IDP Beijing coordinates the conservation, cataloguing and digitisation of the Central Asian collections in China in liaison with NLC conservators and curators and Chinese scholars. It is part of the Rare Books and Manuscript Section.
IDP Beijing has research and inputting staff, as well as a dedicated digitisation studio. It maintains a Chinese version of the website.
Accessing manuscripts at the National Library of China
Dunhuang manuscripts are very precious and fragile historical documents. Researchers are encouraged to obtain information on Dunhuang manuscripts through substitutes such as digital images and photocopies.
For special research needs, the NLC provides services to read the original Dunhuang manuscripts. Please contact the Rare Books & Special Collections Reading Room of the NLC at +86 (0)10-88545344. Please provide the librarian with a list of pressmarks and a justification for viewing these items in person and brief outline of the research. You must wait for the application to be approved before going to Rare Books & Special Collections Reading Room of the NLC to read.
Please note that some manuscripts may not be available because they are too fragile or are awaiting conservation. No photography is allowed when viewing these items in the Reading Room.
Requesting materials for use or publication
To use the images hosted on the IDP database for personal or professional projects, you will need to ensure that you comply with fair use or copyright restrictions.
If you need to use high-definition images of Dunhuang manuscripts collected by the NLC for publication or other commercial purposes, please contact the Rare Books & Special Collections Reading Room of the NLC at +86 (0) 10-88545344. You need to fill out a form indicating the pressmarks and specific purpose of the images you plan to use, such as publication title and exhibition title.
Making a donation
All donations are used to further the digitization and administrative work of the IDP NLC. Your support is greatly appreciated. You can donate directly to the NLC to support IDP work. Please contact [email protected].
Giving feedback
We welcome comments about the work of the IDP NLC, especially about the web pages, suggestions on what you would like to see and any difficulties or problems you have encountered. Please reach out at [email protected]. Alternatively, you can write to us at the address below:
Dunhuang-Turpan Literature Section, Ancient Books Library
The National Library of China
33 Zhongguancun South Street
Beijing, 100081
The People’s Republic of China
