China has added 1,516 ancient written works to a list of national literary relics, including the world's first paper map providing evidence that paper making was invented in the country.
Of the documents, 286 are written in ethnic minority languages, the National Library of China said today.
A map produced during the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC - 9 AD) that was discovered in 1986 was added to the list, providing evidence that China invented paper making, as it is the oldest paper map discovered thus far, it said.
Ancient literary works included in the list have been better protected, said Zhang Zhiqing, the library's deputy curator.
Sixteen libraries or institutions were selected as key literary relic protection units, including four in Tibet, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
