Concerned about the | the State Administration of Cultural Heritage announced the "Measures for the Management of National Archaeological Site Parks"

In order to implement the "Several Opinions on Strengthening the Reform of the Protection and Utilization of Cultural Relics" issued by the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council, further improve the level of protection and management of archaeological sites, and promote the high-quality development of national archaeological site parks, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage organized and revised the "Measures for the Management of National Archaeological Site Parks" (hereinafter referred to as the "Measures") and officially announced them to the public recently.

The National Archaeological Site Park refers to a specific public cultural space with important archaeological sites and their environment as the main body, with scientific research, education, recreation and other functions, and has national demonstration significance in the research and interpretation, protection and utilization of archaeological sites and cultural inheritance. According to the "Measures", archaeological sites that meet the requirements of being announced as a national key cultural relics protection unit, the cultural relics protection plan has been promulgated and implemented by the provincial people's government, the archaeological and research work plan, the archaeological site park plan that meets the cultural relics protection plan, and the special management institution with independent legal personality may submit an application for the establishment of a national archaeological site park to the State Administration of Cultural Heritage. The application for the establishment of a national archaeological site park shall be submitted by the people's government at or above the county level where the archaeological site is located, and shall be submitted to the State Administration of Cultural Relics after the preliminary examination and approval of the provincial-level cultural relics department. The people's governments at or above the county level where the archaeological site is located submit an application for the assessment of the national archaeological site park, and after the preliminary examination and approval of the provincial-level cultural relics department, report it to the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, which carries out the assessment work in accordance with the "Detailed Rules for the Assessment of the National Archaeological Site Park". Those who pass the assessment shall be determined by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage as "National Archaeological Site Park" and announced to the public.

The "Measures" require that the special management agency of the National Archaeological Site Park is responsible for the daily management and operation of the park, and must perform the duties of cultural relics protection in accordance with the law, implement the planning of the archaeological site park, establish and improve the relevant management rules and regulations, provide good public facilities such as health, services, fire protection, and rescue, and continuously improve the quality of service, and submit an annual operation report to the State Administration of Cultural Heritage within the prescribed time limit.

The "Measures" emphasize that no unit or individual may change the use and function of the national archaeological site park without authorization, must not encroach on its legal land use, must not change the nature of the land use of the national archaeological site park without authorization, and must not carry out any activities that are not conducive to the protection of archaeological sites.

The State Administration of Cultural Heritage announced the "National Archaeological Site Park."

Notice of the Administrative Measures

Cultural Relics Bureaus of All Provinces, Autonomous Regions and Municipalities Directly Under the Central Government (Department of Culture and Tourism/Bureau), Culture and Tourism Bureau of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps:

In order to implement the "Several Opinions on Strengthening the Reform of the Protection and Utilization of Cultural Relics" issued by the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council, further improve the level of protection and management of archaeological sites, and promote the high-quality development of national archaeological site parks, our bureau organized the revision of the "Measures for the Management of National Archaeological Site Parks". It is hereby announced, please implement it in light of local realities.

Notice is hereby given.

Annex: Measures for the Management of National Archaeological Site Parks

State Administration of Cultural Heritage

March 15, 2022

National Archaeological Site Park Management Measures

Article 1 These Measures are formulated in accordance with the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Cultural Relics, in order to promote the research, interpretation, protection and utilization of archaeological sites, standardize the management of national archaeological site parks, effectively give play to their role in economic and social development, and inherit and carry forward the excellent traditional Chinese culture.

Article 2: "National Archaeological Site Park" as used in these Measures refers to a specific public cultural space with important archaeological sites and their environment as the main body, has functions such as scientific research, education, and recreation, and is of national exemplary significance in the research, interpretation, protection, utilization, and cultural inheritance of archaeological sites.

Article 3: The State Administration of Cultural Heritage is responsible for the assessment and management of national archaeological site parks, the competent departments for cultural relics at the provincial level are responsible for the supervision and management of national archaeological site parks within their respective administrative areas, and the people's governments at or above the county level where archaeological sites are located are responsible for organizing and implementing the creation and operation of national archaeological site parks.

The State Administration of Cultural Heritage supports the construction of national archaeological site parks. National archaeological site parks that have made outstanding contributions to economic, social and cultural development will be commended and rewarded.

Article 5: People's governments at or above the county level where archaeological sites are located shall carry out feasibility demonstrations, assess the conditions for archaeological sites, local economic and social conditions, and management conditions, scientifically and prudently create national archaeological site parks, and give policies, funds, and land use guarantees.

Archaeological sites that meet the following conditions may submit an application to the State Administration of Cultural Heritage for the establishment of a national archaeological site park:

(1) Those that have been announced as national key cultural relics protection units;

(2) The plan for the protection of cultural relics has been promulgated and implemented by the provincial people's government;

(3) Have an archaeological and research work plan;

(4) Have a plan for an archaeological site park that conforms to the plan for the protection of cultural relics;

(5) Specialized management bodies with independent legal person qualifications.

Article 7: Applications for the establishment of a national archaeological site park shall be submitted by the people's government at or above the county level where the archaeological site is located, and shall be reported to the State Administration of Cultural Relics after preliminary examination and approval by the provincial-level competent department for cultural relics.

Article 8: The following materials shall be submitted for the application for the establishment of a national archaeological site park:

(1) Relevant materials that meet the requirements set forth in Article 6;

(2) Feasibility study report on the construction of the National Archaeological Site Park.

Article 9: Those who meet the requirements after examination shall be approved by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage for the establishment of the National Archaeological Site Park.

In the process of creating a national archaeological site park, construction projects involving the scope of protection of cultural relics protection units and the construction control zone shall be submitted for approval in accordance with relevant procedures.

Article 11: For archaeological site parks approved by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, people's governments at or above the county level where the archaeological sites are located may submit an application for assessment of the National Archaeological Sites Park if they meet the following conditions:

(a) all acts of damage or destruction to the archaeological site caused by natural or human factors have been controlled or corrected;

(2) The examination and approval procedures for each construction project are complete;

(3) All construction projects are in line with the planning of archaeological site parks;

(4) The orderly implementation of archaeological and research work plans, and the publication of archaeological reports and other research results;

(5) it has been opened to the public, or the conditions for opening have been met;

(6) There are no major potential safety hazards.

Article 12: People's governments at or above the county level where archaeological sites are located submit applications for the assessment of national archaeological site parks, and after the preliminary examination and approval of the competent departments for cultural relics at the provincial level, report them to the State Administration of Cultural Relics, and the State Administration of Cultural Relics carries out assessment work in accordance with the "Detailed Rules for the Assessment of National Archaeological Site Parks". Those who pass the assessment shall be determined by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage as "National Archaeological Site Park" and announced to the public.

Article 13: The planning, modification or expansion of construction projects for the revision of national archaeological site parks shall be reported in accordance with the original procedures.

Article 14: The special management bodies of the National Archaeological Site Park shall be responsible for the daily management and operation of the park and shall perform the following duties:

(1) Performing duties for the protection of cultural relics in accordance with law;

(2) Implement the planning of archaeological site parks;

(3) Establish and complete relevant management rules and regulations;

(4) Provide good public facilities such as health, services, fire protection, and first aid, and continuously improve the quality of services;

(5) Submit an annual operation report to the State Administration of Cultural Heritage within the prescribed time limit.

Article 15: The protection and management of archaeological sites in the National Archaeological Site Park shall be carried out in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations of the State.

Article 16: In addition to complying with laws and regulations on the protection of cultural relics, the management and operation of national archaeological site parks shall also implement the provisions of other relevant laws and regulations of the State and accept the guidance and social supervision of the competent departments for cultural relics.

Article 17: The National Archaeological Site Park implements a monitoring, assessment, and inspection system.

The State Administration of Cultural Heritage organizes the annual operation monitoring and evaluation of the national archaeological site park and issues an annual assessment report; or designates experts to inspect the national archaeological site park, organizes and carries out a comprehensive assessment of the national archaeological site park, and puts forward rectification requirements for the problems found.

Article 18: No unit or individual may change the use and function of a national archaeological site park without authorization, must not encroach on its lawful land use, must not change the nature of the land used in a national archaeological site park without authorization, and must not carry out any activity that is detrimental to the protection of archaeological sites.

Article 19: Where, after the establishment of a project for a national archaeological site park, no archaeological research, cultural relics protection project, or construction of supporting facilities has been carried out within three years, the State Administration of Cultural Relics will notify the people's government at or above the county level where it is located in writing to carry out rectification; if it has not been rectified within one year, the State Administration of Cultural Relics will inform the people's government at or above the county level where the archaeological site is located in writing to cancel the establishment of the national archaeological site park, and shall not re-declare within three years.

During the assessment period of the National Archaeological Site Park, if it is verified that there are violations of laws and regulations such as fraud, bribery and fraud, the State Administration of Cultural Relics shall cancel its application for assessment; where it has been assessed as a national archaeological site park, the assessment results shall be revoked.

For national archaeological site parks that are improperly managed and operated, the implementation of rectification requirements after monitoring and assessment or inspection is not in place, and liability accidents or damage to cultural relics are caused, and there are no conditions for opening, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage shall notify or revoke the assessment results nationwide according to the seriousness of the circumstances. Where the results of the assessment are revoked, they must not make another declaration within three years.

Article 20: Institutions and individuals that violate the provisions of these Measures and cause damage or destruction of archaeological sites, the environment, ecology, landscape, and other resources in the National Archaeological Site Park shall be handled in accordance with the provisions of relevant laws and regulations; where a crime is constituted, criminal responsibility shall be pursued in accordance with law.

Article 21: These Measures take effect on the date of promulgation.

Annex: National Archaeological Site Park Assessment Rules

Source: Official Micro of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, China Culture Daily

Edited by Tong Wenwen

The editor of this issue is Zhang Lingjie and Hua Fang

Reviewed by Ma Bo Liu Li