A Trip to the Guangdong Provincial Sun Yat-sen Library

The Guangdong Provincial Sun Yat-sen Library was built with a donation of 250,000 yuan from overseas Chinese in the Americas. Designed by architect Lin Keming, construction began in December 1929 and was completed in October 1933. The Guangdong Provincial Sun Yat-sen Library was built in memory of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, funded by donations from overseas Chinese living in the Americas. The library's design blends Chinese and Western elements, adopting a palatial style. The exterior is a square building with a prominent octagonal pavilion in the center. The main building is surrounded by square steps with white railings in a Chinese style, set against red walls and green tiles, showcasing a traditional national style. Simple, elegant, and richly diverse, the architectural style is similar to that of Sun Yat-sen University, reflecting a strong cultural atmosphere. The exterior is a square building with a prominent octagonal pavilion in the center. On both sides of the main entrance are two bluestone steles (Figure 6): one inscribed with "Records of the Guangzhou Municipal Sun Yat-sen Library" written by Chen Rong, and the other with "Records of the Guangzhou Municipal Sun Yat-sen Library" written by Gu Yingfen. A stone plaque bearing the inscription "The world is for all" is embedded in the entrance hall (Figure 7). Stepping into the library, one can see a large-span octagonal reading room in the center (Figure 8), which is quite magnificent. The designer, Lin Keming, was a pioneer of modern Chinese architecture, a senior architect, and a native of Dongguan, Guangdong. He graduated from the Lyon Institute of Architecture and Engineering in France. After returning to China, he made significant contributions to the architectural design of Guangzhou. From the Haizhu Bridge, along Haizhu Square, the Guangzhou Municipal Government, the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, to the Sun Yat-sen Monument, this 12-kilometer north-south axis forms a crucial part of Guangzhou's historical backbone. The harmonious and unified architectural style along this axis owes much to Lin Keming's outspokenness and unique design vision. The current Guangzhou Municipal Government building is another of Lin Keming's masterpieces.