National Archives Administration of China NAAC / Central Archives

History and Founding

The State Archives Administration of China—predecessor to the modern National Archives Administration of China (NAAC)—was formally established in November 1954 as a specialized agency subordinated to the State Council of the People's Republic of China. The Central Archives was established separately in October 1959 by the CCP Central Committee to safeguard high-level documents from the Communist revolution and early PRC governance. The two bodies merged in October 1993, thereafter performing dual functions: nationwide administrative oversight of archival work, and direct custodianship of central party and government records. In 1979, after a period of dormancy during the Cultural Revolution, the archives were reestablished.

Collections and Holdings

The NAAC/Central Archives holds over 800,000 records and more than 80 million items—including documents, records, files, and manuscripts relating to key political figures and state affairs. Collections span the archives of the Communist Party of China and the People's Republic from 1949 to the present. Affiliated institutions include the First Historical Archives of China (Ming and Qing dynasty records, Beijing), the Second Historical Archives of China (Republican era records, Nanjing), the China Archives News, the Institute of Scientific and Technological Research on Archives, and other bodies.

Access and Usage

Public access is governed by China's Archives Law (enacted 1985, revised 2020). Users must submit formal research applications; foreign researchers face additional requirements, including official invitations from Chinese institutions. Documents are generally declassified after 30 years for administrative archives. The NAAC website provides institutional information and access to some digitized resources.