Cultural Relics Protection Law of the People's Republic of China (2017 Amendment)

Chapter 1 General Provisions Article 1 In order to strengthen the protection of cultural relics, inherit the outstanding historical and cultural heritage of the Chinese nation, promote scientific research, carry out education on patriotism and revolutionary traditions, and build socialist spiritual civilization and material Civilization, in accordance with the Constitution, enacts this law. Article 2 Within the territory of the People's Republic of China, the following cultural relics are protected by the state:

(1) Ancient cultural sites, ancient tombs, ancient buildings, cave temples and other cultural relics with historical, artistic and scientific value Stone carvings and murals;

(2) Important modern and modern historical sites, objects and representative buildings that are related to major historical events, revolutionary movements or famous figures and have important commemorative significance, educational significance or historical material value;< /p>

(3) Precious artworks and arts and crafts from various eras in history;

(4) Important documents and materials from various eras in history, as well as manuscripts with historical, artistic, and scientific value and books and materials, etc.;

(5) Representative objects that reflect the social systems, social production, and social life of various eras and ethnic groups in history.

The standards and methods for the identification of cultural relics are formulated by the cultural relics administrative department of the State Council and submitted to the State Council for approval.

Palaeovertebrate fossils and ancient human fossils with scientific value are protected by the state like cultural relics. Article 3 Immovable cultural relics such as ancient cultural sites, ancient tombs, ancient buildings, cave temples, stone carvings, murals, important modern and contemporary historical sites and representative buildings may be determined as national key cultural relics based on their historical, artistic and scientific value. Protection units, provincial-level cultural relics protection units, city- and county-level cultural relics protection units.

Removable cultural relics such as important objects, works of art, documents, manuscripts, books and materials, and representative objects from various eras in history are divided into precious cultural relics and general cultural relics; precious cultural relics are divided into first-class cultural relics and second-class cultural relics. Cultural relics, third-level cultural relics. Article 4: Cultural relics work implements the policy of giving priority to protection, rescuing first, rational utilization, and strengthening management. Article 5: All cultural relics remaining underground, in internal waters and territorial waters within the territory of the People's Republic of China and the People's Republic of China shall be owned by the state.

Ancient cultural sites, ancient tombs, and cave temples are owned by the state. Immovable cultural relics such as memorial buildings, ancient buildings, stone carvings, murals, and modern representative buildings designated by the state belong to the state unless otherwise specified by the state.

The ownership of state-owned immovable cultural relics will not be changed by changes in the land ownership or use rights to which they are attached.

The following movable cultural relics belong to the state:

(1) Cultural relics unearthed in China, unless otherwise stipulated by the state;

(2) State-owned Cultural relics collected and kept by cultural relic collection units and other state agencies, military units, state-owned enterprises, and public institutions;

(3) Cultural relics collected and purchased by the state;

(4) Citizens , cultural relics donated to the state by legal entities and other organizations;

(5) Other cultural relics owned by the state as stipulated by law.

The ownership of movable cultural relics owned by the state will not be changed by the termination or change of the unit of custody or collection.

The ownership of state-owned cultural relics is protected by law and cannot be infringed. Article 6 The ownership of collectively owned and privately owned memorial buildings, ancient buildings, ancestral cultural relics and other cultural relics acquired in accordance with the law shall be protected by law. Owners of cultural relics must abide by national laws and regulations regarding the protection of cultural relics. Article 7: All agencies, organizations and individuals have the obligation to protect cultural relics in accordance with the law. Article 8: The cultural relics administrative department of the State Council is responsible for the protection of cultural relics nationwide.

Local people's governments at all levels are responsible for the protection of cultural relics within their own administrative regions. The departments responsible for the protection of cultural relics under the local people's governments at or above the county level shall supervise and manage the protection of cultural relics within their respective administrative regions.

Relevant administrative departments of the people's governments at or above the county level are responsible for relevant cultural relics protection work within their respective scope of responsibilities. Article 9 People's governments at all levels should attach great importance to the protection of cultural relics, correctly handle the relationship between economic construction, social development and cultural relics protection, and ensure the safety of cultural relics.

Infrastructural construction and tourism development must abide by the guidelines for cultural relics protection, and their activities must not cause damage to cultural relics.

Public security organs, industrial and commercial administration departments, customs, urban and rural construction planning departments and other relevant state agencies should conscientiously perform their responsibilities to protect cultural relics in accordance with the law and maintain the order of cultural relics management. Article 10: The state develops cultural relics protection undertakings. People's governments at or above the county level shall incorporate cultural relics protection into the national economic and social development plans at the same level, and the required funds shall be included in the fiscal budget at the same level.

The state’s financial allocation for cultural relics protection increases with the growth of fiscal revenue.

Private income from state-owned museums, memorial halls, cultural relics protection units, etc. shall be used exclusively for cultural relics protection and shall not be misappropriated or misappropriated by any unit or individual.

The state encourages the establishment of social funds for the protection of cultural relics through donations and other means, which are specifically used for the protection of cultural relics. No unit or individual may appropriate or misappropriate them. Article 11 Cultural relics are non-renewable cultural resources. The state strengthens publicity and education on cultural relics protection, enhances the awareness of cultural relics protection among the people, encourages scientific research on cultural relics protection, and improves the scientific and technological level of cultural relics protection.