The Imperial Archives (Huangshi Chamber)

The Imperial Archives (Huangshi Chamber)

The Imperial Archives (Huangshi Chamber) is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Also known as the Archives Pavilion, the Imperial Archives (Huangshi Chamber) served as the imperial archives of the Ming and Qing dynasties and has a history of over 460 years. Located at the southern end of Nanchizi Street, east of Tiananmen Square in Beijing, it covers an area of 8,460 square meters, with a building area of 3,400 square meters. The Huangshi Chamber was built in July of the 13th year of the Jiajing reign in the Ming Dynasty and completed in July of the 15th year of the Jiajing reign. It is the best-preserved imperial archives building existing in China.

The character “Cheng” (宬) refers to an ancient room used for storing books. The Imperial Archives (Huangshi Chamber) is entirely built from carved stone. The main hall has no beams or columns, and its floor features a 1.42-meter-high stone platform, on which over 150 camphorwood cabinets covered with copper and carved with dragons—known as “Golden Cabinets”—are arranged. The overall architectural design and storage facilities of the Huangshi Chamber are perfectly crafted and fully functional, offering protection against fire, moisture, mildew, and insects, thereby ensuring the preservation of precious texts and making it highly suitable for storing archives and historical documents.

Address: No. 136, Nanchizi Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing

Type: Museum · Library · Historical Building

Opening Hours:

Currently not open to the public

Information Source: Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development

Further Reading:

· First Batch of Municipal-Level Cultural Relics Protection Units in Beijing