The China National Archives of Publications and Culture (CNAPC) is developing an online platform to showcase Chinese classics, a Chinese national political advisor said in Beijing on Wednesday.
Liu Chengyong, director of the CNAPC, was speaking to the press in a group interview along with other members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body.
The development of the online platform is aimed at digitally presenting Chinese ancient texts in their original form, said Liu.
Launched in July 2022, the CNAPC is a grand project committed to preserving and carrying forward the rich heritage of Chinese culture by creating a "gene bank of Chinese cultural seeds." It comprises the central archives (Wenhan Pavilion) in Beijing and three branch archives, namely, the Wenji Pavilion in Xi'an, the provincial capital of Shaanxi in the northwest, the Wenrun Pavilion in Hangzhou, the provincial capital of Zhejiang in the east, and the Wenqin Pavilion in Guangzhou, the provincial capital of Guangdong in the south.
By collecting and preserving as many ancient texts and materials as possible, the CNAPC aims to safeguard the enduring legacy of the world's only uninterrupted civilization, Liu said.
To date, it has received more than 2.2 million visits made by individuals and groups from around the world, according to Liu.
"By centering around the evolution of Chinese civilization, we've created a permanent exhibition, displaying more than 400 major cultural treasures, to fully present the development of ancient Chinese civilization and let visitors experience the long history of Chinese culture and the rich and profound Chinese civilization," said Liu.
"At present, we are developing an online platform for showcasing Chinese classics to digitally present Chinese ancient texts in their original form and use digital resources to enrich people's cultural lives," he said.
Going forward, the CNAPC will focus on improving its preservation capabilities, expanding its digital resources, and thoroughly researching publishing achievements, among other efforts, to continuously develop and enrich the "gene bank of Chinese cultural seeds", said the director.
National archives to digitize ancient Chinese classics: China's national political advisor
