Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall

Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, situated on the southern slope of Yuexiu Hill, was constructed between 1929 and 1931, a monument to Dr Sun Yat-sen, the forerunner of Chinese democratic revolution, by the people of Guangzhou and overseas Chinese.

The hall, a grand octagon building of typical Chinese architectural style, looks brand new because of reconstruction in 1998. The masterpiece of architecture history is created with a span of 71 meters (about 78 yards) without a pillar but significant outlooks and delicate interior designs. As an important place for conferences and performances, it can hold thousands of people with sound equipment. In the hall there is also a display gallery showing pictures and letters of Sun Yat-sen.

The oldest ceiba in Guangzhou City grows in the hall, like a centuries-old man, witnessing great changes of this city; besides, you can also have a chance to see the two biggest white jade orchid trees of Guangzhou.

A bronze statue of Sun Yat-sen was set up in 1956 in front of the memorial hall. Stepping on the monument by a steel spiral staircase, you are presented with a panoramic view of the memorial hall.

Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall will refresh you after visiting the bustling commercial metropolis and provide you with a moment to touch this great man in Chinese history.

Sacred Heart Church

Sacred Heart Church in Guangzhou is a French Roman Catholic institution and as it was originally built by the French architect Guillemin, all the stained glass that is used in the windows of the church was shipped over to Guangzhou all the way from France itself.

Sacred Heart Church is also known as the "House of Stone" by the Chinese because it is constructed entirely out of granite. The official Chinese name of the church is "Shi Shi Jiaotang." Construction on the church began in the year 1863 and it was finally finished in 1888 during the reign of Emperor Guangxu. The church is an imitation of a European Gothic cathedral and its spires tower to a height of 58m.

As you walk around the church, you will first notice it is almost impossible to enter. The main front entrance is enclosed behind a large wide expanse of iron bars that are locked up, except perhaps on Sundays. Rounding the exterior, you will notice that the stained glass windows have irregular broken pieces that have not been repaired or restored in any way (It is a marvelous decay, with metaphorical reverberations of meaning).

Apart from the granite carapace and kaleidoscopic stained glass, Sacred Heart Church also contains other interesting features such as a huge clock and four large suspended bronze bells which were cast in France and shipped over to Guangzhou, just like the stained glass.