Two bronze heads looted from the Old Summer Palace by Anglo-French allied forces during the Second Opium War in 1860 is on exhibition at China National Museum in 2013. [Photo/VCG]

5. Auction of stolen or smuggled relics banned

A new regulation that bans the auction of stolen, smuggled and looted cultural relics reinforces China's firm stance on preventing the loss of relics and retrieving those that have been illegally transported abroad.

The State Administration of Cultural Relics issued the regulation on Oct 20 on its website, specifying the types of cultural objects that, if originally obtained illegally, cannot appear in sales.

They include all types of artworks dating before 1949, as well as documents and objects of historical importance and works of late modern artists that are restricted by law from exportation.

Related: China bans auction of looted cultural relics