The former residence of Sun Yat-sen. [File photo by Wen Zhicheng]

Our report begins at the Zhongshan Urban Renewal Bureau where the cultural route protection and utilization planning of Donggan Avenue, a Xiangshan ancient post road, had been announced. According to the Planning, 7 special theme routes and 2 cultural heritage tour routes closely related to Donggan Avenue have been planned.

Zhongshan's Xiangshan Elites Hometown Cultural Route is composed of Nangan Avenue (i.e. the Shiqi-Macao Ancient Road) and Donggan Avenue, with a total length of about 125 kilometers. It covers seven districts and towns, including Shiqi District, East District, South District, Wuguishan District, Torch Development Zone, Nanlang Town and Sanxiang Town.

Donggan Avenue is rich in historical and cultural resources, with a total of 112 historical and cultural sites. Its main route starts from the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and ends at Zhuhai along Sunwen Middle Road, Sunwen East Road, Zhongshan Port Avenue, Yixian Road, Nanqi North Road, Nanqi South Road, and Cuiheng Avenue.

Donggan Avenue is divided into a historical urban section, a city section, and an urban-rural section. These sections combine with the branch line to form seven characteristic theme tour routes, namely the local culture tour route, watchtower tour route, hiking tour route, fishing and farming tour route, overseas Chinese culture tour route, waterfront leisure tour route, and field ride tour.

History tells us that Donggan Avenue was the only way for a group of revolutionists such as Sun Yat-sen to explore the road of China's democratic revolution. Donggan Avenue is home to the former residences of famous people, such as Sun Yat-sen, Lu Haodong, Yang Yin and Cheng Junhai, and many ancient villages.