Plan at a glance
Area size and time
Zhongshan Mountain Scenic Area is large, with Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Meiling Palace, Music Stage and Linggu Temple spread across different parts of the park. For a half-day visit, allow 3–4 hours and choose three or four core stops; adding Linggu Temple and longer walking routes requires a full day.
Each attraction has its own entrance and ticket arrangement, while the sightseeing buses connect the main sites. Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum is free but requires a reservation. Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, Meiling Palace, Music Stage and Linggu Temple can be visited with a combination or individual ticket, so you do not need to rush through every site.
Combination tickets and hours
The four-site combination ticket costs about CNY 100 and covers Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, Meiling Palace, Music Stage and Linggu Temple for two days. Individual tickets are about CNY 70 for Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, CNY 35 for Linggu Temple, CNY 30 for Meiling Palace and CNY 10 for Music Stage; Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum is free with a reservation.
Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum usually opens Tuesday–Sunday from 08:30–17:00 and closes on Mondays, except for public holidays and the commemorative dates for Sun Yat-sen. Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, Meiling Palace, Music Stage and Linggu Temple usually close around 18:00–18:30 in the busy season and may stop entry earlier; follow each site’s day-of arrangements.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
View Visit Optionsvia Trip.comChoose your visit
A 3–4 hour core combination
For a half-day route, choose Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, Meiling Palace, Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and Music Stage. Ming Xiaoling focuses on the Shixiang Road Sacred Way and imperial tomb layout; Meiling Palace covers modern history, architecture and the sycamore walk; Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum centres on its axis and 392 steps; Music Stage is a short stop beside the mausoleum.
Use the sightseeing bus between sites and save most walking for the individual attractions. The tomb chamber at Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum is not part of the visit plan; use the open Bo’ai Archway, central axis, Memorial Hall and hilltop views instead.
A full-day route and fitness choice
Visitors with more energy can enter Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum through Gate 3, walk through Yanque Lake, Changsheng Deer Park, Shixiang Road and Fangcheng Ming Tower, then leave through Gate 5 and continue along Wutong Avenue to Meiling Palace. Continue to Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and Music Stage, and decide whether to add Linggu Temple according to the time left.
Linggu Temple is farther from the central cluster and works well as a separate afternoon section. Add it if you want the quiet woodland setting, the Wuliang Hall and Linggu Pagoda; if anyone in your group has limited stamina, keep Ming Xiaoling, Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and Meiling Palace as the core.
Build your day
An efficient 3–4 hour route
From Muxuyuan Station on Metro Line 2, walk to Gate 5 of Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum and start with Shixiang Road. Walk about 10–15 minutes to Meiling Palace, then take a sightseeing bus to Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, follow the central axis to the Memorial Hall and walk to Music Stage.
After Music Stage, take the sightseeing bus back towards Muxuyuan. The buses reduce the long transfers between attractions, but the stop may still be 10–15 minutes on foot from the core entrance, so include waiting and walking time in a half-day plan.
A full-day route
Enter Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum through Gate 3 and follow Yanque Lake, Changsheng Deer Park, Shixiang Road, Wengzhong Road, Fangcheng Ming Tower and the distant view of the Bao Ding. Leave through Gate 5, continue along Wutong Avenue, then visit Meiling Palace, Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and Music Stage.
If you still have time and energy, take the bus to Linggu Temple. Leave time for water, meals and bus queues; return from the nearest practical metro station or the parking location you booked.
Early-entry Ming Xiaoling route
Entering Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum through Gate 3 or Gate 5 before 06:30 may qualify for free main-gate admission. This applies only to the main entrance; internal attractions and the other sites still use their own ticket rules. Visitors who qualify for free entry should still confirm whether a zero-yuan reservation is required.
This route suits visitors who can start early and walk well. See Shixiang Road and the tomb area first, then decide whether to buy a combination or individual ticket for the other sites instead of trying to complete everything during the midday peak.
Get there
Muxuyuan and Xiamafang Stations
Muxuyuan Station on Metro Line 2 is the practical starting point for Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum and Wutong Avenue. From Exit 1, walk a few minutes to Gate 3 or the beginning of Wutong Avenue. Xiamafang Station works for a reverse route through Linggu Temple and Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum before leaving towards Muxuyuan.
Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum can also be reached by sightseeing bus from Xiaolingwei Station, which is often less crowded and useful for families with older relatives or children. Choose the station according to the direction of your route.
Local transport and driving
Sightseeing buses cost about CNY 10 per ride or CNY 30 for unlimited rides on the day. Shared electric bikes are more flexible, but parking and riding areas may be restricted during busy periods; bus stops may also be some distance from the actual attraction entrance.
Traffic controls are strict on holidays, and private cars may not be able to reach the attraction entrances. Parking may require advance reservation, so driving is not recommended unless you have confirmed the parking and transfer plan.
Know before you go
Reservations and the 2026 college-freshman promotion
Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum requires a real-name reservation; during holidays, make it at least three days ahead. From August 1 to September 30, 2026, a free-entry promotion for 2026 college freshmen across China covers sites including Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, Linggu Temple, Music Stage and Meiling Palace. Eligible visitors need to reserve through the official Zhongshan Mountain Scenic Area mini-program or a reputable platform and present the reservation code, ID and admission notice or student ID at entry.
The promotion has its own ticket type and eligibility rules, separate from the standard combination ticket. Confirm which ticket you reserved and use official channels rather than street sellers or unofficial ticket services.
Shoes, supplies and crowds
Walking distances inside Zhongshan Mountain are long, and Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum has many steps. Wear sports shoes and choose the route according to your energy. Sightseeing buses may have long queues during holidays, while Meiling Palace is often busier in the afternoon; mornings or later afternoons are easier to manage.
There are small shops and some food options, but the sites are far apart, so carry enough water and a small snack. Linggu Temple has vegetarian food, and the wider scenic area has cafés and simple meals; do not place a full meal inside a tight transfer window or you may miss a reserved entry time.