This is a list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in China. China has 56, ranking second in the world just below Italy (58). China ratified The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage on 12 December 1985. These sites comprise some of the most essential part of China's valuable and rich tourism resources.
Overview
Since joining the International Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 1985, China has 56 World Heritage Sites to date; of these 38 are cultural heritage sites, 14 are natural heritage sites, and 4 are cultural and natural (mixed) sites, ranking second in the world.[1]
In addition, there are also several Chinese documents inscribed in UNESCO's list Memory of the World, which registers the world's documentary heritage. Furthermore, China has a rich non-material cultural heritage, with several of them inscribed on UNESCO's list of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
Tentative list
There are the sites China has submitted to the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list.[2]
- Dongzhai Port Nature Reserve (1996)
- The Alligator Sinensis Nature Reserve (1996)
- Poyang Nature Reserve (1996)
- The Lijiang River Scenic Zone at Guilin (1996)
- Yalong, Tibet (2001)
- Yangtze Gorges Scenic Spot (2001)
- Jinfushan Scenic Spot (2001)
- Heaven Pit and Ground Seam Scenic Spot (2001)
- Hua Shan Scenic Area (2001)
- Yandang Mountains (2001)
- Nanxi River (2001)
- Maijishan Scenic Spots (2001)
- Wudalianchi Scenic Spots (2001)
- Haitan Scenic Spots (2001)
- Dali Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake Scenic Spot (2001)
- Sites for Liquor Making in China (2008)
- Ancient Residences in Shanxi and Shaanxi Provinces (2008)
- City Walls of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (2008)
- Slender West Lake and Historic Urban Area in Yangzhou (2008)
- Ancient Water Towns South of the Yangtze River (Zhouzhuang, Luzhi, Wuzhen, and Xitang) (2008)
- Fenghuang Ancient City (2008)
- Sites of the Southern Yue State (2008)
- Baiheliang Ancient Hydrological Inscription (2008)
- Miao Nationality Villages in Southeast Guizhou Province: The villages of Miao Nationality at the Foot of Leigong Mountain in Miao Ling Mountains (2008)
- Karez Wells (2008)
- Expansion Project of Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties: King Lujian’s Tombs (2008)
- The Four Sacred Mountains as an extension of Mt. Taishan (2008)
- Taklimakan Desert–Populus euphratica Forests (2010)
- China Altay (2010)
- Karakorum–Pamir (2010)
- The Central Axis of Beijing (including Beihai) (2013)
- Wooden Structures of Liao Dynasty – Wooden Pagoda of Yingxian County, Main Hall of Fengguo Monastery of Yixian County (2013)
- Sites of the Hongshan Culture: Niuheliang, Hongshanhou, and Weijiawopu (2013)
- Ancient Porcelain Kiln Site in China (2013)
- Sanfang Qixiang (2013)
- Ancient Tea Plantations of Jingmai Mountain in Pu'er (2013)
- Western Xia Imperial Tombs (2013)
- Dong Villages (2013)
- Lingqu Canal (2013)
- Diaolou Buildings and Villages for Tibetan and Qiang Ethnic Groups (2013)
- Archaeological Sites of the Ancient Shu State: Jinsha site and Joint Tombs of Boat-shaped Coffins in Chengdu, Sichuan; Sanxingdui site in Guanghan, 29th – 5th century BC (2013)
- Xinjiang Yardang (2015)
- Dunhuang Yardangs (2015)
- Tianzhushan (2015)
- Jinggangshan–North Wuyishan (extension of Mount Wuyi) (2015)
- Shudao (2015)
- Tulin–Guge Scenic and Historic Interest Areas (2015)
- (2016)
- The Chinese Section of the Silk Roads (2016)
- Guancen Mountain – Luya Mountain (2017)
- Hulun Buir Landscape and Birthplace of Ancient Minority (2017)
- Qinghai Lake (2017)
- Scenic and historic area of Sacred Mountains and Lakes (Gang Rinpoche, Naimona'nyi, Lake Manasarovar and Lhanag-tso) (2017)
- Taihang Mountain (2017)
- Vertical Vegetation Landscape and Volcanic Landscape in Changbai Mountain (2017)
- Badain Jaran Desert—Towers of Sand and Lakes (2019)
- Guizhou Triassic Fossil Sites (2019)
- Huangguoshu Scenic Area (2019)
