The Chinese government applies strict control over the export of cultural relics. If you want to legally take out cultural relics acquired in China but are not certain about whether it is allowed by the Chinese government, we recommend that you consult the Beijing Municipal Cultural Relics Bureau. The Cultural Relics Appraisal Institute affiliated to the bureau also provides appraisal service for cultural relics to be taken out of China.

The appraisal service can be carried out with the relic being brought in by you in person or entrusted to someone else with your ID documentation. A written request can also be submitted for experts to come to the relic's place of storage.

When you take the cultural relic out of China, you should produce the exit certificate issued by the cultural relics administration to the Beijing customs. After verifying the exit certificate and the seal on the cultural relic, the customs will grant the exit.

Address of the Beijing Cultural Relics Appraisal Institute: NO.36, Fuxue Alley, Dongcheng District, Beijing; Tel: 64019714.

(beijing.gov.cn October 16, 2006)