Construction of the mausoleum started in January 1926, and completed in spring 1929. Dr Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum is located at the southern foot of Mount Xiaomaoshan of Mount Zhongshan. The grave is situated at 158 metres above sea level, the difference of height between the upper and lower levels is 73 metres, the level distance between the memorial archway and the grave is 700 metres and the mausoleum encompasses 3,000 hectares (7,500 acres), of which 2,133 hectares (5,332.5 acres) are covered with all kinds of trees.

The main structures include memorial archway, tomb passage, mausoleum gate, tablet pavilion, sacrificial hall, coffin chamber. A flight of 392 steps leads from the ground level to the coffin chamber in which is a gypsum statue of a seated Dr Sun Yat-sen (sculpted in France by a Polish friend, Landowski). Dr Sun's remains are beneath a recumbent marble statue of him (executed by Japanese associates) in the circular crypt behind the hall. The mausoleum was designed by architect Lu Yanzhi (1894-1929)and the colours are those of the Kuomintang flag. The whole structure resembles a bell of liberty, symbolizing the spirit of continuous struggling of Dr Sun Yat-sen in arousing the people, fighting against oppression and in saving the country and the people.