Yinxu Ruins [Anyang]

Regarded as the most representative site of ancient Chinese civilization, the Royal Cemetery site is praised by international experts and scholars as the world’s "Second Egypt". It is on par with the Seven Wonders of the World. The Royal cemetery site is similar to the palace-temple complex on the south side of the Huan river. Therefore it is not only an important component in the Yinxu site, but is also designated by the World Cultural Heritage as a "Core Zone". Thirteen large tombs (including one unfinished large tomb), and more than 2000 accompanying tombs and sacrificial pits were discovered here. Weighing over 875 kilograms, the Si Mu Wu square ding-cauldron, a national treasure, was excavated here as well. It is regarded by academics circles around the world as a dazzling pearl amongst the treasures of ancient Chinese culture. Precisely because of the site’s important value, in 2006 both the palace-temple complex and the royal cemetery were entered into the list of World Cultural Heritage sites.

As one of the four ancient civilizations, China set up a system of archives collection, management and utility as early as in Shang Dynasty (17th century BC- 11th century BC). The massive excavation of Yinxu Ruins in Anyang, Henan Province form late 19th century to 1970s showed that officials were appointed to manage tortoise shells with languages in Shang Dynasty, and they became an important part of the massive bureaucratic system. In the Qin and Han dynasties, China saw the establishment of a complete archives management system, centering on the central governments and involving central and local affairs, including the emperors' routine lives, files, household registrations and land archives.

At present, China's national archives work is managed by a huge system with China's State Archives Bureau at its centre and involving archives management agencies at provincial, prefectural and county levels as well as of various sector. China's major archives include China No.1 Historical Archives (Which has a collection of more than 18 million copies or volumes of Qing Dynasty central and local government archives), Central Archives (which, attached to the central government and founded in 1962, mainly collects the archives of national significance and for ministries and commissions after 1949), China No.2 Historical Archives (which collects the archives of the Republic of China from 1912-49), China Contemporary Literature Museum and China Photo Archives.