During the recent Guangdong Provincial Ethnic Unity and Progress Commendation Conference, the Museum of Dr. Sun Yat-sen was recognized by the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and the provincial government as a "Model Organization for Ethnic Unity and Progress in Guangdong Province" for its outstanding contributions in fostering a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation.

The certificates of "Model Organization for Ethnic Unity and Progress in Guangdong Province." Photo provided to Zhongshan Daily

On November 14, a symposium was held at the museum. Representatives shared best practices on fostering a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, which resonated widely. Recent initiatives include facility upgrades, leveraging unique resources and expanding partnerships to strengthen global Chinese identity. The museum's efforts ensure the patriotic ethos of "rooted in China, devoted to country" deeply resonates.

Cultural heritage as foundation: Resource activation for identity

As a material carrier to Dr. Sun Yat-sen's revolutionary spirit and a cultural landmark in the Greater Bay Area, the Museum of Dr. Sun Yat-sen serves as a vital base for inheriting and promoting Sun Yat-sen's revolutionary spirit and Chinese traditional culture. Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the museum has achieved notable successes in promoting ethnic unity.

Resource integration includes activating Sun Yat-sen's former residence, an important heritage site under state protection, Cuiheng Village, a nationally recognized historic village, and etc. Seven exhibition zones themed "Sun Yat-sen and His Social Context" were developed, forming a nationwide Sun Yat-sen cultural resource network through collaborations with heritage sites across national, provincial and municipal levels.

The Museum of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Photo provided to Zhongshan Daily

Exhibition innovation brings history to life. The upgraded "Dr. Sun Yat-sen, The Great Pioneer of China's Democratic Revolution" exhibition, enhanced through spatial optimization and technology empowerment, was selected as a national-level thematic exhibition. This immersive experience was also featured in the 2025 "Reading China in Museums" initiative jointly announced by national cultural and cyberspace authorities.

Upgraded exhibition in the museum. Photo provided to Zhongshan Daily

Academic research provides robust support. Through the Sun Yat-sen Research Institute (Zhongshan), the museum has published over 40 scholarly works, with The Complete Works of Sun Yat-sen winning the First Prize of the 10th Guangdong Provincial Philosophy and Social Science Outstanding Achievement Award. Over 100 academic seminars systematically traced the evolution of Sun Yat-sen's thoughts, from "Five Races Under One Union" to "Ethnic Self-determination and Equality", allowing the concept of "equality among all ethnic groups within China" to resonate through historical exploration.

Bridging hearts: Forging collective strength beyond boundaries

The museum's core mission is to inherit patriotism and unite national sentiments. Over the past five years, it has welcomed over 14 million visitors (including 140,000 overseas visitors), 100,000 from China's Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions and overseas Chinese communities, and over 50 ethnic minority groups from Tibet, Xinjiang, etc. It functions as a cultural bridge uniting global Chinese communities.

The scope and depth of external cooperation continue to expand. To date, the Museum of Dr. Sun Yat-sen has forged long-term cooperative mechanisms with over 20 cultural institutions in China's Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan as well as in overseas areas, including the Sun Yat-sen Center Foundation. Over 200 joint activities have been organized, attracting over 100,000 participants. Quality exhibitions and cultural exchange activities had been organized for participants from such regions as the US, the UK, Singapore and Malaysia as well as from China's Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

FSM students joining a summer camp in Zhongshan pose for a group photo at the Musuem of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Photo provided to Zhongshan Daily

The 2025 "Root-seeking Journey in China" Overseas Chinese Youth Summer Camp takes place at the Museum of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Photo by Huang Yijie

In March 2025, Zhongshan, Macao and Hong Kong jointly hosted the "From Healing Patients to Saving a Nation: Dr. Sun Yat-sen in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao" exhibition, displaying 14 Hong Kong artifacts, 11 Macao artifacts and collections from the museum to illustrate the Greater Bay Area's shared cultural roots.

The "From Healing Patients to Saving a Nation: Dr. Sun Yat-sen in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao" exhibition opens. Photo by Yu Zhaoyu

Sharat G.Lin, Sun Yat-sen's great-grandson, visits the former residence. Photo provided to Zhongshan Daily

Sun Yat-sen's great-grandson Leland Sun and his wife visit the former residence. Photo provided to Zhongshan Daily

Sun Yat-sen's great-nephew Victor Sun visits the Museum of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Photo by Gao Qianhe

From nearly 100 descendants of the Sun family returning to their ancestral hometown in 2024 to pay tribute and donate 270 items (sets) of family artifacts and historical materials, to the 2025 "Root-seeking Journey in China" Overseas Chinese Youth Summer Camp attracting 58 Chinese-American and Chinese-Austrian youth to trace their roots, and then to the recent visit by Sun Yat-sen's great-grandsons Leland Sun and Sharat G.Lin to Sun Yat-sen's former residence for ancestral worship, each reunion strengthens patriotic bonds and every communication builds consensus for national reunification and rejuvenation.

Nurturing minds: Passing torch to cultivate new era talent

Building a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation starts with the youth. In the past two years, the museum has innovatively launched the "In Pursuit of Sun Yat-sen" series of ideological and political courses, which was recognized as a national-level quality resource for the "Great Ideological and Political Courses" program. Through "delivering lectures to schools", "mobile ideological and political courses" and other programs, the museum has reached various primary and secondary schools in Zhongshan, sharing the patriotic deeds of Sun Yat-sen and the heroic stories of Cuiheng martyrs with tens of thousands of young people.

Nurlan, a student from Xinjiang, leaves his handprint on the "Unity Tree." Photo provided to Zhongshan Daily

Tailored to diverse groups, the museum launched the "Forging Chinese Soul, Painting Rejuvenation Dream" thematic education project in November this year. At the launch ceremony, Zhongshan and Xinjiang students jointly painted the "Unity Tree," while Hong Kong students made inspirational bookmarks. This hands-on approach has allowed the concept of ethnic unity to take root through immersive experiences.

During the National Day holiday this year, the Museum of Dr. Sun Yat-sen welcomes over 150,000 visitors. Photo provided to Zhongshan Daily

In the first half of 2025, the centennial commemoration of Dr. Sun Yat-sen's passing drew extensive media coverage, with single article reaching over 700,000 views, spreading his spirit and ethnic unity ideals globally.

The centennial commemoration of Dr. Sun Yat-sen's passing. Photo by Yu Zhaoyu

Museum officials stated they will leverage "hometown of the great man" advantages to deepen resource integration, advance digital transformation, expand exchanges and cooperation, and strive to become a key base for the education on building a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, contributing to the Chinese nation's largest "concentric circle."