Around Nanjing City
I: Nanjing University and the Mausoleum of Sun Yat-sen

    We spent relatively little time in Nanjing City itself. Our time there was comprised of one day at Nanjing University and another day visiting the Mausoleum of Sun Yet-sen, which was followed by a ride to the ancient observatory, where we saw some old astronomical instruments and got an overview of the city. The pictures from these three events are shown below.
    First are two pictures from our day at the university. We have no outside shots because it rained all day. We met with members of the Department of Atmospheric Science, headed by Professor Tan Zhemin. I was asked to give two lectures, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. They chose from a list of topics that I had earlier provided to Guoshun Zhuang in Beijing. To my great surprise, they asked for the one on scientific writing before the classical scientific one (graphics). The two pictures are from the lecture on scientific writing.

The transparency displayed on the screen is entitled "Long and short subjects." I believe that as this picture was being taken, I was making a point about nouns versus verbs that was illustrated on the white board. The noun phrase "protection of the environment," while a common way of writing in science, is actually a very weak expression because nouns ("protection" here) are inherently weak.

By contrast, the verbal analog, "protecting the environment," is much stronger because verbs are always stronger than their nominal equivalents. Kelly's picture caught me saying something like "Verbs have PUNCH!" The right arm is illustrating the PUNCH.

This series of photos was taken the day we visited Sun Yat-Sen's Mausoleum. In accordance with his wishes, it was located just outside Nanjing, nestled up against the side of a beautiful hill that faces away from the city. You start at the bottom and climb something like 200 steps to the Mausoleum. Unfortunately for us, our visit coincided with the hottest and most humid day of the hot, humid season. We may never have sweat so much before! Our only consolation was that everybody around us seemed to be just as uncomfortable and sweating just as much. Even the Chinese people, whom Kelly and I seldom saw sweating, were sweating profusely. The Japanese tourists were keeping moist towels over their hears, like prizefighters between rounds, as they walked up and down. Water and other beverages were being consumed at unprecedented rates. Here you see our little group, which from left to right included Kelly, Mr. Huang, Gao Qingxian, and Zhu Bin (a student just finishing his M.S. thesis on the transport of ozone). The institute's van is on the left.

Informative signs helped orient us as we entered the grounds. This one reads, "Welcome to the Sun Yat-sen's museum and the Buddhist library. The Buddhist library, on of memorial buildings at Dr. Sun Yatsen's mausoleum, was built in 1935. It became the Sun Yatsen's Museum in 1985, one of the best scenic spots."

This sign reads, "Dr. Sun Yat'sen's Mausoleum. The mausoleum is the graveyard of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the great revolutionary forerunner, which was built from March 1926 to the spring of 1929. It has an area of over 2000 mu with a distance of 700 m and a height difference of 73 m from the Memorial Archway to the Coffin Chamber with a avenue of 392 steps. It was designed by Lü Lanzhia famous architect. The major buildings include the Memorial Archway, the Mausoleum Gate, the Stele Pavilion, the Sacrificial Hall and the Coffin Chamber. The burial rites were held at June 1929. The map of the whole mausoleum looks like an alarm bell which symbolizes the never-ending struggling spirit of Dr. Sun Yat-sen and his devotion of himself to the cause of waking up the masses and saving Chinese nation and state. The Mausoleum was declared as National Major Unit of Protection of Historical Relics by the State Council in 1961."

Right after entering the grounds. This section is on a gentle rise. The major steps are located between the Memorial Archway, which is the first building in the distance, and the Mausoleum, the second and higher building. Gao is explaining something to Kelly.

Approaching the Memorial archway. Note the lion to the right.

The serious climbing between archway and Mausoleum. Trust me—it's more work than it looks.

This sign is describing the Buddhist Library. It reads, "With beautiful environment and magnificent buildings, Buddhist Library is one of the best sceneries in Sun Yat-sen's Memorial park. It was built in 1935 and now renamed as Sun Yat-sen Museum. At Present, it becomes one of the national patriotism education bases."

The grounds were peppered with signs displaying little sayings that were designed to be helpful. Most were written in a style of English that made them quietly humorous. This one reads, "It is difficult to get rid of chening gum sticked on the ground. Don't spit chening gums at random."

Near some benches was a sign that read, "Resting place for the old, the weak, the sick, the deformity."

Ahead to Nanjing City, Part II
Back to Nanjing
Back to Intro to China
Back to Home Page