Quarter-million plus immobile cultural relics on record

Beijing (CNS) – The third general investigation on national historical relics reveals that the number of China's registered immobile historical relics has reached 766,722; the newly found account for 536,001, confirmed the State Administration of Cultural Heritage on December 29.

The investigation was conducted by nearly 50,000 experts, scholars and volunteers who collaborated in its implementation for five years, said the director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage Shan Jixiang, adding that about 25 percent of the immobile historical relics are in bad condition.

The investigation has documented 193,282 ancient relic sites, 139,458 ancient tombs, 263,885 historic buildings, 24,422 cave temples and carved stone sites, 141,449 relics from near-modern times and 4,226 others. The results are a compilation of basic information on China's historical relics.

Shan was quoted as saying that another general investigation for mobile historical relics has been scheduled.