This thesis investigates the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum as a turning point in thedevelopment of modern Chinese commemorative architecture. Designed by architect Lü Yanzhi, the monument not only addressed the symbolic needs of a new republic but also helped define a hybrid architectural language that combined traditional Chinese forms with modern Western influences. The study is structured around three main areas of analysis. First, it compares the mausoleum with earlier imperial attempts and later state monuments to trace a shift in style and meaning. Second, it examines how the sociopolitical changes of the 20th and 21st centuries reshaped the mausoleum’s symbolic roles from a nationalist shrine to a heritage tourist site. Third, it analyzes the evolution of preservation practices at the site through restoration reports to show historical value and cultural policy changes in China. The findings suggest that the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum has remained relevant not simply because of its original design but because of its resilient ability to adapt architecturally, symbolically, and institutionally to new historical contexts.