Fuzhou Zhongshan Memorial Hall

Fuzhou Zhongshan Memorial Hall

Fuzhou Zhongshan Memorial Hall is located within the compound at No. 23 Zhongshan Road, Fuzhou.

In April 1912, in order to promote national unification between the north and south, Dr. Sun Yat-sen formally resigned as the provisional President of the Republic of China and planned to tour various provinces. Lin Sen, then the President of the Nanjing Provisional Senate, immediately sent a telegram to the Fujian Provincial Governor’s Office, requesting that they promptly invite Dr. Sun to visit Fujian. Dr. Sun had a strong interest in Fujian and was deeply mindful of the province’s patriots who made outstanding contributions to the Xinhai Revolution. On his way back to Guangdong, he made a special trip to Fujian, “bringing boundless honor to the land of Fujian.” On the evening of April 20, 1912, Dr. Sun Yat-sen visited the “Zigongtang” (Hall of Great Justice) at the Fujian Advisory Bureau located at Gongyuan Ting. He first addressed the students who had lined up to welcome him, expressing his care and encouragement for the youth. He then delivered an important speech to Fujian’s military and government officials. He said, “Although we have now established a republic, this is only the beginning of the revolutionary cause. How to consolidate the foundation of the republic and how to solve the issue of people’s livelihood all depend on our comrades redoubling their efforts in order to achieve the goals of the revolution. The 19 martyrs from Fujian who sacrificed heroically at Huanghuagang are a glory to the people of Fujian. It is hoped that the people of Fujian will fulfill the unfinished aspirations of these martyrs.” Those present were greatly inspired, feeling deeply honored, moved, and excited to be able to directly witness Dr. Sun’s presence and hear his words in Fuzhou. On April 22, Dr. Sun Yat-sen boarded a ship bound for Guangdong, concluding his short yet unforgettable visit to Fujian. To commemorate Dr. Sun’s visit, the people of Fujian renamed Gongyuan Ting Street to “Zhongshan Road” and Zigongtang to “Zhongshan Hall” in 1932, as a symbol of eternal reverence.

The predecessor of Zhongshan Hall was the imperial examination hall from the Ming and Qing dynasties. It was rebuilt in the seventh year of the Daoguang reign during the Qing Dynasty (1827) and was called "Zigongtang" (Hall of Great Justice). In the thirtieth year of the Guangxu reign (1904), with the abolition of the imperial examination system, it was repurposed as the Fujian Advisory Bureau. This historic building, with its blend of Chinese and Western architectural styles in the form of an assembly hall, had endured a century of wear and tear and had fallen into disrepair. In October 1991, the Fuzhou Municipal Government designated it as a historical memorial site. With strong support from the Fujian Provincial Committee and Government of the Communist Party of China, the hall came under the management and use of the Fujian Provincial Committee of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang. Starting in June 2001, comprehensive restoration work was carried out in accordance with the principle of “restoring the old as it was,” meticulously repairing the eight large pillars, beams, ceiling paintings, Roman-style arches, and both interior and exterior structures to their original appearance, thus revitalizing this ancient building. The restored Zhongshan Hall is square-shaped, facing south with its back to the north, featuring a heavy brick-and-stone exterior structure and a roof with blue tiles and upturned eaves, giving the memorial hall a solemn, classic, and majestic appearance. It covers an area of 1,600 square meters, with a construction area of 2,400 square meters, partially two stories high, and includes a hallway, central hall, and nearly 20 rooms of varying sizes. Eight nanmu wood pillars, beam joints, and the painted floral designs on the ceiling, along with the Roman-style arches, have all been replicated and preserved in their original form. Two bronze statues of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, cast with donations from all members of the Fujian Provincial Committee of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, are also placed both inside and outside the hall for public veneration. On June 21, 2002, He Luli, Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, personally attended the unveiling ceremony. This inauguration marked the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Fuzhou Zhongshan Memorial Hall. The hall now houses exhibition rooms such as “The Century’s Great Man Sun Yat-sen and Fujian’s Democratic Revolution,” and houses precious relics including Dr. Sun’s calligraphy piece inscribed with the word “Universal Love,” multiple bronze statues of Dr. Sun, artifacts and over 260 photos of Fujian-born revolutionaries of the Xinhai Revolution. It has become an important site for the people of Fujian to commemorate Dr. Sun Yat-sen.