Sun Yat-sen’s Former Residence Memorial Hall

Sun Yat-sen’s Former Residence Memorial Hall

Sun Yat-sen’s Former Residence Memorial Hall is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit and a patriotic education base.

Sun Yat-sen’s Former Residence Memorial Hall is located in Cuiheng Village, Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province. It is a memorial museum centered around the former residence of Sun Yat-sen in Cuiheng Village. Established in November 1956, its main exhibits include Sun Yat-sen’s Former Residence, an exhibition on Sun Yat-sen’s life and achievements, and a display of Cuiheng traditional houses. The museum is administratively under the Zhongshan Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, News and Publication. In May 2008, it was announced by the National Cultural Heritage Administration as one of the first batch of National First-Class Museums.

Sun Yat-sen’s Former Residence is the only National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit in Zhongshan City. It is located in Cuiheng Village, Nanlang Town, facing southwest and covering an area of 500 square meters with a construction area of 340 square meters. It was built in 1892 under the direction of Sun Yat-sen, funded by a remittance from his eldest brother Sun Mei from Honolulu.

Sun Yat-sen’s Former Residence is a two-story building combining Chinese and Western architectural styles, with a brick-and-wood structure, surrounded by a courtyard wall. On the south side outside the main gate, there is a stone plaque inscribed “National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit — Sun Yat-sen’s Former Residence.” On the south side of the main entrance, there is a wooden plaque with the inscription “Sun Yat-sen’s Former Residence,” handwritten by Soong Ching-ling. The building’s exterior imitates Western architecture. The upper floor features seven ochre-colored ornamental arches. At the center of the eaves is a grey relief decorated with a halo, beneath which is carved an eagle holding a ring in its beak. The interior design follows traditional Chinese architecture: the central hall is flanked by two wing rooms. The gray-bricked walls are outlined with white lines. Windows are symmetrically placed below the main beams. The building has many doors, windows, and passageways. Inside, you can exit to the street from various directions, and no matter how you turn, you can always return to your starting point. Above the main door is a couplet: “One rafter finds its place; five osmanthus trees shelter peace,” personally written by Sun Yat-sen after the building was completed. To the right of the courtyard is a well, and the surrounding area (about 32 square meters) is where Sun Yat-sen’s birthplace once stood. On November 12, 1866, Sun Yat-sen was born here.

The furnishings in the main hall were arranged by Sun Yat-sen himself. In 1883, he brought back two kerosene lamps from Honolulu and placed them on the shelf. The rear room was the bedroom of Sun Yat-sen’s mother. The south side of the main hall was the bedroom of Sun Yat-sen’s eldest brother Sun Mei and his wife, Madam Tan. The north wing room was the bedroom of Sun Yat-sen and his first wife, Lu Muzhen. The large wooden bed, dressing table, and stools used at the time are still in place. Sun Yat-sen lived here during 1892–1895 and again in 1912. On the second floor to the south was Sun Yat-sen’s study, with a photo of him at age 17 hanging on the wall. The room contains the desk, chairs, and iron bed that Sun Yat-sen used daily. In the winter of 1893, Sun Yat-sen studied ancient and modern texts here, seeking truths to save the nation and its people. He also drafted his “Letter to Li Hongzhang” here, proposing the principles of “fully utilizing people’s talents, maximizing land benefits, making full use of resources, and ensuring the smooth flow of goods.” In 1895, he discussed strategies for saving the nation with Lu Haodong in this study and also treated fellow villagers’ illnesses here.

To the south of the courtyard is a mangosteen tree planted by Sun Yat-sen in 1883 from seeds he brought back from Honolulu. It is vigorous and lush. To the north is a brick flower stand.

There are also relics of activities from Sun Yat-sen’s youth around the residence. Between the ages of 7 and 12, Sun Yat-sen often went woodcutting with his elder sister, Miaoqian, on Golden Betel Nut Mountain. The ancient well halfway up the mountain was where he often fetched water. He also frequently caught fish and swam in the stream at the foot of the mountain, Lanxi.

In front of the courtyard is a large banyan tree where, in his childhood, Sun Yat-sen often listened to the veteran Feng Guanshuang — who had joined the Taiping Army — recount stories of the Taiping Rebellion leaders resisting the Qing Dynasty.

It is reported that the Sun Yat-sen’s Former Residence project has a total investment of about 13 billion yuan. By developing the core area of Sun Yat-sen’s Former Residence, the plan is to build an international leisure resort town integrating modern and historical elements, aiming to establish a National 5A-Level Tourist Attraction within 3 to 5 years. The Xinhai Revolution Memorial Park covers an area of 19.8 mu, with a total investment of about 39.32 million yuan, and has now been completed.

Address: No. 93, Cuiheng Avenue, Nanlang Town, Zhongshan City

Type: Celebrity Former Residence Museum

Rating: AAAAA

Recommended Visiting Time: 2–3 hours

Phone: 0760-28158366

Official Website: http://www.sunyat-sen.org/indexpc.php

Opening Hours:

9:00–17:00. Ticket collection time: 9:00–16:30. No entry after 16:30.

Ticket Information:

Free admission. Free does not mean no ticket — the daily visitor limit is 33,000 people.

Sun Yat-sen (1866–1925), whose given name was Wen, courtesy name Zaizhi, also known as Risheen or Yixian, childhood name Dixiang, alias Zhongshanqiao, often used Zhongshan as his name. He was born into a farming family in Cuiheng Village, Xiangshan County (now Zhongshan City), Guangdong Province. In his youth, influenced by the revolutionary traditions of the people of Guangdong, he 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, a 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 details about Sun Yat-sen ++

Cuiheng Village: Cuiheng Village is under the jurisdiction of Nanlang Town, Zhongshan City. It is located in the southeastern part of Zhongshan City and also in the southeast of Nanlang Town. It borders the Lingdingyang of the Pearl River Estuary to the east, facing Qi’ao Island of Zhuhai City across the sea, connects to Jinding Town of Zhuhai City to the south, leans against Wuguishan Mountain to the west, and neighbors Yakou Village to the northeast. The Beijing-Zhuhai Expressway runs east of the village. The Zhonggong Highway runs through the village. Cui Shan Road connects the Zhonggong Highway to the east and Chenggui Highway to the west, passing by the Yixian Reservoir. It is a vital hub for water and land transportation in the southeastern part of Zhongshan City.

In April 2002, the three village committees of Cuiheng, Xiasha, and Shimen were merged into Cui... More details about Cuiheng Village ++

Further Reading:

· China’s National First-Class Museums

· Third Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units

Sun Yat-sen’s Hometown Tourism Area

Zhongshan City (Zhongshan Film and Television City)

Xinhai Revolution Memorial Park

Cuiheng Ancient Village