Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum

Why it's worth it

The tomb of the Republic's father, built 1926-29 on Purple Mountain's southern slope — 392 granite steps in ten flights, blue-tiled and white-walled, the colours of the flag he designed, the whole mountain as a processional.

Don't miss

• The 392-step climb and the view back over Nanjing from the tomb chamber
• The marble statue and the KMT emblem ceiling inside the chamber
• The plane-tree avenue drive up — planted for the 1929 entombment ceremony

Getting there

Metro Line 2 to Muxuyuan station, then the scenic-area shuttle or a 20-minute walk to the entrance.

Tips

• Free entry but reservation needed (passport); do it a few days ahead in peak season
• The steps disguise their number — from the top you can't see a single flight behind you, by design
• Combine downhill with Ming Xiaoling next door via the sacred-way path through the woods