The main functions of the State Administration of Culture Heritage:

To plan the development of museums; draft and standardize the rules and regulations relating to museums as well as identification of cultural relics; organize investigation of cultural resources; participate in drafting, and supervising and examining laws for the preservation of antiques;

To coordinate and lead the protection of cultural relics; administrative enforcement of laws; tackle illegal transaction of cultural relics; and cooperate with relevant departments to solve important cases;

To protect, regulate and supervise world cultural heritage; organize applications and examination related to world cultural heritage status; cooperate with the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development to examine applications concerning the classification of world cultural heritage and world natural heritage; and cooperate with the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development to protect, supervise and regulate historic cities, towns and villages;

To regulate and guide archaeological studies around the country; organize and coordinate major projects for the preservation of cultural relics and also archaeological activities; and undertake other tasks concerning key national cultural relics protection units;

To promote and improve the public service system of cultural relics and museums; plan and promote the sharing of public resources related to cultural relics and museums; offer guidance concerning cultural relics and museums around the country; and coordinate interaction and cooperation among museums;

To take charge of examination, verification, identification and qualification of cultural relics and museums;

To organize and offer guidance concerning the promotion of cultural relics; plan the recruitment of talents with suitable professional skills;

To plan and promote the development of science and technology, informatization, and standardization of cultural relics and museums;

To regulate and lead foreign affairs concerning cultural relics and museums; develop international communications and cooperation; and take charge of identification and verification of cultural relics - either imported or exported;

To undertake other tasks as requested by the State Council and the Ministry of Culture.