China’s World Heritage

by China Pictorial

In July， 2019， Chinas Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City and Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of the Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf （Phase I） were respectively inscribed on the World Heritage List as a cultural site and a natural site by UNESCOs World Heritage Committee at its 43rd session in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku. The two newly added sites brought the total count of Chinas World Heritage sites on the list to 55， tied for highest in the world with Italy. For thousands of years， the Chinese people have nurtured a profound cultural heritage as the countrys wide rivers and lofty mountains have nourished a bountiful natural heritage.

In 1972， UNESCO adopted the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage in Paris and established the World Heritage Committee. It aimed to promote cooperation among nations and peoples and realize sustainable development through safeguarding， sharing and passing on the common heritage of mankind. Since China became a state party to this convention in 1985， it has steadily risen in terms of numbers of World Heritage sites.

“After the beginning of its reform and opening up， China became actively involved in activities related to World Heritage，”explained Jing Feng， chief of the Asia and Pacific Unit of UNESCOs World Heritage Center. “Its practices in World Heritage application and conservation have gradually matured.” Since 2003， China has made successful World Heritage applications every year. It is the only country with successful continuous applications for World Cultural Heritage sites since the implementation of application restriction rules in the field.

The scale and subjects of Chinas World Heritage sites continue to expand as the country actively explores new types of World Heritage applications， places greater focus on the protection and management of living heritage and embraces the role of heritage in sustainable regional development. New types of Chinese heritage sites represented by cultural landscapes， heritage routes and heritage canals have seen a marked increase， which fully demonstrate the cultural diversity of China.

The 44th session of the World Heritage Committee is scheduled to be held in Fuzhou， southeastern Chinas Fujian Province， in 2020. Over the years， Chinas involvement in international exchange and cooperation on World Heritage conservation has been growing. It has established close cooperative relations with many international organizations and countries and made remarkable contributions to World Heritage conservation. Chinas World Heritage sites have become common assets of mankind. In this issue， China Pictorial exhibits Chinas World Heritage sites， celebrating the countrys time-honored history and rich culture by shining light on the traits and value of the shared wealth of mankind.

Date of Inscription： 1987 Located in central Shandong Province， Taishan spans Taian and Jinan cities. Yuhuang Peak， the main peak of the mountain， reaches nearly 1，500 meters above sea level. For the past nearly 2，000 years， Taishan， the most revered of Chinas five sacred mountains， has continuously served as one of the countrys spiritual symbols. It is considered a place where the traditional Chinese philosophy “unity of heaven and man” is optimally manifested. Throughout history， several Chinese emperors held imperial ceremonies on the mountain to pay homage to Heaven and Earth or tribute to the mountain through sacrifices.

The majestic Taishan Mountain boasts a unique cultural temperament flavored by numerous cultural relics. It is more than just a mountain， but a living witness to ancient Chinese civilization with exceptional religious， aesthetic and literary value. It has been a pristine combination of natural landscape and human culture for thousands of years.

Date of Inscription： 1990

Often described as the “loveliest mountain in China，” Huangshan in Anhui Province is known for its dramatic mountainous landscape consisting of grotesque rocks， gnarled trees， sea of clouds， hot springs， and winter snow. Sunrise， sunset， and mist blanketing the unique scenery on the mountain have served as sources of inspiration for Chinese painters and poets for ages.

Huangshan hosts 88 peaks with an altitude of more than 1，000 meters. The three main peaks of Lianhua， Tiandu and Guangming all exceed 1，800 meters above sea level， with the highest Lianhua Peak reaching 1，865 meters.

The ecosystem on the mountain is stable and balanced， with an intact and vertically distributed plant community. Mount Huangshan provides a habitat for numerous locally or nationally endemic plant species， several of which are globally threatened.

Mount Emei Scenic Area， including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area

Date of Inscription： 1996

Located in Leshan City， Sichuan Province， Mount Emei is one of the four holiest Buddhist mountains and known as the ashram of Puxian （Samantabhadra Bodhisattva）.

The 71-meter-tall Leshan Giant Buddha overlooks the confluence of three rivers， the Dadu， Qingyi and Minjiang. Carved from 713 to 803 during the Tang Dynasty （618-907）， the statue of the seated Maitreya Buddha is the largest cliff sculpture in China.

Mount Emei is where various natural elements meet. The mountain boasts a complex community， rich biodiversity and many endemic species. The heritage zones of Mount Emei and Leshan Giant Buddha cover around 15，400 hectares and represent the perfect combination of man-made elements and natural environment.

4 Mount Wuyi

Date of Inscription： 1999 Minor Boundary Modification Inscribed Year： 2017

Mount Wuyi， located at the junction of Jiangxi Province and northwestern Fujian Province， boasts the famous Danxia landform， a unique type of petrographic geomorphology characterized by red-colored， steep sandstone cliffs.

Wuyi is a famous mountain for Confucianism， Taoism and Buddhism. It is a landscape of great beauty that has been protected for centuries and contains a series of exceptional archaeological sites including ruins of a Han city established in the 1st century， abundant temples and structures， and a number of cultural relics associated with the birth of Neo-Confucianism in the 11th century. The mountain nurtured rich cultural and folk customs and testifies to the development of Confucianism， Taoism and Buddhism in China.

The mountain contains the largest and most representative example of a generally intact forest encompassing the diversity of the subtropical forest and rainforest in southern China. Of enormous importance for biodiversity conservation， the property acts as a refuge for a large number of ancient， relic plant species and contains extremely rich flora and fauna including significant numbers of reptile， amphibian and insect species. The property consists of Wuyishan National Nature Reserve， Nine-Bend Stream Ecological Protection Area， Wuyishan National Scenic Area， and the Protection Area for the Remains of Ancient Han Dynasty， totaling around 100，000 hectares.

5 The Great Wall

Date of Inscription： 1987

The Great Wall begins at Shanhai Pass in Hebei Province in the east and ends at Jiayu Pass in Gansu Province in the west. With a total length of more than 21，000 kilometers， it traverses a number of provinces， municipalities， and autonomous regions in northern China.

As early as the Spring and Autumn Period （770-476 B.C.） and the Warring States Period （475-221 B.C.）， states of ancient China began to build large walls to defend against invaders. After unifying China around 221 B.C.， the first emperor of China Qinshihuang （259-210 B.C.） ordered the connection of sections of earlier fortifications to form a united defense system to protect against invasions from the north. Construction continued until the Ming Dynasty （1368-1644）， when the Great Wall had become the worlds largest military structure.

The Great Wall embodies the hard work and wisdom of the ancient Chinese people， and represents Chinas 5，000-year-old civilization. It is a symbol of will， courage and strength. Its historic and strategic importance is matched only by its architectural significance.

6

Mogao Caves

Date of Inscription： 1987

Situated at a strategic point along the Silk Road in Dunhuang City， Gansu Province， the Mogao Caves are located at what was once a crossroads of trade with rich religious， cultural and intellectual influence in ancient times.

Construction started in 366 and lasted to the Yuan Dynasty（1271-1368）. The Mogao Caves are home to 735 cells and cave sanctuaries and 45，000 square meters of murals， representing the great achievement of Buddhist art. The caves of Mogao played a decisive role in artistic exchange between China， Central Asia and India.

7 Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian

Date of Inscription： 1987

A Pleistocene hominid site， Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian rests in Fangshan District， Beijing， about 50 kilometers southwest of the capitals city proper. It was the home of Homo erectus pekinensis， who lived in the Middle Pleistocene （700，000 to 200，000 years ago）， archaic Homo sapiens from about 200，000 to 100，000 years ago and Homo sapiens sapiens dating back to 30，000 years ago.

So far， around 200 ancient human fossils， over 100，000 pieces of stone tools， fossils of hundreds of animal species， and evidence of Peking Man using fire have been discovered in 27 localities within the property dating from different periods. It is a world-famous treasure trove of human fossils and a multidisciplinary research base including paleoanthropology， archaeology， paleontology， stratigraphy， chronology， environmental science and karstology.

8 Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor

Date of Inscription： 1987

Located in Xian City， Shaanxi Province， the mausoleum is the tomb of Emperor Qinshihuang （259-210 B.C.）， founder of the first unified empire in Chinese history. After unifying China around 221 B.C.， Qinshihuang adopted a series of reforms including unifying currencies， weights and measures and writings of the previous states， laying the foundation for Chinas feudal political system that lasted for more than 2，000 years.

In the mausoleum of the emperor， nearly 200 accompanying pits contain thousands of life-size terracotta soldiers， terracotta horses， and bronze chariots and weapons. They are masterpieces of realism with exceptional historical value. In 1974， Chinese archaeologists excavated more than 7，000 terracotta warriors with horses， chariots and weapons， the most spectacular archaeological achievement in the country in the 20th century.

9 Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing and Shenyang

Date of Inscription： 1987 Extension： 2004

Located in the center of Beijing， the Imperial Palace of the Ming and Qing （1644-1911） dynasties is also known as the Forbidden City， which was the seat of supreme power for over five centuries across Chinas Ming and Qing dynasties. With landscaped gardens and many buildings （with about 9，000 rooms containing furniture and works of art）， the Forbidden City covers a land area of 72 hectares and floor areas of 150，000 square meters. It remains the largest and most complete ancient architectural complex in China， constituting a priceless testimony to Chinese civilization during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Imperial Palace of Beijing was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1987.

Located in Shenyang City， Liaoning Province， the Imperial Palace of Shenyang was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2004 as an extension to the Imperial Palace of Beijing. The Imperial Palace of the Qing Dynasty in Shenyang was built for the Nuzhen/Manchu founders of the Qing Dynasty before they expanded their power to the center of the country and moved the capital to Beijing. With unique history， geographical location and typical features of traditional folk residences of the Manchu people， this remarkable architectural edifice starkly contrasts the Imperial Palace of Beijing. Covering a total floor area of more than 60，000 square meters， the well-preserved Imperial Palace of the Qing Dynasty in Shenyang consists of 114 buildings and contains rich historical and cultural significance.

10

Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace， Lhasa

Date of Inscription： 1994 Extension： 2000， 2001

Located in Lhasa， Chinas Tibet Autonomous Region， the Potala Palace is the worlds highest-altitude structure combining palaces， towers and monasteries. It is also the largest and most complete ancient palace complex in Tibet. The scale and artistic wealth of the Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace， which represents the pinnacle of Tibetan architecture， is an outstanding example of theocratic architecture， the last to survive in the modern world. The three-in-one Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace consisting of the palace-fort complex， Norbulingka garden residence and the Jokhang Monastery， each with distinctive characteristics， forms an outstanding example of traditional Tibetan architecture.

The Potala Palace was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1994， the Jokhang Monastery in 2000 as an extension to the property， and Norbulingka in 2001 as a further extension.

11 Mountain Resort and Its Outlying Temples， Chengde

Date of Inscription： 1994

Located in Chengde， Hebei Pro vince， the Mountain Resort was built between 1703 and 1792. It is a vast complex of palaces and administrative and ceremonial buildings， roughly divided into two parts： palace area and garden area. The Mountain Resort of palaces and gardens at Chengde with its Outlying Temples is the largest existing imperial palace-garden and temple complex in China. The temples fuse different architecture of Tibetan style， Han style and Han-Tibetan style. By integrating elements of architectural art and culture of the Han， Tibetan and other Chinese ethnic groups， the Outlying Temples are magnificent. As a representative of ancient Chinese garden design， the Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples once exerted influence in Europe and have played an important role in the history of 18th-century landscape garden design worldwide.

12 Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains

Date of Inscription： 1994

Situated in northwestern Hubei Province， Mount Wudang is a sacred mountain of Taoism. The palaces and temples that form the nucleus of this group of secular and religious buildings testify to the architectural and artistic achievements of Chinas Yuan， Ming and Qing dynasties. Situated in the scenic valleys and on the slopes of the Wudang Mountains， the site， which was built as an organized complex during the Ming Dynasty， contains Taoist buildings from as early as the 7th century. It represents the highest standards of Chinese art and architecture over a period of nearly 1，000 years. The Wudang buildings exercised an enormous influence on the development of religious and public art and architecture in China.

13 Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu

Date of Inscription： 1994

The temple， cemetery and family mansion of Con fucius （551-479 B.C.）， a great philosopher， politi cian and educator in ancient China， are located in Qufu City， Shandong Province.

Built in 478 B.C. to commemorate Confucius， the temple today comprises more than 100 buildings. As a cultural heritage site， the property， incorporating the Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion， embodies the core value of Confucianism.

The property is an outstanding representative architectural complex with an impressive grand scale and rich collection of cultural relics.

14 Lushan National Park

Date of Inscription： 1996

Lushan National Park is located in Lushan City， Jiangxi Province. The temples and educational buildings within the scenic area form a cultural landscape exhibiting exchange of morals and values over a long period from the late 3rd century even to the early 20th century. Lushan Mountain is an outstanding representative of Chinese landscape culture. Combining nature and culture， the mountain presents an impressive vista.

15 Old Town of Lijiang

Date of Inscription： 1997

The Old Town of Lijiang was an important goods distribution hub for trade between Sichuan， Yunnan and Tibet and is where the Silk Road in the south meets the Ancient Tea-Horse Road. The old town， which perfectly adapted to the uneven topography of the key commercial and strategic site， has retained a historic townscape of high quality and authenticity.

Its architecture is noteworthy for the blended elements of various Chinese ethnic groups such as the Naxi， Han， Tibetan and Bai as they have come together over many centuries. The Old Town of Lijiang has integrated the mountains， rivers， trees and architecture to create a human habitat featuring unity between man and nature.

16 Ancient City of Pingyao

Date of Inscription： 1997

Located in Jinzhong City， Shanxi Province， the Ancient City of Pingyao is known as one of “the four best-preserved ancient cities” in China. The property includes three parts： the entire area within the walls of Pingyao， Shuanglin Temple and Zhenguo Temple. The townscape of the Ancient City of Pingyao excellently reflects the evolution of architectural styles and town planning. The ancient city wall retains the historic form of county-level cities of the Han people in central China from the 14th to 20th century and provides a complete picture of historical， cultural， social， economic and religious development in China.

17 Classical Gardens of Suzhou

Date of Inscription： 1997 Extension： 2000

Known for its antiquity， refined nature， delicate lines， elegance and abundance， the classical gardens of Suzhou in Jiangsu Province enjoy a reputation so lofty that there is a saying： “The gardens in regions south of the Yangtze River top gardens in the country， and Suzhou gardens top gardens in regions south of the Yangtze River.” Dating from the 11th century， the gardens constitute a unique but systematic form of landscaping. Its planning， design， construction techniques， and artistic effects left a significant impact on the development of landscaping in China as well as the world. The gardens unique designs emanate the traditional Chinese philosophy of finding inspiration from nature while transcending its concepts.

The Longmen Grottoes have a long history. The many physical relics and written materials reflect the development and changes in Chinas politics， economics， religion， culture and many other fields over hundreds of years.

22 Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties

Date of Inscription： 2000 Extension： 2003， 2004

The Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties are a collection of mausoleums that were carefully planned and built by emperors. They embody the pinnacle of the funeral system in Chinas feudal society. The area around the inscribed property authentically and explicitly conveys the great importance of the funerary system to feudal society and provides insight into the ancient outlook towards the universe， morality， life and death. The property is also considered the best planning and architectural art in China at the time. Apart from Beijing， the tombs were also built in Hebei， Hubei， Jiangsu and Liaoning provinces.

They comprise the Xianling Tomb of the Ming Dynasty and the Eastern and Western Qing Tombs inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2000； the Xiaoling Tomb of the Ming Dynasty and the Ming Tombs in Beijing added to the inscription in 2003， and the Three

Imperial Tombs of Shenyang， Liaoning Province（Yongling Tomb， Fuling Tomb， and Zhaoling Tomb， all of the Qing Dynasty） added in 2004.

Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System

Date of Inscription： 2000

Mount Qingcheng， one of the birthplaces of Taoism， is located in Dujiangyan District of Chengdu City， Sichuan Province. The architectural style is a mix of Chinese Taoist culture and western Sichuan residential building. Construction of the Dujiangyan Irrigation System began in the 3rd century B.C. The system still controls the water of the Minjiang River and distributes it to the fertile farmland of the Chengdu plains. Three key components of the irrigation system work together to control water from the upper valley of the Minjiang River： the Yuzui Bypass Dike， the Feishayan Floodgate， and the Baopingkou Diversion Passage. These structures ensure regular supply of water to the Chengdu plains and are still in use today. The Dujiangyan Irrigation System is one of the earliest water conservancy projects in China. Other historical sites in the region include the Erwang Temple， the Fulong Temple， the Anlan Bridge and Lidui Park.

24 Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui—Xidi and Hongcun

Date of Inscription： 2000

Xidi and Hongcun are two outstanding traditional villages located in Yixian County， southern Anhui Province.

Xidi， with an area of 13 hectares， contains an integrated ecological landscape and unique collection of village alleyways， buildings and waterways dating from the 14th century. Known as a “living residential museum，” Xidis overall layout， landscape， architectural form， decoration and construction techniques all retain the original features of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Hongcun， built in 1131， covers 19 hectares. A total of 140 ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties still stand in the village.

25 Yungang Grottoes

Date of Inscription： 2001

The Yungang Grottoes in Datong City， Shanxi Province， include 252 caves and 51，000 statues representing the most outstanding achievements of Chinas Buddhist art during the 5th and 6th centuries. Particularly， the Five Caves created by Tan Yao， with strict unity in layout and design， constitute a classical masterpiece of the first peak of Chinese Buddhist art. While influenced by Buddhist cave art from South and Central Asia， the Yungang Grottoes have also interpreted the Buddhist cave art with distinctive Chinese characteristics and local spirit.

26 Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom

Date of Inscription： 2004

The Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom are located in todays Hengren， Liaoning Province and Jian， Jilin Province. The Koguryo kingdom was a regional power and ethnic group from 37 B.C. until 668 A.D.

An early example of capitals and tombs， the site includes archaeological remains of three cities （namely， Wunu Mountain City， Guonei City and Wandu Mountain City） and 40 tombs. The murals in the tombs， while showing artistic skills and specific styles， are also an example of strong impact from other cultures. The Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom represent exceptional testimony to the vanished Koguryo civilization and a perfect blending of human creation and nature.

27 Historic Centre of Macao

Date of Inscription： 2005

The Historic Centre of Macao， located in the old city of Macao， connects more than 20 historic buildings with squares and streets. Its historic streets， residential structures and religious and public buildings combining Portuguese and Chinese styles make the site a unique confluence of aesthetic， cultural， architectural and technological influences from East and West.

The Historic Centre of Macao is the oldest， largest and most complete and concentrated historical region featuring a blending of Chinese and Western buildings. It has testified to one of the earliest and longest-lasting encounters between China and the West for over 400 years.

28 Yin Xu

Date of Inscription： 2006

Yin Xu has been confirmed by historical documents， oracle bone inscriptions and archaeological excavations as the site of the first capital city in Chinese history. The archaeological site of Yin Xu near Anyang City， Henan Province was the capital of the late Shang Dynasty （1600-1046 B.C.）. It provides evidence for the golden age of early Chinese culture through the eras crafts and sciences. The Chinese Bronze Age was a time of great prosperity. Numerous royal tombs and palaces， prototypes of later Chinese architecture， were unearthed at the site， including more than 80 structural foundations in the Palace and Royal Ancestral Shrines Area and the only intact tomb of a member of the royal family of the Shang Dynasty—the Tomb of Fu Hao. A number of unearthed burial accessories with superb craftsmanship testify to the advanced level of the Shang craft industry. Inscriptions on oracle bones found in Yin Xu present invaluable evidence for the development of one of the worlds oldest writing systems， ancient beliefs and social systems.

29 Kaiping Diaolou and Villages

Date of Inscription： 2007

Diaolou， multi-story defensive village residences in Kaiping， Guangdong Province， can be traced back to the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. During the 1920s and 1930s， many overseas Chinese returned to the region to purchase real estate， helping Kaiping Diaolou enjoy unprecedented heydays. During its most booming period， more than 3，000 watchtowers were constructed， nearly 2，000 of which are still well preserved. Kaiping Diaolou and Villages display a complex and flamboyant fusion of Chinese and Western structural and decorative forms while reflecting the close relationship between overseas Kaiping people and their hometown.

30 Fujian Tulou

Date of Inscription： 2008

Fujian Tulou buildings are found in Yongding， Wuping and Shanghang in western Fujian Province and Nanjing， Pinghe， Huaan and Zhangpu in southwestern Fujian Province. Tulou began to be built in the Song and Yuan dynasties. After development in the early and middle Ming Dynasty， the style gradually matured in the late Ming Dynasty， the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China period （1912-1949） and still evolves to this day. Tulou represents a unique large rammed earth residential building in mountainous areas.

The integrity of Tulou is related to its intactness as buildings but also that of the surrounding farmed and forested landscape—they were carefully distributed in accordance with Chinese fengshui （geomantic） principles. They are inscribed as exceptional examples of a building tradition and function exemplifying a particular communal living and defensive organization.

31 Mount Wutai

Date of Inscription： 2009

Mount Wutai is in Xinzhou City， Shanxi Province. Alongside Mount Putuo in Zhejiang Province， Mount Jiuhua in Anhui Province and Mount Emei in Sichuan Province， it is known as one of the “Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China.” It is seen as the sanctum of Manjusri Bodhisattva globally.

Mount Wutai perfectly fuses natural landscape and Buddhist culture and demonstrates religious belief in natural landscape and Chinese philosophy on harmony between man and nature.

32

Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in “the Center of Heaven and Earth”

Date of Inscription： 2010

At the foot of 1，500-meter-tall Mount Songshan near the city of Dengfeng in Henan Province is a 40-square-kilometer circle of eight clusters of buildings and sites including three Han Que gates—remains of the oldest religious edifices in China， the Zhongyue Temple， the Zhougong Sundial Platform and the Dengfeng Observatory. The buildings were constructed across nine dynasties.

The area around Mount Songshan was the center of Chinas politics， economics and culture for a long time in history. It played a lead role in the formation of Chinese civilization and the Chinese nation. The historical monuments of Dengfeng include some of the best examples of ancient Chinese buildings devoted to rituals， science， technology and education.

33 West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou

Date of Inscription： 2011

The cultural landscape of West Lake in Hangzhou， Zhejiang Province was first created in the 9th century. It took its present shape in the 13th century and flourished by the 18th century as it does today. It includes several landscape elements： a beautiful natural landscape surrounded on three sides by “cloud-capped hills，” two causeways， three islands and the “Ten Scenes of West Lake.”It is also home to 10 related important cultural sites and the time-honored Longjing tea garden. The landscape preserves unique aesthetic characteristics and outstanding spiritual value. The heritage area is about 43.3 square kilometers.

West Lake has influenced garden design throughout China and the world over centuries and bears testimony to the cultural tradition of improving landscapes to create a series of vistas reflecting an idyllic fusion between humanity and nature.

34 Site of Xanadu

Date of Inscription： 2012

The Site of Xanadu in the grassland of Xilin Gol League， Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region， features the remains of Kublai Khans legendary capital city， including palaces， nomadic encampments and the Tiefangang Canal， Zhenzishan Tombs and Yikeshu Tombs. It is the site of a grassland capital characterized by cultural fusion， with clashes and mutual assimilation between the nomadic and agrarian civilizations of North Asia. Located on the southeastern edge of the Mongolian plateau， it was the first capital built by Kublai Khan and later the summer capital of the Yuan Dynasty.

35 Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces

Date of Inscription： 2013

Yuanyang County in Yunnan Province is famous for the Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces. It is marked by spectacular terraces that cascade down the slopes of the towering Ailao Mountains to the banks of the Honghe River. They include not only the rice terraces， but also forests， irrigation systems， and traditional villages and residences. The Hani people developed a complex system of channels to bring water from the forested mountaintops to the terraced fields. The resilient land management system of the rice terraces demonstrates extraordinary harmony between man and the environment.

36 The Grand Canal

Date of Inscription： 2014

The Grand Canal is a vast waterway system that runs from Beijing in the north to Zhejiang in the south via such regions as Tianjin， Hebei， Shandong， Henan， Anhui and Jiangsu. As the longest and oldest canal， it has held various functions and complex conservation status. The total number of remains related to the Grand Canal exceeds 1，100. The region inscribed as a World Heritage site involves two municipalities， six provinces and 25 prefectural-level cities in China.

After more than 2，000 years of continuous development and evolution， the Grand Canal still plays an important role in transportation， flood discharge， irrigation and water delivery. It remains an indispensable transportation channel for nearby citizens.

37 Silk Roads： The Routes Network of Changan-Tianshan Corridor

Date of Inscription： 2014

The Silk Roads network facilitated integration， exchange and dialogue between East and West. It made profound contributions to the common prosperity of mankind over the past 2，000 years. The Routes Network of Changan-Tianshan Corridor took shape around the 2nd century B.C.， flourished between the 6th and 14th centuries and remained in use as a major trade route until the 16th century. It played a vital role in transportation and cultural exchange. It stretched across present China， Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan， witnessing economic， cultural and social exchanges in Asia and Europe， especially between nomadic and settled civilizations， from the 2nd century B.C. to the 16th century.

38 Tusi Sites

Date of Inscription： 2015

The Tusi Sites are distributed throughout the Wuling Mountain area at the junction of Hunan， Hubei and Guizhou provinces. Remains include the administration area， military ruins， villages， office buildings， manors and tombs. The relics of Tusi heritage， represented by the Yongshun site in Hunan， the Tangya site in Hubei and the Hailongtun site in Guizhou， reveal the history of the Tusi system and its purpose to unify national administration while allowing ethnic minorities to retain their customs and ways of life.

The site encompasses remains of several tribal domains whose chiefs were appointed by the central government as ‘Tusi， local hereditary rulers from the 13th to the early 20th century. The remains of official buildings in the Tusi Sites were the administrative and residential centers of Tusi.

39 Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape

Date of Inscription： 2016

Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape shines light on the lives and rituals of the Luoyue people. They date back to the period from the 5th century B.C. to the 2nd century A.D. Hidden in surrounding karst landforms， rivers and plateaus， the huge rock paintings present a mysterious cultural landscape. They are noted for their strong artistic connotations and high value for archaeological research.

40 Kulangsu， a Historic International Settlement

Date of Inscription： 2017

Kulangsu is a tiny island located on the estuary of the Chiu-lung River facing the city of Xiamen. After the opening of a commercial port in Xiamen in 1843， the island was established as an international settlement in 1903 and quickly became an important window for Sino-foreign exchanges. Kulangsu is an exceptional example of the cultural fusion that emerged from such exchanges， which remain visible in its urban composition. Its mixture of different architectural styles includes traditional southern Fujian style， Western classical revival style and veranda colonial style. The most exceptional example of the fusion of various stylistic influences was a new architectural movement， Amoy Deco， a synthesis of the modernist style of the early 20th century and Art Deco.

41 Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City

Date of Inscription： 2019

The Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City was the center of power and culture of an early regional state in the Circum-Taihu Lake Area. The property consists of components such as the City Site built from 3300 to 2300 BC， the Peripheral Water Conservancy System with complex functionality， socially-graded cemeteries （including an altar）， and excavated objects represented by a series of jade artifacts used in their belief system. The site shines light on the remarkable contributions of the Yangtze River Basin to the origins of Chinese civilization. The Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City bear testimony of an early regional state with rice-cultivating agriculture as its economic base， social differentiation and a unified belief system in the late Neolithic Period in China. It represents the great achievements of prehistoric rice-cultivating civilization in China over 5，000 years ago and remains an outstanding example of early urban civilization.

42 Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area

Date of Inscription： 1992

Located in Songpan County of Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province， Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area is made up of snow-capped peaks and the easternmost of all the Chinese glaciers. In addition to its mountainous landscapes， it is home to diverse forest ecosystems and spectacular limestone formations， waterfalls and hot springs. Some endangered species including the giant panda and the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey can be found in the area.

43 Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area

Date of Inscription： 1992

Located in Jiuzhaigou County of Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture， Sichuan Province， Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area was Chinas first nature reserve to focus on protection of natural scenery. Covering more than 64，000 hectares， the 50-kilometer valley sits in a transitional zone between the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Sichuan Basin and boasts a forest coverage rate of more than 80 percent. Its name Jiuzhaigou （literally“Nine-Village Valley”） derives from the nine Tibetan villages there. The springs， waterfalls， streams and 108 water ponds in the valley can change colors with the change of seasons and movement of the sun， creating a spectacular vista.

44 Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area

Date of Inscription： 1992

Wulingyuan is a natural oasis within a heavily populated agricultural region. A spectacular area stretching some 26，400 hectares across Chinas Hunan Province， the site consists of the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Zhangjiajie City， the Suoxi Valley Nature Reserve in Cili County and the Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve in Sangzhi County as well as Yangjiajie Scenic Area.

The site features a variety of landforms and geological monuments including Zhangjiajie landform， tectonic landform， quartz sandstone， denuded landforms and ravines. In addition to the striking beauty of the landscapes flavored by spectacular jagged stone peaks， lush vegetation， and clear lakes and streams， the region is also home to numerous endangered plant and animal species.

45 Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas

Date of Inscription： 2003

The “Three Parallel Rivers”refers to the Jinsha， Lancang and Nujiang which flow in a parallel fashion， creating a spectacular natural wonder. The shortest distance between the Lancang and Jinsha rivers is 66 kilometers， and the Lancang and Nujiang rivers are less than 19 kilometers apart at one spot.

Originating on the QinghaiTibet Plateau， the three rivers flow in parallel from north to south through Yunnan Province， crossing mountain ranges including Gaoligong， Nushan and Yunling and spanning an area of 1.7 million hectares. They run through nine nature reserves and 10 scenic areas in Yunnans Lijiang City， Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture. Located in a convergent region for the worlds three major biogeographic realms—East Asia， South Asia and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau， the site is a rare representative of alpine landforms and their evolution and harbors the richest biodiversity among the temperate areas of the world.

46 Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries—Wolong， Mount Siguniang and Jiajin Mountains

Date of Inscription： 2006

The Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries， home to more than 30 percent of the worlds wild pandas， consist of Wolong， Siguniang Mountain and Jiajin Mountains and cover seven nature reserves and 11 scenic areas in 12 counties of four Sichuan cities and prefectures： Chengdu， Aba， Yaan and Garze. The sanctuaries constitute the largest remaining contiguous habitat for the giant panda and host the species most important site for captive breeding. The sanctuaries are also home to other globally endangered animals such as the red panda， the snow leopard and the clouded leopard as well as more than 300 species of birds. The region is among the botanically richest sites in the world outside tropical rainforests. The site is also a major source and gene pool for hundreds of traditional medicinal plants， many now under threat.

47 South China Karst

Date of Inscription： 2007 （Phase 1） and 2014 （Phase II）

Karst landform is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks on and under the ground. Karst landforms in China include the Stone Forest in Yunnan Province， Libo Karst in Guizhou Province and Wulong Karst in Chongqing Municipality. Formed over 500，000 to 300 million years， they cover a total of 1，460 square kilometers and constitute one of the worlds most spectacular examples of tropical to subtropical karst landscapes.

After a long evolution， karst landforms in southern China preserve the complex evolutionary history of one of the worlds most outstanding landscapes. They have formed a complete structural system and evolutionary sequence for karst development in tropical and subtropical zones， providing precious geological evidence for the research of modern regional hydrologic networks and the formation of the Three Gorges on the Yangtze River.

48 Mount Sanqingshan National Park

Date of Inscription： 2008

Situated in Shangrao City， Jiangxi Province， Mount Sanqingshan is a famous Taoist mountain. Its 1，600-plus years of history as a sacred Taoist shrine have left a profound impact on Taoist culture. The ancient Sanqing Palace architectural complex features a layout resembling the Eight Diagrams and is dubbed an “open-air museum of ancient Taoist architecture.” A number of granite rock formations formed for varied reasons give the mountain the densest and most diversely shaped granite peaks in the world. The area is also home to more than 2，000 species of high-elevation plants and over 1，700 species of wild animals， composing an ecosystem with the greatest biodiversity in East Asia.

Mount Sanqingshan National Park displays a unique array of fantastically shaped granite pillars and peaks concentrated in a relatively small area. Its remarkable granite rock formations combine with diverse forest and striking meteorological effects to create a landscape of exceptional scenic quality.

49 China Danxia

Date of Inscription： 2010

China Danxia is the name given to landscapes developed on continental red terrigenous sedimentary beds influenced by endogenous forces （including uplift） and exogenous forces （including weathering and erosion）. The inscribed site comprises six areas found in subtropical zones in Chinas Guangdong， Zhejiang， Fujian， Jiangxi， Hunan and Guizhou provinces. It is characterized by spectacular red cliffs and a range of erosional landforms including natural stone pillars， rock towers， ravines， valleys and waterfalls. These rugged landscapes have helped conserve subtropical broad-leaved evergreen forests and host many species of flora and fauna， about 400 of which are considered rare or threatened.

50 Chengjiang Fossil Site

Date of Inscription： 2012

Located in Yunnan Province， Chengjiang Fossil Site presents the most complete record of an early Cambrian marine community with exceptionally preserved biota， displaying the anatomy of hard and soft tissue for a wide variety of organisms， both invertebrate and vertebrate. The fossil record shines light on the early establishment of a complex marine ecosystem.

The site preserves fossils of more than 200 species from 16 phyla that date back to 530 million years ago and has been hailed as “one of the most fabulous archeological findings of the 20th century.”

51 Xinjiang Tianshan

Date of Inscription： 2013

Xinjiang Tianshan comprises four components—Tomur， KalajunKuerdening， Bayinbukuke and Bogda. The area presents unique physical geographic features including spectacular snowy mountains， glacier-capped peaks， undisturbed forests and meadows， clear rivers and lakes， and red-bed canyons. These landscapes contrast the adjacent vast desert landscapes， creating a striking visual contrast between hot and cold environments， dry and wet， desolate and lush.

52 Hubei Shennongjia

Date of Inscription： 2016

Located in western Hubei Province， Shennongjia consists of two components： Shennongding and Laojunshan. It protects the largest primary forest in central China and provides habitat for many rare animal species such as the Chinese giant salamander， the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey， the clouded leopard， the common leopard and the Asian black bear. Shennongjia is one of the three centers of biodiversity in China， a reflection of its geographical transitional position which shaped its biodiversity， ecosystems and biological evolution. It filled a void on the World Heritage List in terms of biodiversity.

53 Qinghai Hoh Xil

Date of Inscription： 2017

Hoh Xil is at the heart of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau at an average altitude of 4，600 meters. It is an integral part of Sanjiangyuan National Park and serves as an important accumulation area for the source of the Yangtze River.

The area has 107 lakes with surface area exceeding one square kilometer each. It is home to more than 230 species of wild animals. Its unique ecological conditions and corresponding vegetation secure an ideal habitat and a complete migratory route for the Tibetan antelope， an endangered large mammal endemic to the plateau.

54 Fanjingshan

Date of Inscription： 2018

Located in Tongren City， Guizhou Province， Fanjingshan， or Fanjing Mountain， is home to many endangered species including more than 4，000 plants and nearly 3，000 animals. It is one of the deciduous forest regions with the greatest biodiversity in the East. Fanjingshan is also the only habitat for the Fanjingshan fir and the Guizhou snub-nosed monkey as well as an important protected area for primitive beech forests in Asia. Moreover， it is characterized by an exceptionally high richness in bryophytes and serves as a global distribution center for gymnosperms.

55 Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China （Phase I）

Date of Inscription： 2019

One of the largest coastal wetlands on the west bank of the Pacific Ocean and on the shore of the Asian Continent， the site boasts the largest intertidal mudflat system and one of the best-preserved natural ecosystems in the world. The area takes pride in its high biodiversity and is home to 280 species of fish and more than 500 species of invertebrate animals. It is known as the largest wintering ground for red-crowned cranes in China， with up to 80 percent of individuals spending the winter there each year. The site is a key node of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. Each year， at least two million migratory birds， about 40 percent of the total along the flyway， stop over during their northward migration， and at least a million pass by the area as they migrate south.

As a central hub of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway， the area serves as an important stopover for migratory birds globally.