中华人民共和国文物保护法

 

Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Cultural Relics

 

第一条 为了加强国家对文物的保护，有利于开展科学研究工作，继承我国优秀的历史文化遗产，进行爱国主义和革命传统教育，建设社会主义精神文明，特制定本法。

 

Article 1 This Law is formulated with a view to strengthening state protection of cultural relics, contributing to the development of scientific research, inheriting the splendid historical and cultural legacy of our nation, conducting education in patriotism and in the revolutionary tradition, and building a socialist society with an advanced culture and ideology.

 

　　第二条 在中华人民共和国境内，下列具有历史、艺术、科学价值的文物，受国家保护：

 

Article 2 The state shall place under its protection, within the boundaries of the People's Republic of China, the following cultural relics of historical, artistic or scientific value:

 

　　（一）具有历史、艺术、科学价值的古文化遗址、古墓葬、古建筑、石窟寺和石刻；

 

(1) sites of ancient culture, ancient tombs, ancient architectural structures, cave temples and stone carvings that are of historical, artistic or scientific value;

 

　　（二）与重大历史事件、革命运动和著名人物有关的，具有重要纪念意义、教育意义和史料价值的建筑物、遗址、纪念物；

 

(2) buildings, memorial sites and memorial objects related to major historical events, revolutionary movements or famous people that are highly memorable or are of great significance for education or for the preservation of historical data;

 

　　（三）历史上各时代珍贵的艺术品、工艺美术品；

 

(3) valuable works of art and handicraft articles dating from various historical periods;

 

　　（四）重要的革命文献资料以及具有历史、艺术、科学价值的手稿、 古旧图书资料等；

 

(4) important revolutionary documents as well as manuscripts and ancient or old books and materials, etc., that are of historical, artistic or scientific value; and

 

　　（五）反映历史上各时代、各民族社会制度、社会生产、社会生活的代表性实物。

 

(5) typical material objects reflecting the social system, social production or the life of various nationalities in different historical periods.

 

　　文物鉴定的标准和办法由国家文化行政管理部门制定，并报国务院批准。

 

The criteria and measures for the verification of cultural relics shall be formulated by the state department for cultural administration, which shall report them to the State Council for approval.

 

　　具有科学价值的古脊椎动物化石和古人类化石同文物一样受国家的保护。

 

Fossils of paleovertebrates and paleoanthropoids of scientific value shall be protected by the state in the same way as cultural relics.

 

　　第三条 国家文化行政管理部门主管全国文物工作。

 

Article 3 The state department for cultural administration shall take charge of the work concerning cultural relics throughout the country.

 

　　地方各级人民政府保护本行政区域内的文物。各省、自治区、直辖市和文物较多的自治州、县、自治县、市可以设立文物保护管理机构，管理本行政区域内的文物工作。

 

Local people's governments at various levels shall place under their protection cultural relics in their respective administrative areas. Provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government as well as autonomous prefectures, counties, autonomous counties and cities where there are relatively large amounts of cultural relics may set up organs for the protection and control of the cultural relics within their respective administrative areas.

 

　　一切机关、组织和个人都有保护国家文物的义务。

 

All government organs, public organizations and individuals have the obligation to protect the country's cultural relics.

 

　　第四条 中华人民共和国境内地下、内水和领海中遗存的一切文物，属于国家所有。

 

Article 4 All cultural relics remaining underground or in the inland waters or territorial seas within the boundaries of the People's Republic of China shall be owned by the state.

 

　　古文化遗址、古墓葬、石窟寺属于国家所有。国家指定保护的纪念建筑物、古建筑、石刻等，除国家另有规定的以外，属于国家所有。

 

Sites of ancient culture, ancient tombs and cave temples shall be owned by the state. Memorial buildings, ancient architectural structures, stone carvings, etc., designated for protection by the state, unless governed by other state regulations, shall be owned by the state.

 

　　国家机关、部队、全民所有制企业、事业组织收藏的文物，属于国家所有。

 

Cultural relics in the collection of state organs, armed forces, enterprises owned by the whole people and public institutions shall be owned by the state.

 

　　第五条 属于集体所有和私人所有的纪念建筑物、古建筑和传世文物，其所有权受国家法律的保护。文物的所有者必须遵守国家有关保护管理文物的规定。

 

Article 5 Ownership of memorial buildings, ancient architectural structures and cultural relics handed down from generation to generation which belong to collectives or individuals shall be protected by state laws. Owners of the cultural relics must abide by the relevant state regulations governing the protection and control of cultural relics.

 

　　第六条 文物保护管理经费分别列入中央和地方的财政预算。

 

Article 6 The expenses for the protection and control of cultural relics shall be listed in the budgets of the central and local governments.

 

　　第二章 文物保护单位

 

CHAPTER II SITES TO BE PROTECTED FOR THEIR HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL VALUE

 

　　第七条 革命遗址、纪念建筑物、古文化遗址、古墓葬、古建筑、石窟寺、石刻等文物，应当根据它们的历史、艺术、科学价值，分别确定为不同级别的文物保护单位。

 

Article 7 Cultural relics, such as sites related to revolutionary history, memorial buildings, sites of ancient culture, ancient tombs, ancient architectural structures, cave temples, stone carvings, etc., shall be designated as sites to be protected for their historical and cultural value at different levels according to their historical, artistic or scientific value.

 

　　县、自治县、市级文物保护单位，由县、自治县、市人民政府核定公布，并报省、自治区、直辖市人民政府备案。

 

Sites to be protected for their historical and cultural value at the level of counties, autonomous counties and cities shall be approved and announced by the people's governments at the same level and reported to the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities directly under the Central Government for the record.

 

　　省、自治区、直辖市级文物保护单位，由省、自治区、直辖市人民政府核定公布，并报国务院备案。

 

Sites to be protected for their historical and cultural value at the level of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall be approved and announced by the people's governments at the same level and reported to the State Council for the record.

 

　　国家文化行政管理部门在各级文物保护单位中，选择具有重大历史、艺术、科学价值的作为全国重点文物保护单位，或者直接指定全国重点文物保护单位， 报国务院核定公布。

 

The state department for cultural administration shall select, from among the sites to be protected at different levels, those which have a significant historical, artistic or scientific value as major sites to be protected at the national level, or shall directly designate such sites and report them to the State Council for approval and announcement.

 

　　第八条 保存文物特别丰富，具有重大历史价值和革命意义的城市，由国家文化行政管理部门会同城乡建设环境保护部门报国务院核定公布为历史文化名城。

 

Article 8 Cities with an unusual wealth of cultural relics of high historical value and major revolutionary significance shall be recommended to the State Council by the state department for cultural administration together with the department for urban and rural construction and environmental protection to be approved and announced as famous cities of historical and cultural value.

 

　　第九条 各级文物保护单位，分别由省、自治区、直辖市人民政府和县、自治县、市人民政府划定必要的保护范围，作出标志说明，建立记录档案，并区别情况分别设置专门机构或者专人负责管理。

 

Article 9 The people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government and of counties, autonomous counties and cities shall delimit the necessary scope of protection, put up signs and notices, and establish records and files for the historical and cultural sites to be protected at different levels and shall, in the light of different circumstances, establish special organs or assign full-time personnel to be responsible for the administration of these sites.

 

全国重点文物保护单位的保护范围和记录档案，由省、自治区、直辖市文化行政管理部门报国家文化行政管理部门备案。

 

The scope of protection and records and files for the major sites to be protected at the national level shall be reported by the departments for cultural administration of the provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government to the state department for cultural administration for the record.

 

　　第十条 各级人民政府制定城乡建设规划时，事先要由城乡规划部门会同文化行政管理部门商定对本行政区域内各级文物保护单位的保护措施，纳入规划。

 

Article 10 When drawing up plans for urban and rural construction, the people's governments at various levels must see to it that protective measures for the historical and cultural sites to be protected at different levels are first worked out through consultation between the departments for urban and rural planning and the departments for cultural administration and that such measures are included in the plans.

 

　　第十一条 文物保护单位的保护范围内不得进行其他建设工程。如有特殊需要，必须经原公布的人民政府和上一级文化行政管理部门同意。

 

Article 11 No additional construction project may be undertaken within the scope of protection for a historical and cultural site. In cases of a special need, consent must be obtained from the people's government which made the original announcement on the designation of such a site and from the department for cultural administration at the next higher level.

 

在全国重点文物保护单位范围内进行其他建设工程，必须经省、自治区、直辖市人民政府和国家文化行政管理部门同意。

 

If an additional construction project is to be undertaken within the scope of protection for a major historical and cultural site to be protected at the national level, consent must be obtained from the people's government of the relevant province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government and from the state department for cultural administration.

 

　　第十二条 根据保护文物的实际需要，经省、自治区、直辖市人民政府批准，可以在文物保护单位的周围划出一定的建设控制地带。

 

Article 12 On the basis of the actual needs for the protection of cultural relics and with the approval of the people's government of a province, an autonomous region or a municipality directly under the Central Government, a certain area for the control of construction may be delimited around a site to be protected for its historical and cultural value.

 

在这个地带内修建新建筑和构筑物，不得破坏文物保护单位的环境风貌。其设计方案须征得文化行政管理部门同意后，报城乡规划部门批准。

 

Construction of new buildings or other structures in such an area shall not deform the environmental features of the historical and cultural site. The design for construction must be agreed to by the department for cultural administration before it is submitted to the department for urban and rural planning for approval.

 

　　第十三条 建设单位在进行选址和工程设计的时候， 因建设工程涉及文物保护单位的，应当事先会同省、自治区、直辖市或者县、自治县、市文化行政管理部门确定保护措施，列入设计任务书。

 

Article 13 While choosing a construction site and designing a project, if the project involves a site to be protected for its historical and cultural value, the construction unit shall first work out the protective measures jointly with the department for cultural administration of a province, an autonomous region, or a municipality directly under the Central Government or of a county, an autonomous county or a city, and such measures shall be written into the planning project description.

 

　　因建设工程和特别需要而必须对文物保护单位进行迁移或者拆除的，应根据文物保护单位的级别，经该级人民政府和上一级文化行政管理部门同意。

 

Any removal or dismantling involving a site to be protected for its historical and cultural value, if considered specially necessary for a project, shall be agreed to by the people's government at the same level as the site itself and by the department for cultural administration at the next higher level.

 

全国重点文物保护单位的迁移、或者拆除，由省、自治区、直辖市人民政府报国务院决定。迁移、拆除所需费用和劳动力由建设单位列入投资计划和劳动计划。

 

Any removal or dismantling involving a major site to be protected at the national level shall be referred to the State Council by the people's government of a province, an autonomous region or a municipality directly under the Central Government for decision. The expenses and workforce required for the removal or dismantling shall be included in the investment and labour plans of the construction unit.

 

　　第十四条 核定为文物保护单位的革命遗址、纪念建筑物、古墓葬、古建筑、石窟寺、石刻等（包括建筑物的附属物），在进行修缮、保养、迁移的时候，必须遵守不改变文物原状的原则。

 

Article 14 The principle of keeping the cultural relics in their original state must be adhered to in the repairs and maintenance at the sites designated as the ones to be protected for their historical and cultural value and in any removal involving these sites, such as sites related to revolutionary history, memorial buildings, ancient tombs, ancient architectural structures, cave temples, stone carvings, etc. (including attachments to the structures).

 

　　第十五条 核定为文物保护单位的属于国家所有的纪念建筑物或者古建筑，除可以建立博物馆、保管所或者辟为参观游览场所外，如果必须作其他用途，应当根据文物保护单位的级别，由当他文化行政管理部门报原公布的人民政府批准。

 

Article 15 If it is necessary to use a memorial building or an ancient architectural structure owned by the state at a place designated as a site to be protected for its historical and cultural value for purposes other than the establishment of a museum, a cultural relics preservation institute or a tourist site, the local department for cultural administration shall submit a report for approval to the people's government which originally announced the designation of such a site.

 

全国重点文物保护单位如果必须作其他用途，应经省、自治区、直辖市人民政府同意，并报国务院批准。这些单位以及专设的博物馆等机构，都必须严格遵守不改变文物原状的原则，负责保护建筑物及附属文物的安全，不得损毁、改建、添建或者拆除。使用纪念建筑物、古建筑的单位，应当负责建筑物的保养和维修。

 

If it is necessary to use for other purposes a major site to be protected for its historical and cultural value at the national level, the matter shall be agreed to by the people's government of a province, an autonomous region, or a municipality directly under the Central Government and shall be reported to the State Council for approval. The units in charge of these sites as well as specially established organs, such as museums, must strictly abide by the principle of keeping the cultural relics in their original state, and must be responsible for the safety of the buildings and of the affiliated cultural relics, and may not damage, rebuild, extend or dismantle them. Units which use memorial buildings or ancient architectural structures shall be responsible for the maintenance and repair of these buildings or structures.

 

　　第三章 考古发掘

 

CHAPTER III ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS

 

　　第十六条 一切考古发掘工作，都必须履行报批手续。地下埋藏的文物，任何单位或者个人都不得私自发掘。出土的文物除根据需要交给科学研究部门研究的以外，由当地文化行政管理部门指定的单位保管，任何单位或者个人不得侵占。

 

Article 16 The procedure of submitting reports for approval must be performed for all archaeological excavations. No unit or individual may conduct excavations without permission. The cultural relics unearthed, except for those to be handed over, as may be necessary, to scientific research institutions for the purpose of research, shall be taken care of by units designated by local departments for cultural administration, and no unit or individual may take them into its or his own possession.

 

为了保证文物安全、进行科学研究和充分发挥文物的作用，省、自治区、直辖市文化行政管理部门，必要时可以报经省、自治区、直辖市人民政府批准，调用本行政区域内的出土文物；国家文化行政管理部门经国务院批准，可以调用全国的重要出土文物。

 

With a view to ensuring the safety of the cultural relics, conducting scientific research and making full use of cultural relics, the departments for cultural administration of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government may, when necessary, transfer and use the cultural relics within their respective administrative areas after reporting to and securing the approval of the people's governments of these administrative divisions; the state department for cultural administration may, upon approval by the State Council, transfer and use major cultural relics unearthed anywhere in the country.

 

　　第十七条 各省、自治区、直辖市文物机构、考古研究机构和高等学校等，为了科学研究进行考古发掘，必须提出发掘计划，报国家文化行政管理部门会同中国社会科学院审查，经国家文化行政管理部门批准后，始得进行发掘。

 

Article 17 To conduct archaeological excavations for the purpose of scientific research, institutions in charge of cultural relics, institutions for archaeological research and institutions of higher learning in the provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall submit their excavation programmes to the state department for cultural administration for joint examination with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and may not proceed with the excavations until they obtain the approval of the state department for cultural administration.

 

　　需要对全国重点文物保护单位进行的考古发掘，由国家文化行政管理部门会同中国社会科学院审核后，报国务院批准。

 

Archaeological excavation programmes which have to be carried out at the major sites to be protected for their historical and cultural value at the national level shall be submitted to the state department for cultural administration for joint examination with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences before they are forwarded to the State Council for approval.

 

　　第十八条 在进行大型基本建设项目的时候，建设单位要事先会同省、自治区、直辖市文化行政管理部门在工程范围内有可能埋藏文物的地方进行文物的调查或者勘探工作。

 

Article 18 Before carrying out a large-scale capital construction project, the construction unit shall first conduct investigation or prospecting related to cultural relics, together with the department for cultural administration of a province, an autonomous region or a municipality directly under the Central Government, at places where such relics may be buried underground within the area designated for the project.

 

调查、勘探中发现文物，应当共同商定处理办法。遇有重要发现，由省、自治区、直辖市文化行政管理部门及时报国家文化行政管理部门处理。

 

If cultural relics are discovered in the course of investigation and prospecting, measures for handling them should be jointly decided upon by the two parties through consultation. In case of important discoveries, the department for cultural administration of a province, an autonomous region or a municipality directly under the Central Government shall submit timely reports for handling by the state department for cultural administration.

 

　　在进行基本建设工程或者农业生产中，任何单位或者个人发现文物，应立即报告当地文化行政管理部门。遇有重要发现，当地文化行政管理部门必须及时报请上级文化行政管理部门处理。

 

While carrying out capital construction or agricultural production, any unit or individual that discovers cultural relics shall immediately report the discoveries to the local department for cultural administration. In case of important discoveries, the local department for cultural administration must submit timely reports for handling by the departments for cultural administration at higher levels.

 

　　第十九条 需要配合建设工程进行的考古发掘工作，应由省、自治区、直辖市文化行政管理部门在勘探工作的基础上提出发掘计划，报国家文化行政管理部门会同中国社会科学院审查，由国家文化行政管理部门批准。

 

Article 19 With regard to archaeological excavations which have to be carried out along with a construction project, the department for cultural administration of a province, an autonomous region or a municipality directly under the Central Government shall submit an excavation programme based on prospecting to the state department for cultural administration for joint examination with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and for approval by the department.

 

确因建设工期紧迫或有自然破坏的危险，对古文化遗址、古墓葬急需进行抢救的，可由省、自治区、直辖市文化行政管理部门组织力量进行发掘工作，并同时补办批准手续。

 

In cases where the pressing time limit for the completion of the project or the danger of natural damage makes it truly urgent to rescue the sites of ancient culture and ancient tombs, the department for cultural administration of a province, an autonomous region or a municipality directly under the Central Government may organize people to proceed with the excavations while going through the procedures to obtain approval.

 

　　第二十条 凡因进行基本建设和生产建设需要文物勘探、考古发掘的，所需费用和劳动力由建设单位列入投资计划和劳动计划，或者报上级计划部门解决。

 

Article 20 The expenses and workforce needed for the prospecting for cultural relics and archaeological excavations which have to be carried out because of capital construction or construction for productive purposes shall be included in the investment and labour plans of the construction units or reported to planning departments at higher levels for proper arrangement.