Navigating Legal Framework and National Plans in Shaping the Growth of Large-scale Archaeological Sites in China

Archaeological sites are vital carriers of human civilisation, holding immense archaeological research value and profound cultural significance. Ancient sites and tombs provide empirical evidence for Chinaʼs million-year human history, ten-thousand-year cultural history, and over five-thousand-year civilisation history, making them crucial categories of cultural relics. With the advancement of social and economic development, the understanding of the value of major archaeological sites in China has deepened. Among these, expansive archaeological sites, referred to as “major archaeological sites”, receive particular attention. The protection and utilisation of these major sites have increasingly emphasised the recognition of their cultural heritage value, widely acknowledging their significant historical, scientific, and cultural importance. For many years, the Chinese government has prioritised the protection of archaeological sites, establishing a comprehensive legal framework. The development of major archaeological sites in China is closely linked to national planning, administrative regulations, and legal statutes. Recently, the development of major archaeological sites has been further promoted as part of national planning. Based on this background, this research aims to delineate the content and evolution of the legal frameworks and national planning for the development of major archaeological sites in China. It discusses their impact on site development, using the development of major archaeological sites in Xi’an as a case study. The study focuses on these issues and provides specific recommendations from legal and administrative perspectives.