeter. The entire structure uses premium materials, with meticulous craftsmanship, finely carved details, simple yet classic patterns, delicate ornamentation, and graceful form. Harmony and perfection are achieved from the smallest details to the overall design.

This grayish-white pavilion, standing amid lush pines and cypresses, not only symbolizes the noble and pure spirit of Dr. Sun Yat-sen but also reflects the ingenious design vision of its creator.

Sun Yat-sen (1866–1925), also known as Wen, with the courtesy name Zaizhi and the art names Risun and Yixian, his childhood name Dixiang, and alias Zhongshan Qiao, often went by the name Zhongshan. Born into a farming family in Cuiheng Village, Xiangshan County (now Zhongshan City), Guangdong Province, he was influenced in his youth by the tradition of struggle among the people of Guangdong and admired the revolutionary cause of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. He was a pioneer of China’s modern national democratic revolution, a great forerunner of China’s democratic revolution, the founder of the Republic of China and the Kuomintang, an advocate of the Three Principles of the People, and the creator of the Five-Power Constitution. He was the first to raise the banner of complete anti-feudalism... More detailed information about Sun Yat-sen ++