Imperial Historical Archives (Huangshicheng) 皇史宬Huángshǐchéng

About Imperial Historical Archives (Huangshicheng)

Built in 1534–36, the Huangshicheng was the imperial archive of the Ming and Qing dynasties, where the court kept its official chronicles, imperial instructions and the genealogies of the imperial clan. The fireproof main hall uses no wooden beams, with brick walls about 5 m thick and carved white-marble details, and inside, on a marble plinth, stand 152 gilded, bronze-clad camphorwood chests that once held the records; the complex was restored by the First Historical Archives of China in 2020–21.

How to get to Imperial Historical Archives (Huangshicheng)

On Nanchizi Street just east of Tian'anmen, a few minutes' walk north of Tian'anmen East station on Metro Line 1; as of October 2026 the First Historical Archives of China lists it as closed for repairs, so check before going.

Nearby

• National Museum of China 中国国家博物馆 under 10 km
  Ancient bronzes, jades and porcelain in a vast museum beside Tian'anmen Square
• Tiananmen Square 天安门广场 under 10 km
  A vast ceremonial square below Tian'anmen gate, where the national flag is raised at dawn
• Forbidden City 故宫 under 10 km
  Six centuries of imperial power behind vermilion walls in the heart of Beijing
• Qianmen Street and Dashilar 前门大街·大栅栏 under 10 km
  A pedestrian avenue below Qianmen gate and a lane of shops trading since Qing times
• Beihai Park 北海公园 under 10 km
  A former imperial lake garden crowned by a white Tibetan-style stupa on its island

Also within 20 km: Imperial Ancestral Temple 太庙 (under 10 km), Pudu Temple 普度寺 (under 10 km), Peking Legation Quarter (Dongjiaominxiang) 东交民巷 (under 10 km), Zhongshan Park 中山公园 (under 10 km), St. Joseph's Church, Beijing 王府井天主堂 (under 10 km), Xijiaominxiang Historic Bank Buildings 西交民巷近代银行建筑群 (under 10 km).

On the map

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Learn more

• Wikipedia (Chinese)