Born in 1866 in Xiangshan County (now Zhongshan City), Guangdong Province, Dr. Sun was known across the country as a "great revolutionary and a great statesman" who led the Revolution of 1911 -- the Chinese democratic revolution which overthrew the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and so put an end to China's over-2000-year feudal rule.

Dr. Sun founded China's first republic in Nanjing in 1911 after the fall of the Qing Dynasty. He died of an illness in Beijing on March 12, 1925.

The ceremony was attended by local Communist Party of China and government officials as well as those from non-Communist parties. People placed baskets of flowers in front of Dr. Sun's portrait to show their respect.

(Xinhua News Agency March 12, 2003)