China, a country laden with relics, places great values on the preservation of relics. In 1992, a policy of combining rescue with protection was advanced. During 1991-1995, the central government increased funding for relics protection by 80 million RMB, bringing the total amount to 130 million RMB. Local governments have increased funding accordingly. The greatest relics rescue operation since 1949 is in progress.

In 1997, the State Council issued a notice on improving relics preservation. That document laid down three principles governing relationships between relics protection and economic development: effective protection, rational utilization and improved management. These principles provide the guidelines for relics protection during China's historic transition from a planned economy to a market economy. Public awareness of relic preservation has been enhanced greatly as a result.

Aside from countless historical sights, China has also designed 134 sites related to revolution as "key sites for protection". Nearly 8,000 such sites have been singled out at provincial and county levels. Nationwide, there are 300 museums housing 400,000 pieces of documents testifying to the Chinese revolution. These include the ruins of Humen Bastion, Jinggangshan Revolutionary Base, Site of Zunyi Conference, Yan'an Museum, Museum of Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and Former Residence of Sun Yat-sen.

Among popular exhibitions held by museums in recent years are "Modern China", "History of War Against Japanese Aggression", "Hong Kong's Return to the Motherland", and "Chinese Students in France".

1. Preservation
The 1990s have seen greater allocation of money in relics protection than in any other periods. The central government alone spent 700 million RMB in preserving 1,000 relic-laden sites. A number of major attractions have been renovated -- the Potala Palace of Lhasa in Tibet; the Taer Temple in Qinghai; the Caves at Mount Sumera in Ningxia; the Thousand-Buddha Caves in Xinjiang; the Longmen Grotto in Henan; the Yungang Grotto in Shanxi; the Goddess Temple of Taiyuan in Shanxi; the Summer Resort of Chengdu in Hebei; the Thatched Cottage of Du Fu in Chengdu of Sichuan; and Tianyi Pavilion in Henan. In 1996, the State Council announced a list of 250 relic-laden places under state protection, bringing the number of such places to 750. In addition, 99 historical cities have also been placed under state protection. In 1995, the UNESCO listed four more Chinese attractions in the World Heritage Program -- the Potala Palace, the Summer Resort and Outer Temples in Chengde, the Confucian Temple, Mansion and Forest in Qufu of Shandong, and the ancient buildings on Mount Wudang -- bringing the total to nine.

A national survey conducted in the 1980s helped identify the status of relics protection in China. A series of Atlas of Relics Unearthed in China is being published. Great progress has been made in preservation technology. Since 1992, four awards have been issued to scientists for progress and innovation, and 36 projects have received awards from the State Administration for Relics Protection. Many technologies are world-advanced, such as the reconstruction of a bronze chariot unearthed at the No. 1 Pit of the Mausoleum of Emperor Qinshihuang in Xi'an of Shaanxi and the desalination and erosion-retardation technology for unearthed ironware.

2. Legislation/Law Enforcement
China's first law on relic protection is the Methods for Managing the Palace Museum. Since 1992, China has actively participated in the drafting of international conventions and signed the Convention on Stolen or Illicitly Exported Relics.

At the same time, the country has cracked down hard on crimes such as robbing ancient tombs, theft of housed articles and smuggling. The media play an important role in exposing cases and censuring individuals related to relic crimes.

In 1996, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress promulgated the Auction Law. Based on that, the State Administration for Relics Protection issued a Notice on Improving the Certification and Management of Auctioned Antiques. Antique market has also been straightened out. Working closely with public security and market regulatory departments, antique regulators have recovered a host of national treasures, among them the Pictures of Ten Poems by Zhang Xian of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), the sword of King Goujian during the Spring and Autumn period (770-476 B.C.), and bronze chime bells with inscriptions made during the same period.

3. International Exchanges
Cultural exchanges have been brisk in recent years. China has staged more than 150 antique shows in more than 10 countries, including the United States, Argentina, France, Britain, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and Singapore. Hit shows include Imperial Mausoleums in China (staged in the US), Treasures from Tibet, China (in Italy), the Yellow River Civilization (Italy), Relics from the Ancient Loulan Kingdom and Terra-Cotta Warriors of Emperor Qinshihuang (Japan). These shows drew large crowds, from state leaders to the ordinary people, promoting mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and other peoples in the world.

In return, China has received strong support from the international community for its endeavor to preserve its history. Since 1992, international donations have topped US$20 million. Through funding by UNESCO and the Japanese government, the ruins of Jiaohe City in Xinjiang and Hanyuan Hall of Daming Palace in Xi'an have been preserved. Japan has also financed the construction of a relic-protection center in Dunhuang of Gansu. Germany aided Shaanxi in preserving and maintaining the terra-cotta warriors of Emperor Qinshihuang; the U.S.-based Gates Preservation Research Institute assisted in the protection of Dunhuang and Yungang Grottoes; and the Italian government has helped establish the Shaanxi Center for Relics Protection. Joint excavation between Chinese and foreign archaeologists have just begun, with progress reported in a Sino-German survey of the Crea River valley in Xinjiang and another Sino-US project to excavate a cave left by human beings over 10,000 years ago in Jiangxi.

Through these bilateral projects, China obtained advanced technology and needed capital and trained professionals in relics protection.

In recent years, China has repatriated a great number of antiques. Many collectors overseas and international groups donated their collections to China. A Hong Kong couple, Mr. and Mrs. Yang Yongde, for example, donated more than 200 pieces of porcelain pillows to the Museum of Tomb of South Yue King in Guangzhou. The American International Group purchased the 10 bronze windows belonging to Baoyu Pavilion of the Summer Palace looted by the Allied Forces around the turn of century.