Imperial Archives

　　Destination Introduction
　　The Imperial Archives (also known as the "Document Repository"), or Huangshi Cheng, served as the imperial archives and is located on the east side of Nanri East in Nanchizi Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, near the eastern side of the Forbidden City. It was first built in the 13th year of the Jiajing reign during the Ming Dynasty (1534), and underwent renovations in the 2nd year of the Longqing reign (1568) and the 11th year of the Jiaqing reign during the Qing Dynasty (1806). It is the most completely preserved imperial archives building in China, with a history of over 460 years.
　　As early as the Qin and Han dynasties, China had the system of "golden chests and stone chambers." The "Book of Han · Annals of Emperor Gaozu, Part 2" records: "Sworn oaths were carved and sealed with the ministers, written in cinnabar on iron pledges, and stored in golden chests and stone chambers within ancestral temples." The so-called "golden chests" refer to copper cabinets, while "stone chambers" denote buildings constructed from stone — both designed to be fireproof to ensure the permanent preservation of precious archives. Later dynasties inherited the Qin and Han systems, each adding their own developments to store imperial records such as "Veritable Records," "Imperial Instructions," and "Jade Archives." Historical records indicate that while many such archives were built throughout various dynasties, most have been destroyed. Few remain as completely preserved as the Imperial Archives, which further highlights the unique value of this architectural complex.

　　　　It is almost impossible to build a house without using any wood, let alone a grand hall. Yet the Imperial Archives is a genuine stone palace, constructed entirely from bricks and stones, with not a single piece of timber used.

　　　　Address: No. 136, Nanchizi Street

　　　　Phone: 65289103

　　　　Fax: 65212646

　　　　Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Open on Saturdays and Sundays)

　　　　Location: Situated on the east side of Nanri East in Nanchizi Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, near the eastern side of the Forbidden City.

　　　　The entire structure of the Imperial Archives is made of brick and stone, covering an area of more than 2,000 square meters. The main buildings include the Gate of the Imperial Archives, the Main Hall, East and West Side Halls, and the Imperial Stele Pavilion, all enclosed by a red wall. The Main Hall is built on a 2-meter-high stone platform, surrounded by white marble railings. It has nine bays, a yellow glazed tile hip-and-gable roof, and is an arched vault-style beamless construction. The crossbeams, brackets, doors, and windows are all carved from white marble, with gold-painted swirling patterns on the crossbeams. The hall door has five bays, all double-layered. Inside, there is a 2-meter-high white marble Sumeru pedestal, upon which 152 gilded bronze-plated camphorwood cabinets with carved cloud-and-dragon designs are placed. There are double windows on the gable walls to allow for air circulation. Its structure features fireproofing and moisture resistance, making it an important cultural relic building that combines artistry, science, and practicality. During the Ming Dynasty, in addition to storing the "Veritable Records," "Imperial Instructions," and "Jade Archives" of various reigns, it also housed a copy of the Yongle Encyclopedia and other important archives. In the Qing Dynasty, besides the "Veritable Records," it also stored the "Collected Statutes of the Great Qing," "Campaign Records of the Northern Campaigns," cabinet copies, and even military seals. It is the most completely preserved imperial archives in China and serves as a typical example for the study of "golden chests and stone chambers." It is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.   Transportation Information
　　Take bus routes 2, 4, 10, 20, or 60 to Tiananmen, or get off at Nanchizi and walk north along the east side.

　　 Beijing Dongcheng District

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