Shilong Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall

Shilong Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall

The Shilong Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall is located within Zhongshan Park in Shilong Town. GPS coordinates: 23°06'46.3"N, 113°51'07.4"E, at an elevation of 5 meters.

The memorial hall faces south and is a two-story structure built with brick, wood, and stone, later modified with a steel truss roof. It measures 42.2 meters in length and 26 meters in width, with a total floor area of 1,200 square meters. The memorial hall was built to commemorate Dr. Sun Yat-sen. It was funded by local residents of Shilong and constructed in 1934, and completed in 1937.

In February 1925, to combat the warlord Chen Jiongming who occupied the Dongjiang region, the Guangdong Revolutionary Government organized the First Eastern Expedition. Due to Shilong’s well-developed land and water transportation, thriving commerce, and proximity to Guangzhou, Dr. Sun Yat-sen led the Eastern Expeditionary Army into Shilong and established his headquarters there. He visited Shilong multiple times to direct military operations. During the First Eastern Expedition, the Expeditionary Army defeated Chen Jiongming’s forces, but a rebellion by warlords such as Yang Ximin broke out in Guangzhou. As a result, the Expeditionary Army had to return to Guangzhou, bringing the First Eastern Expedition to an end. During this time, Dr. Sun Yat-sen passed away due to illness in March 1925. Dr. Sun forged deep revolutionary bonds with the people of Shilong. After his death, to honor his legacy, the local people renamed Shilong Park as Zhongshan Park. In 1929, nine small streets were widened and renamed Zhongshan Road. In 1934, when Shilong had surplus funds after constructing five roads, they decided to build the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. Fundraising and construction proceeded simultaneously, with Luo Pingji of Shilong overseeing the project. The memorial hall was completed in 1937, featuring two stories and a capacity of 1,300 people, with a large stage inside—its scale was rare among county- and township-level Sun Yat-sen memorial halls nationwide at the time. After the victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan, the memorial hall was repurposed as the auditorium for Shilong Middle School. After the liberation of Shilong in 1950, it was renovated and once served as the Shilong Cinema.

In April 2008, Zhongshan Park, where the site of the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall is located, was designated as a Dongguan Patriotic Education Base by the Dongguan Spiritual Civilization Construction Committee. In October 2012, the historical sites of Zhongshan Park, including the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, were listed as part of the Seventh Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units by the People's Government of Guangdong Province.

Shilong Town: Where the ancient and beautiful North Main Stream and South Branch of the Dongjiang River converge, forming a feng shui treasure land of one river and three ports — Shilong

Shilong lies to the north of Guangzhou and to the south of Shenzhen, adjacent to Hong Kong. It is 69 kilometers from Guangzhou and 78 kilometers from Shenzhen, and has long been an important port along the Dongjiang River.

Shilong has a long history of 800 years, with settlers present since the Song Dynasty. Thanks to the Dongjiang River running through the area, water transport has always been highly convenient. By the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties, Shilong had already become a key town in Lingnan. In an era dominated by waterway transportation, Shilong had emerged as a vital hub and strategic passage for transport along the Dongjiang River... More details about Shilong Town ++