From Guanghua Temple on the northeast bank of Shichahai to Wenjin Street, the National Library of China has seen its name changed several times and its site moved three times. With a history of almost one hundred years, it is now the largest library in Asia.

On September 9, 1909, the government of the Qing Dynasty approved the construction of the Jingshi Library, which was in Guanghua Temple. In 1917, the library was relocated to the former site of Guozijian South School in Fangjia Hutong. In 1928, the Jingshi Library was renamed the National Peiping Library and moved to Jurentang, Zhongnanhai. After the new building on Wenjin Street was completed in 1931, it moved to No. 7 Wenjin Street, where the present NLC Ancient Books Library is located.

In 1987, the new building of the Beijing Library was completed on the north side of Zizhuyuan Park which is now the southern area of the National Library of China. Over the past 100 years since its establishment, the National Library of China has gradually formed a layered service system for central state organs, key educational and scientific research enterprises and institutions, the general public, and national libraries.

The National Library of China is also home to China’s famed oracle bones and thousands of historically valuable papers. The library houses the royal collections since the Southern Song Dynasty. The earliest collection can be traced back to the oracle bones of Yin Ruins more than 3,000 years ago. The Dunhuang posthumous writings, Zhaochengjin Scripture, Yongle Encyclopedia and Siku Quanshu are the four world-famous treasures here.

Address: No. 33, Zhongguancun South Street, Haidian District, Beijing