Reunited at long last

The exhibition at Duoyunxuan Art Center showcases rare photographs like this one, in addition to artifacts including the clothes and daily utensils used by the sisters. [Photo provided to China Daily]

There has never been a trio of sisters more famous in China than the Soongs, and their contributions to the country and the war-time efforts have now been immortalized in a unique exhibition named "The Soong Sisters: Special Memories".

The exhibition, which occupies 2,500 square meters at the Duoyunxuan Art Center, debuted on April 28 and will run till July 31. It is jointly presented by Xinmin Evening News and the municipal management council for the cultural relics of Sun Yat-sen and Soong Ching-ling.

The 300 exhibits on show, which comprises original documents, photographs, video recordings, clothing, daily utensils and artworks, were collected from both sides of the Taiwan Straits.

The three women - Ai-ling (1888-1973), Ching-ling (1893-1981) and Mei-ling (1898-2003) - are well-known for their key roles in China's political scene throughout the 20th century. Two of them were once the first ladies of China - Ching-ling married Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925), also known as the "Father of Modern China" while Mei-ling wedded Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975), the former leader of the Kuomintang government and president of the Republic of China. The eldest sibling, Ai-ling, was married to Kung Hsiang-hsi (1881-1967), the richest man in China in the early 1900s.

While Mei-ling and Ai-ling were ardent supporters of the Kuomintang (KMT), Ching-ling was steadfast in her Communism beliefs. Despite their differences in ideology, the three sisters nonetheless joined hands to lend vital support to war relief efforts in the fight against the Japanese invaders.