Wuhan Zhongshan Warship Museum

Wuhan Zhongshan Warship Museum
武汉市中山舰博物馆

Address: 1 Zhongshanjian Road, Jinkou Street, Jiangxia District, Wuhan, Hubei Province
Website: www.zhongshanwarship.org.cn(Cn)
Hours: 9:00 – 17:00 (no entry after 16:00)
Closed Mondays
General admission: Free (passport required for entry)

The Zhongshan warship is a defense gunboat well-known in the modern and contemporary history of China. In 1910, it was ordered by the Qing (1644-1911) government from Japan’s Mitsubushi Shipyard of Nagasaki. It was completed in June 1912 and joined the Chinese Navy the next year. In June 1922, Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925) boarded the ship and commanded the battle against Chen Jiongming (1878-1933). In April 1925, in honor of Sun Yat-sen, the ship’s name was changed from Yongfeng to Zhongshan.

In 1938, the gunboat participated in the Battle of Wuhan. On October 24 of the same year, it was struck by a Japanese plane in the battle against the Japanese army in the Yangtze River and sunk. It was not until 1977 that the gunboat was salvaged for restoration, which was completed in 2001.

The gunboat is now displayed in the Ship Hall of the museum, which occupies the very location where the Zhongshan was sunk. The museum has a construction area of 11,000 square meters. Permanent exhibitions include the display of the restored Zhongshan warship hull, items recovered from it, and the historical background of the vessel including its manufacturing, restoration, salvage, and construction of the museum housing it.

The gunboat is regarded as an important historical witness of China's modern history. The tortuous voyages it experienced and the victories it created are of great value in military studies. The legendary Zhongshan warship witnessed Sun Yat-sen's significant achievements in bringing about China's independence and the liberation of the nation, and is a monument to the ongoing struggle.