NLC Ancient Books Library

The National Library of China Ancient Books Library is a research facility in Beijing that houses rare manuscripts, classical texts, and historical documents from many centuries. The building contains specialized storage areas and reading rooms designed to protect and provide access to these materials.

The institution was founded in 1909 as part of the Imperial Peking Library and has collected texts from rulers, scholars, and thinkers across many dynasties. Over time it evolved to preserve materials spanning three millennia, making it one of the oldest ongoing preservation efforts in the region.

The library holds philosophical works and scholarly writings that shaped how Chinese thinkers viewed the world across different eras. You can see how these texts influenced education, governance, and daily life in Chinese society.

The facility is located in the Xicheng District and is primarily designed for researchers and scholars who need access to rare materials and ancient texts. Visitors should plan ahead since access may require advance approval or specific research credentials.

The collection includes oracle bones known as Jiaguwen, some of the oldest written records ever discovered, which reveal how ancient Chinese people practiced divination and kept records. These artifacts provide rare insight into early writing systems and religious practices that predate modern Chinese civilization.

Location: Shichahai Subdistrict

GPS coordinates: 39.92214,116.37905

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:08