第一条 为了加强国家对文物的保护，有利于开展科学研究工作，继承我国优秀的历史文化遗产，进行爱国主义和革命传统教育，建设社会主义精神文明，特制定本法。
Article 1 This Law is formulated with a view to strengthening state protection of cultural relics, contributing to the development of scientific research, inheriting the splendid historical and cultural legacy of our nation, conducting education in patriotism and in the revolutionary tradition, and building a socialist society with an advanced culture and ideology.
第二条 在中华人民共和国境内，下列具有历史、艺术、科学价值的文物，受国家保护：
Article 2 The state shall place under its protection, within the boundaries of the People's Republic of China, the following cultural relics of historical, artistic or scientific value:
（二）与重大历史事件、革命运动和著名人物有关的，具有重要纪念意义、教育意义和史料价值的建筑物、遗址、纪念物；
(2) buildings, memorial sites and memorial objects related to major historical events, revolutionary movements or famous people that are highly memorable or are of great significance for education or for the preservation of historical data;
（五）反映历史上各时代、各民族社会制度、社会生产、社会生活的代表性实物。
(5) typical material objects reflecting the social system, social production or the life of various nationalities in different historical periods.
文物鉴定的标准和办法由国家文化行政管理部门制定，并报国务院批准。
The criteria and measures for the verification of cultural relics shall be formulated by the state department for cultural administration, which shall report them to the State Council for approval.
具有科学价值的古脊椎动物化石和古人类化石同文物一样受国家的保护。
Fossils of paleovertebrates and paleoanthropoids of scientific value shall be protected by the state in the same way as cultural relics.
第三条 国家文化行政管理部门主管全国文物工作。
Article 3 The state department for cultural administration shall take charge of the work concerning cultural relics throughout the country.
地方各级人民政府保护本行政区域内的文物。
Local people's governments at various levels shall place under their protection cultural relics in their respective administrative areas.
各省、自治区、直辖市和文物较多的自治州、县、自治县、市可以设立文物保护管理机构，管理本行政区域内的文物工作。
Provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government as well as autonomous prefectures, counties, autonomous counties and cities where there are relatively large amounts of cultural relics may set up organs for the protection and control of the cultural relics within their respective administrative areas.
一切机关、组织和个人都有保护国家文物的义务。
All government organs, public organizations and individuals have the obligation to protect the country's cultural relics.
第四条 中华人民共和国境内地下、内水和领海中遗存的一切文物，属于国家所有。
Article 4 All cultural relics remaining underground or in the inland waters or territorial seas within the boundaries of the People's Republic of China shall be owned by the state.
古文化遗址、古墓葬、石窟寺属于国家所有。
Sites of ancient culture, ancient tombs and cave temples shall be owned by the state.
国家指定保护的纪念建筑物、古建筑、石刻等，除国家另有规定的以外，属于国家所有。
Memorial buildings, ancient architectural structures, stone carvings, etc., designated for protection by the state, unless governed by other state regulations, shall be owned by the state.
国家机关、部队、全民所有制企业、事业组织收藏的文物，属于国家所有。
Cultural relics in the collection of state organs, armed forces, enterprises owned by the whole people and public institutions shall be owned by the state.
第五条 属于集体所有和私人所有的纪念建筑物、古建筑和传世文物，其所有权受国家法律的保护。
Article 5 Ownership of memorial buildings, ancient architectural structures and cultural relics handed down from generation to generation which belong to collectives or individuals shall be protected by state laws.
文物的所有者必须遵守国家有关保护管理文物的规定。
Owners of the cultural relics must abide by the relevant state regulations governing the protection and control of cultural relics.
第六条 文物保护管理经费分别列入中央和地方的财政预算。
Article 6 The expenses for the protection and control of cultural relics shall be listed in the budgets of the central and local governments.
第二章 文物保护单位
CHAPTER II SITES TO BE PROTECTED FOR THEIR HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL VALUE
第七条 革命遗址、纪念建筑物、古文化遗址、古墓葬、古建筑、石窟寺、石刻等文物，应当根据它们的历史、艺术、科学价值，分别确定为不同级别的文物保护单位。
Article 7 Cultural relics, such as sites related to revolutionary history, memorial buildings, sites of ancient culture, ancient tombs, ancient architectural structures, cave temples, stone carvings, etc., shall be designated as sites to be protected for their historical and cultural value at different levels according to their historical, artistic or scientific value.
县、自治县、市级文物保护单位，由县、自治县、市人民政府核定公布，并报省、自治区、直辖市人民政府备案。
Sites to be protected for their historical and cultural value at the level of counties, autonomous counties and cities shall be approved and announced by the people's governments at the same level and reported to the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities directly under the Central Government for the record.
省、自治区、直辖市级文物保护单位，由省、自治区、直辖市人民政府核定公布，并报国务院备案。
Sites to be protected for their historical and cultural value at the level of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall be approved and announced by the people's governments at the same level and reported to the State Council for the record.
国家文化行政管理部门在各级文物保护单位中，选择具有重大历史、艺术、科学价值的作为全国重点文物保护单位，或者直接指定全国重点文物保护单位， 报国务院核定公布。
The state department for cultural administration shall select, from among the sites to be protected at different levels, those which have a significant historical, artistic or scientific value as major sites to be protected at the national level, or shall directly designate such sites and report them to the State Council for approval and announcement.
第八条 保存文物特别丰富，具有重大历史价值和革命意义的城市，由国家文化行政管理部门会同城乡建设环境保护部门报国务院核定公布为历史文化名城。
Article 8 Cities with an unusual wealth of cultural relics of high historical value and major revolutionary significance shall be recommended to the State Council by the state department for cultural administration together with the department for urban and rural construction and environmental protection to be approved and announced as famous cities of historical and cultural value.
第九条 各级文物保护单位，分别由省、自治区、直辖市人民政府和县、自治县、市人民政府划定必要的保护范围，作出标志说明，建立记录档案，并区别情况分别设置专门机构或者专人负责管理。
Article 9 The people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government and of counties, autonomous counties and cities shall delimit the necessary scope of protection, put up signs and notices, and establish records and files for the historical and cultural sites to be protected at different levels and shall, in the light of different circumstances, establish special organs or assign full-time personnel to be responsible for the administration of these sites.