National Library of China

⭐ 4.80

No. 19 East Chang'an Avenue, Dongcheng District, Beijing

National Library of China
The National Library of China sits on the north side of Zhengyangmen Square in Beijing. As the largest national library in Asia and the second largest in the world, it brings together ancient rare books and modern literature in a single institution, making it a true genetic repository of Chinese civilization. The architectural complex blends classical and modern design, with glazed tile roofs standing alongside glass curtain walls, symbolizing the convergence of traditional and contemporary knowledge. The library preserves rare editions such as facsimile copies of the Siku Quanshu (Complete Library of the Four Treasuries), Dunhuang manuscripts, and Song-dynasty classics. The Wenyingge edition of the Siku Quanshu was compiled under the supervision of Emperor Qianlong, a Qing Dynasty emperor, and is still housed in the special collections area of the Ancient Books Hall. The core exhibition areas include the Ancient Books Hall, the Digital Hall, and the Wenjin Pavilion Book Vault. The Ancient Books Hall displays surviving fragments of the Yongle Encyclopedia alongside Ming-dynasty facsimile copies, leaving visitors in awe. The Wenjin Pavilion Book Vault employs a constant temperature and humidity system to preserve its rare books and classics, and requires an advance reservation for entry. The Digital Hall uses holographic projection and VR technology to recreate classic paintings such as Along the River During the Qingming Festival, bringing a thousand years of civilization within reach. This sanctuary of knowledge was founded in 1958, with Premier Zhou Enlai, then Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, personally inscribing the library's name. Deng Xiaoping, Vice Chairman of the People's Republic of China, once directed ancient book restoration work here. The special collections area brings together the lifelong accumulations of scholars such as Wang Zhongmin, an ancient book restoration expert, and Xie Guozhen, a documentary scholar, bearing witness to the continuity of China's cultural lineage. Here, every stretch of history condenses into words, and every volume carries the weight of civilization—a spiritual homeland for the children of the Chinese nation.

Traveler reviews

The National Library is the biggest library in Beijing, and it actually relocated here from the old Beijing Library near Beihai Park. The collection is seriously massive, which is wh...
⭐ 5 · Avery Stone Expand
It's located right on the north side of Zizhuyuan Park nearby, and it's home to the national book repository, the national bibliography center, and the national ancient books protection center — basically one of the bi...
⭐ 5 · Hayden Brooks Expand