Chinese Archives and Libraries

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Archives collect and preserve original documents of organizations such as churches or governments. Libraries generally collect published sources such as books, maps, and microfilm. This section describes the major repositories of genealogical and historical records and sources for China.

If you plan to visit one of these repositories, contact the organization and ask for information about their collections, hours, services, and fees.

In China standard archives have been established in every City. These repositories are directly under the City Government. In 2002 the administrative villages of the all established archives and achieved normative management and effective utilization of the records. For information on the Shanghai Library, and the genealogical search services it offers, click here.

Mainland China
Following is a list of major archives and libraries within mainland China.

Gongy City Archives Bureau No.13 of Xinxing Road Gongy City CHINA Telephone: 86-371-64399818 (Office of Director: Cui Xinru) Telephone: 86-371-64353697 (Affairs Room)

National Library of China #33 Zhongguancun Nandajie  Hai Dian District Beijing 100081 CHINA Telephone: (86 10) 88544114 Consultation Telephone: (86 10) 88545426、88545360 Service Supervision Telephone: (86 10) 88545022 Website Email: [mailto:webmaster@nlc.gov.cn webmaster@nlc.gov.cn]

Library of Ancient Books of NLC #7 Wenjin Street  Xi Cheng District Beijing 100034 CHINA Telephone: 86-10-66175547 Email: [mailto:fenguan@nlc.gov.cn fenguan@nlc.gov.cn]

Tsinghua University Library Beijing 100084  CHINA Telephone: 86-10-62782137 Fax:  86-10-62781758 Internet: Website Email: [mailto:bgs@lib.tsinghua.edu.cn bgs@lib.tsinghua.edu.cn]

Wuhan University Archive Wuhan, Hubei 430072 China Telephone: (027) 87682801 Website

Shanghai Library 1555 Huaihai Middle Rd, Xuhui Qu Shanghai China Telephone: 86 21 6445 5555 Website

Mainland Hong Kong
Hong Kong was a British Protectorate until 1997, when it was handed back to the Peoples' Republic of China. Its present Government organization still follows the basic British format. Presently it is known as the Hong Kong Special Autonomous Region.

It should be noted that many Hong Kong records were destroyed during the Japanese aggression of WWII. While records in English were lost, many Cantonese records were preserved, and can be accessed.

Libraries are generally the repositories of published materials such as books, maps, newspapers, and microfilm.

Archives collect and preserve original documents of such organizations as private societies, religious bodies, and Government records such as BMD records, etc.

Most Libraries and archives in Hong Kong are available to the general public for review. In some instances appointments need to be made. A few sources require approval from the relevant Management Board.

Below is a list of major archives and libraries within mainland Hong Kong.

Chinese University of Hong Kong University Library Shatin, N.T. Hong Kong Telephone: (852) 2609-7318 Fax: (852) 2603-6952 Website Email: [mailto:storey@cuhk.edu.hk storey@cuhk.edu.hk]

Government Records Service Public Records Office 13 Tsui Ping Road Kwun Tong Kowloon, Hong Kong Telephone: (852) 2195 7700 or (852) 2195 7728 Fax: (852) 2804 6413 Website Email: [mailto:proinfo@grs.gov.hk proinfo@grs.gov.hk]

Hong Kong Baptist University 6/F &amp; 7/F, Fong Shu Chuen Library Ho Sin Hang Campus Hon Kong Telephone: (852) 3411-7847 Fax: (852) 3411-7373 Website Email: [mailto:ar@hkbu.edu.hk ar@hkbu.edu.hk]

Po Leung Kuk Museum 66 Leighton Road Hong Kong Telephone: (852) 2277 8288 Fax: (852) 2576 4509 Website

Hong Kong University 1st Floor New Wing, Main Library Pokfulam, Hong Kong Telephone: (852) 2859 2207 Website Email: [mailto:specol@lib.hku.hk specol@lib.hku.hk]

Shanghai Library 1555 Huai Hai Middle Road Shanghai 200031 Telephone: 86 21 6445 5555 Fax: 86 21 6445 5006 Website

Taiwan
National Archives Administration 9F,. North Tower, No.439, Zhongping Rd Xinzhuang Dist New Taipei City 24220 Taiwan (R.O.C.) Telephone: +886-2-8995-3700 Website

Academia Historica No.2, Changsha St. Sec. 1 Zhongzheng District, Taipei City 10486 Taiwan Telephone: +886-2-23161000 Website

National Taiwan University Library No.1 Sec.4, Roosevelt Rd. Taipei Taiwan Telephone: List of phone numbers Website

Academia Sinica 128 Academia Road, Section 2 Nankang, Taipei 11529 Taiwan Telephone: +886-2-27822190~9 (10 lines) Website

National Palace Museum No. 221, Sec. 2, Zhishan Rd. Shilin Dist. Taipei City 11143 Taiwan (R.O.C.) Telephone:+886-2-6610-3600 Website

National Library of Public Information No.100, Wuquan S. Rd. South Dist. Taichung City 40246 Taiwan (R.O.C.) Telephone: +886-4-2262-5100 Website

National Taiwan Museum No.2, Xiangyang Rd. Zhongzheng Dist. Taipei City 10046 Taiwan Telephone: +886-2-2382-2566 {https://en.ntm.gov.tw/ Website]

National History Museum Archives and Historical Materials and Cultural Relics Query System No. 2, Section 1, Changsha Street Taipei City 100006 Tel: (02)2316-1000 Website