A significant figure in the history of the Chinese peoples, Sun Yat Sen is known as the “Father of the Nation” of the Republic of China after he overthrew the Qing Dynasty. In Southeast Asia, Sun Yat Sen founded the tongmenghui, a coalition of political parties, thus uniting many of the anti-Manchu overseas Chinese. He also travelled throughout Southeast Asia collecting funds to support the uprisings in South China. To ensure operations, Sun Yat Sen chose Singapore as the nerve center of his revolution after he was banned entry into Hong Kong.
What to Expect at the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall?
In 1996, the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry dedicated the Wan Qing Yuan, a national monument, to Sun Yat Sen’s memory. Resting amongst lush greenery, the tranquil villa may look like an ordinary house. Inside, it is home to a whooping 400 artifacts, including calligraphy works, photographs, old books, paintings, sculpture and more, neatly organised over 5 galleries in 2 levels.
There, one can expect to be immersed in the rich history of the monument. On top of that, Sun Yat Sen’s life, as well as the impacts of the revolution and rise of the Chinese is illustrated through various paintings and photographs. Effort has also been made to recreate Sun Yat Sen’s study room, to give visitors a peek into Sun’s lifestyle and personality.
If you do not know where to start upon arriving, there are free daily guided tours. After visiting the exhibits, you can relax and take a leisurely stroll in the garden, or even head down to the Balestier precinct and have some delicious local food like chicken rice and ‘bak kut teh’.
If you are interested in history and culture, then this is the place for you.
If you are interested in history and culture, then this is the place for you. Furthermore, from 21st November 2015 to 24 April 2016, every Tuesday to Sunday, visitors can visit an extra exhibition — “Balestier: A Hundred Years”. The exhibit sheds light on what the Balestier area was like throughout the mid-1800s all the way to the 1960s alongside text, artefacts, archival materials, historical photographs and oral interviews!
Other useful information:
Address: 12 Tai Gin Road, Singapore 327874
Hotline: 6256 7377
Opening Hours:
10am to 5pm, Tuesday to Sunday
Closed on Mondays
Do note that the exhibit might not be suitable for young children, do to the graphic nature of some of the war paintings and photography.
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