The great stairway
392 steps.
xiquinhosilva — CC BY 2.0 · Heights — CC BY-SA 3.0 · 4084470 0.smil — CC BY 4.0 · 董辰兴 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · xiquinhosilva — CC BY 2.0 · Yosomono from Fukuoka, Japan — CC BY 2.0 · 維基小霸王 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · xiquinhosilva — CC BY 2.0
The tomb of Sun Yat-sen, called in China «the father of modern China» for leading the revolution that ended imperial rule in 1911, lies on the southern slope of green Purple Mountain east of Nanjing and was built between 1926 and 1929, soon after his death. The architect Lü Yanzhi laid it out in the shape of a bell when seen from above; a broad stairway 480 metres long and 50 metres wide with 392 steps climbs to it between pines, cypresses and ginkgo trees, ending at a white marble hall with a blue roof that looks out over the whole city. The tomb belongs to the wide Purple Mountain scenic area of woods and trails, which also holds the Ming Xiaoling tomb, the Meiling Palace and flower gardens, among Nanjing's loveliest outings in spring and autumn. Entry is free with a timed booking under your own name; bookings open seven days ahead at 16:00 each day, per visitor guides. The stairway is long and exposed to the sun, so go early in the morning and bring your passport for entry.
392 steps.
With a blue roof.
Woods and trails.
Foot of Purple Mountain (Zijin Shan), east Nanjing
Yes, entry is free but needs a timed booking under your name; bookings open seven days ahead at 16:00, per visitor guides.
