Zhongshan Memorial Hall in Huizhou City

Zhongshan Memorial Hall in Huizhou City

Zhongshan Memorial Hall in Huizhou City is a cultural relics protection unit and a patriotic education base of the city.

Zhongshan Memorial Hall in Huizhou City is located in Zhongshan Park, Huicheng District, Huizhou. It was renovated in 2007. In July 1978, it was designated as a cultural relics protection unit of Huizhou City.

Before the Xinhai Revolution, Sun Yat-sen sent representatives to Huizhou, where they organized and launched the anti-Qing uprisings of Sanzhoutian and Qinvihu. In the 1920s, he led allied forces multiple times to fight against the rebel forces of Chen Jiongming, who occupied Guangdong, and personally went to the Huizhou front line six times to command battles. To commemorate Sun Yat-sen, Huizhou's First Park was renamed “Zhongshan Park” in 1928. In 1937, Zhongshan Memorial Hall was built within the park.

The two streets (roads) that form a cross to the south of Zhongshan Park were renamed Zhongshan East Road, Zhongshan West Road, Zhongshan South Road, and Zhongshan North Road respectively. It was renovated in 2007. In July 1978, it was designated as a cultural relics protection unit of Huizhou City.

Huizhou was one of the important bases where Sun Yat-sen carried out revolutionary activities. On the eve of the Xinhai Revolution, in order to overthrow the Qing Dynasty, Sun Yat-sen sent representatives twice to Huizhou to organize and launch the Sanzhoutian and Qinvihu uprisings. To unify Guangdong and eliminate the warlord forces in Dongjiang, on July 23, 1923, Sun Yat-sen personally supervised troops in Shilong to direct attacks on the rebel forces of Yang Kunru, who were besieged in Huizhou City. From July to September of that year, Sun Yat-sen visited the battlefields of Meihu and Feieling in Huizhou four times to inspect and deploy attacks against the defending enemy forces.

In 1928, to commemorate Sun Yat-sen’s dedication to the national revolution until his last breath, local residents renamed “Huizhou First Park” to “Zhongshan Park.” In 1937, Zhongshan Memorial Hall was built within the park. The memorial hall is 36.6 meters wide and 16.5 meters high. In July 1978, it was listed as a cultural relics protection unit of Huizhou City.

After its completion, the memorial hall was bombed by Japanese aircraft in 1941 and later restored with relief funds. After the liberation, Zhongshan Memorial Hall underwent multiple renovations. In 1964, during one such renovation, the plaque inscribed with Huang Gongzhu’s calligraphy “Zhongshan Memorial Hall” was changed from intaglio to relief, preserving the original characters. In 1978, an 112-square-meter platform was added in front of the main entrance of the memorial hall. In 1986, a bronze statue of Sun Yat-sen was erected in front of the platform. In 2002, Zhongshan Park was renovated again, expanding it from 1.5 hectares to 3 hectares. The base of the bronze statue of Sun Yat-sen was elevated, and the four sides of the base feature reliefs depicting the Sanzhoutian and Qinvihu uprisings. At the main entrance, a Bo'ai Archway was added, featuring the relief inscription “The World Belongs to All.” A white marble lion is placed on each side of the central gate of the archway. Vehicle access on approximately 600 meters of Zhongshan North Road near the main entrance has been restricted. To the east of Zhongshan Park stands a monument to Liao Zhongkai, with inscriptions detailing his life and achievements.