The Soong sisters are today still revered for their contributions to China's political scene and war-time efforts. [Photo provided to China Daily]

In the 1930s, she and her husband Chiang initiated the New Life Movement, combining Confucianism with Christianity, and encouraged self-cultivation among the Chinese people.

When the war broke out, she initiated a welfare project to establish schools for orphans of Chinese soldiers and referred to these children as her "warphans". To better provide for them, she established the Chinese Women's National War Relief Society.

Mei-ling also played an active role in the political scene and was the English translator, secretary and advisor to her husband Chiang.

In 1943, Mei-ling became the first Chinese national and only the second woman to make a public address to both houses of the US congress, speaking about the Chinese people's determination to fight against the Japanese invaders.

In 1995, she made a rare public appearance when she attended a reception held on Capitol Hill in her honor as part of the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II.

The original crimson dress and silk shawl that Mei-ling wore at this reception are among the rare exhibits, alongside historical photographs of her 1943 lectures in the US.

"It was her last visit to Washington DC and again, her appearance and speech reflected the spirit of Chinese people which won the respect of the American people. Without the victory of the war against the Japanese invaders, there would not be today's China," says Hau Pei-tsun, a politician from Taiwan who was in the Kuomintang army during the war.