Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum: Plan the 392-Step Visit

Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum stands in Nanjing's Purple Mountain scenic area. A ceremonial axis runs from the entrance arches up toward the memorial hall, and the long stairway is the physical heart of the visit.

Along the central axis you pass the tomb passage, the mausoleum gate, the stele pavilion, the ancestral hall and the tomb chamber, in that order from south to north. The words on the three arches of the ancestral hall carry Sun Yat-sen's core idea of the Three Principles of the People.^[1] The walk has a clear historical thread, and you do not need a museum ticket to follow it.

The 392-step climb

From the plaza to the memorial hall the mausoleum has 392 Suzhou-granite steps in ten sections, with a platform between each pair. Looking down from a platform you see what looks like level ground, and looking up you see only stairs, a trick of the design.^[2] Pause on the platforms and set your own pace. If stairs are a problem, ask the visitor service about alternatives before you go.

Entry and ticket information

This table follows the Nanjing tourism bureau's listing from May 2024.^[1] Prices and hours can change, so check them for your date.

The mausoleum runs on timed reservations, and you enter the tomb area in your booked slot. Individual visitors can book through the "Nanjing Zhongshan Scenic Area" WeChat account, the Zhongshan Mausoleum Park ticket-center WeChat account or the Meituan app, or bring their ID card to the self-service reservation machines at the site.^[3] Plan to book ahead on holidays.

Getting there and moving around

The mausoleum is a walk of about 1,000 meters from Exit 1 of Muxuyuan Station on Metro Line 2.^[1] Shuttle buses make the last stretch easier. One route runs from Xiamafang metro station through the mausoleum's west parking area and Meiling Palace to Mausoleum South Station. Another links Xiaolingwei metro station with the mausoleum and Ming Xiaoling Gate 7. All shuttle routes and stops can be found in the Amap navigation app.^[4]

A single shuttle ride costs CNY10 per person and ends when you get off. A day ticket for unlimited rides costs CNY30, and the special commentary route inside Ming Xiaoling is separate at CNY32 per person.^[4]

Reaching a metro or shuttle stop is not the same as reaching the top of the approach, so allow for the 392 steps. If you take a taxi or a ride-hailing car, enter the mausoleum's name in Chinese and confirm the drop-off point in the app.

Pairing it with Ming Xiaoling

Ming Xiaoling is the tomb of the Ming founding emperor Zhu Yuanzhang and Queen Ma, and the largest imperial tomb in Nanjing. It lies a walk of about 500 meters from Exit 1 of Muxuyuan Station.^[1] UNESCO added the Xiaoling Tomb to the World Heritage inscription of the Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in 2003.^[5]

Choose which site matters most to you and use the shuttle to link them. Together they make a satisfying half day or more, depending on how often you stop on the stairs.

Practical planning

• Wear shoes suited to stairs. The route has 392 steps, separated by platforms.
• Bring water and take breaks. The platforms are made for pausing.
• Book your slot. Reserve through one of the official channels before you arrive.
• Use the shuttles. They save your legs for the climb.
• Follow on-site signs. They set the rules for photography and behavior in the memorial areas.

Plan it in Nanjing

Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and Ming Xiaoling can anchor a day in Purple Mountain, with other Nanjing sights planned separately. For a different part of the city, see our Fuzimiao and Qinhuai River guide; use the China travel overview to plan onward stops.