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Campaigners urge free entry to Dr. Sun Yat-sen site

By Qian Yanfeng (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-08-29 10:46

Visitors pay homage to Dr Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum in heavy rain in this November 7, 2008 file photo taken in Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu province. [chinadaily.com.cn]

A campaign is gaining momentum that calls for a famous scenic spot in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, to be opened up to the public for free because of its historical and cultural significance.

Historians and locals are asking government departments why they must pay to access the Dr. Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum.

Sun was one of China's most famous political leaders in the 20th century and the first provisional president after the Republic of China (ROC) was founded in 1912.

Their argument has a legal base: since last year, China has mandated that admission must be free to all memorials and museums categorized as educational patriotic locations. While many other well-known historical sites in the city - including the Memorial Hall of the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders - have already opened their doors for free, the mausoleum continues to charge visitors 80 yuan ($12) each.

The mausoleum attracts around 14,000 visitors a day, bringing in more than one million yuan in daily ticket sales.

Wang Pengshan, director of the administrative bureau of the mausoleum, said that out of the entire mausoleum complex, only Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Memorial Hall fits within the "free entry category".

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He cautioned that free entry to such sites could have a negative impact on the tourism industry.

The bureau is calling for a compromise on the free entry issue, offering free access on Dr. Sun's birthday and the anniversary of his death - Nov 12 and March 12 respectively.

But the suggestion was not enough to satisfy those calling for free entry to the site.

"Memorials and museums like Dr. Sun's mausoleum should be open for free, which is good for public education," said Shen Pingping, a resident in Nanjing. "Government funds may support their operation and maintenance and if that's not enough, authorities may well find alternative ways, like developing the sales and service industry nearby."

Li Gongzhong, an associate professor from the History Department at Nanjing University, agreed.

"Dr. Sun Yat-sen and his mausoleum make up an important part of China's modern history and have always been part of the public memory," Li said. "From a historical and cultural perspective, free admission would mean more people would be able to learn about the history."