Soong Chingling’s Mausoleum

Soong Chingling’s Mausoleum

Though it might seem odd to suggest lazing around in a graveyard on a sunny day, this is actually one of the more beautiful and peaceful little parks in town, with a shady tree-lined glade where you can lie on the grass free from pesky security guards shouting at you. But it’s also worth a visit to see the graves. Soong Chingling’s imposing marble statue is beautiful but the highlight is the northwestern corner of the park, where a host of 20th-century artists and other cultural figures are buried under life-sized statues. These include Zhang Leping, the creator of the iconic Sanmao cartoon (the beloved street urchin is featured too), painter-designer-director Chen Yifei and traditional painter Xie Zhiliu, whose gravestone makes him look like a gangster in dark glasses.