A visiting Kuomintang (KMT) delegation led by KMT Vice President Chiang Pin-kung Thursday paid a tribute to a cenotaph containing personal effects of Dr. Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925), the forerunner of anti-feudalism revolution in China, at Biyun Temple on Fragrance Mountain of western Beijing.

Sun passed away on March 12, 1925 and, on April 2, his coffin was temporarily moved into a pagoda in the temple. The pagoda became Dr. Sun's burial site in May 1929 and, afterward his remains was moved to its mausoleum in Nanjing of east China's Jiangsu Province. But his clothes and hats were left behind in the pagoda.

The temple contains Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Memorial Hall, which houses a full-sized white-marble statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen

Upon their arrival at the temple in the morning, delegation members placed a floral basket with a white-silk ribbon in the names of KMT President Lien Chan and Vice-President Chiang in honor of the 80th anniversary of Dr. Sun's death. The delegates made three bows in front of the statue.

Then, they were showed around to see Dr. Sun Yat-sen's works and his coffin with a crystal cover.

At the end of the homage, Chiang wrote in a visitors' book, "The Great Man of the Century."

In an interview with Xinhua, Chiang called Dr. Sun Yat-sen a "great revolutionary and statesman". He said the delegates made this trip to show their boundless esteem and respect to Dr. Sun Yat-sen. "The heavenly soul of Dr. Sun Yat-sen blesses all Chinese," he said.

Chiang wished the people living across the straits a peaceful, happy life

The Biyun Temple on west Beijing's Fragrance Mountain is the last stop on the delegation's mainland tour. In the past few days,the delegation made trips to the KMT martyrs' mausoleum in Guangzhou and the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing.

Source: Xinhua