Adopted at the 5th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Fourteenth National People’s Congress on October 24, 2023
Effective: January 1, 2024
Table of Contents
Chapter I — General Provisions
Article 1 — This Law is enacted for the purposes of strengthening patriotic education in the new era, inheriting and promoting the spirit of patriotism, rallying the majestic strength to comprehensively build a modern socialist country and advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, in accordance with the Constitution.
Article 2 — The State shall carry out education among all citizens that enables them to possess rich national pride and a strong sense of collectivism, to cherish the socialist system, the Communist Party of China, and the motherland, and to strive tenaciously and courageously devote themselves to the comprehensive construction of a modern socialist country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Article 3 — Patriotic education shall adhere to the guidance of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, the Scientific Outlook on Development, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
Article 4 — Patriotic education shall be oriented toward all citizens, highlight the youth, be integrated into the entire process of national education, and be implemented throughout the entire field of ideological and political work.
Article 5 — Patriotic education shall uphold the leadership of the Party, follow the principles of unification of thought, unification of popular will, broad coverage, focus on practical results, adapting measures to local conditions, and categorization and guidance.
Article 6 — The departments responsible for patriotic education shall organize and guide the work of patriotic education. All State organs, armed forces, political parties, people’s organizations, enterprises, public institutions, social organizations, and other entities shall carry out patriotic education in accordance with the provisions of this Law and in light of their respective realities.
Chapter II — Tasks and Contents
Article 7 — The main contents of patriotic education include: (1) education on the history of the Chinese nation, the history of China, the history of the Communist Party of China, the history of the People’s Republic of China, and the history of reform and opening-up; (2) education on the national system, national flag, national emblem, national anthem, national territory, national defense, and national security; (3) education on the fine traditional Chinese culture, revolutionary culture, and advanced socialist culture; (4) education on national unity and ethnic solidarity; (5) education on national reunification and the one-China principle; (6) education on heroes and martyrs and role models; (7) education on the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics; and (8) other content with patriotic educational significance.
Article 8 — Patriotic education shall be combined with the inheritance and development of fine traditional Chinese culture, promotion of core socialist values, safeguarding of national unity and ethnic solidarity, strengthening of national security and national defense education, and enhancement of citizens’ rule of law awareness.
Article 9 — Patriotic education shall make good use of major commemorative days, important traditional festivals, and significant historical events, and shall organize activities such as ceremonial education, visits to patriotic education bases, and themed practical activities.
Chapter III — Implementation Measures
Article 10 — Schools shall incorporate patriotic education throughout the entire process of school education, carry out in-depth patriotic-themed education activities, and guide students to establish correct views on the State, the nation, history, and culture. Schools of all types and at all levels shall include patriotic education content in their teaching plans and organize students to participate in appropriate patriotic education activities.
Article 11 — State organs, enterprises, public institutions, people’s organizations, and social organizations shall integrate patriotic education into their daily management and the construction of organizational culture, and shall carry out patriotic education activities through various forms such as themed education and learning, visits, and training.
Article 12 — Families shall attach importance to patriotic education. Parents or other guardians shall educate minors to love the motherland, to cultivate and practice the core socialist values, and to develop good ideology, character, and behavioral habits.
Article 13 — Tourism and cultural heritage departments shall make good use of cultural relics and museum resources and carry out education on the fine traditional culture and revolutionary culture. Red tourism resources and historical and cultural resources shall be developed and utilized in a coordinated manner, and patriotic education bases shall be constructed and managed well.
Article 14 — News media such as radio, television, newspapers, periodicals, and the internet shall actively carry out patriotic education publicity, produce and broadcast patriotic education programs, and create a strong social atmosphere of patriotism.
Article 15 — Online information service providers shall strengthen online patriotic education content construction, produce and disseminate online cultural products and information content that embody the spirit of patriotism, and carry out online patriotic education activities.
Chapter IV — Support and Safeguards
Article 16 — The State shall strengthen the construction and management of patriotic education bases. People’s governments at all levels shall incorporate the construction of patriotic education bases into their national economic and social development plans and shall ensure their construction and operation.
Article 17 — Museums, memorial halls, libraries, science and technology museums, cultural centers, art galleries, new-era civilization practice centers, and other public cultural facilities shall give full play to their patriotic education functions and provide convenient conditions for patriotic education activities.
Article 18 — The State shall encourage and support the creation of literary and artistic works with the theme of patriotism, the production and distribution of excellent publications, and the enrichment of carriers of patriotic education content.
Article 19 — The State shall encourage and support research on the theory and practice of patriotic education and strengthen the cultivation of patriotic education professionals.
Article 20 — The State shall take measures to support the use of red resources, cultural relics, and historical and cultural resources in carrying out patriotic education in old revolutionary base areas, ethnic minority areas, border areas, and poverty-stricken areas.
Chapter V — Legal Liability
Article 21 — Any entity or individual that desecrates, defames, or otherwise undermines the spirit of patriotism shall bear corresponding legal liability in accordance with the law.
Article 22 — No organization or individual may desecrate or defame heroes, martyrs, and role models, or distort, defame, or negate their deeds or spirit. Violations shall be subject to administrative penalties or criminal liability in accordance with the law.
Article 23 — Where a department or unit responsible for patriotic education fails to perform its duties in accordance with the law, the relevant competent authority shall order it to make rectification; where the circumstances are serious, the directly responsible person in charge and other directly responsible persons shall be given sanctions in accordance with the law.
Article 24 — Anyone who, in the course of patriotic education, infringes upon the lawful rights and interests of others or disrupts public order shall bear civil liability in accordance with the law; if the act constitutes a violation of public security administration, a public security administration penalty shall be imposed; if the act constitutes a crime, criminal liability shall be pursued in accordance with the law.
Chapter VI — Supplementary Provisions
Article 25 — All localities and departments may, in accordance with this Law and in light of their respective actual conditions, formulate specific provisions and measures for the implementation of patriotic education.
Article 26 — This Law shall come into effect as of January 1, 2024.
Disclaimer: This English translation is provided by Dan Young Business Consultancy for reference and informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and completeness, this translation does not constitute legal advice and may not reflect the most current amendments or official interpretations. The official Chinese text as published by the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China remains the authoritative version. Readers should consult qualified legal professionals for advice on specific legal matters related to patriotic education in China. Dan Young Business Consultancy assumes no liability for any reliance placed on this translation.
