World Travel GuidesChina's World Heritage Sites


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China ratified the World Heritage Convention on 12 December, 1985. As of August 2010, it has 28 Cultural World Heritage Sites, 8 Natural World Heritage Sites and 4 Mixed World Heritage Sites. China also has another 50 sites presently on the World Heritage Tentative List.

China served three terms on the World Heritage Committee, on 1991-1997, 1999-2005 and 2007-2011. To learn more about China, read My China Travel & Hotel Guide.

World Heritage Sites in China

    Cultural
  1. Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing and Shenyang, Forbidden City (1987)
  2. Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor (1987)
  3. Mogao Caves (1987)
  4. Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian (1987)
  5. The Great Wall (1987)
  6. Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains (1994)
  7. Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, Lhasa (1994)
  8. Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples, Chengde (1994)
  9. Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu (1994)
  10. Lushan National Park (1996)
  11. Ancient City of Ping Yao (1997)
  12. Classical Gardens of Suzhou (1997)
  13. Old Town of Lijiang (1997)
  14. Summer Palace, an Imperial Garden in Beijing (1998)
  15. Temple of Heaven: an Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing (1998)
  16. Dazu Rock Carvings (1999)
  17. Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui - Xidi and Hongcun (2000)
  18. Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (2000)
  19. Longmen Grottoes (2000)
  20. Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System (2000)
  21. Yungang Grottoes (2001)
  22. Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom (2004)
  23. Historic Centre of Macao (2005)
  24. Yin Xu (2006)
  25. Kaiping Diaolou and Villages (2007)
  26. Fujian Tulou (2008)
  27. Mount Wutai (2009)
  28. Historic Monuments of Dengfeng, in the Centre of Heaven and Earth (2010)


  29. Natural
  30. Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area (1992)
  31. Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area (1992)
  32. Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area (1992)
  33. Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas (2003)
  34. Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries - Wolong, Mt Siguniang and Jiajin Mountains (2006)
  35. South China Karst (2007)
  36. Mount Sanqingshan National Park (2008)
  37. China Danxia (2010)
  38. West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou (2011)


  39. Mixed
  40. Mount Taishan (1987)
  41. Mount Huangshan (1990)
  42. Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area (1996)
  43. Mount Wuyi (1999)



Sites in China presently on the World Heritage Tentative List:
  1. Shennongjia Nature Reserve (1996)
  2. Dongzhai Port Nature Reserve (1996)
  3. The Alligator Sinensis Nature Reserve (1996)
  4. Poyang Nature Reserve (1996)
  5. The Lijiang River Scenic Zone at Guilin (1996)
  6. Yalong, Tibet (2001)
  7. Yangtze Gorges Scenic Spot (2001)
  8. Jinfushan Scenic Spot (2001)
  9. Heaven Pit and Ground Seam Scenic Spot (2001)
  10. Hua Shan Scenic Area (2001)
  11. Yandang Mountain (2001)
  12. Nanxi River (2001)
  13. Maijishan Scenic Spots (2001)
  14. Wudalianchi Scenic Spots (2001)
  15. Haitan Scenic Spots (2001)
  16. Dali Chanshan Mountain and Erhai Lake Scenic Spot (2001)
  17. The protection zone of Chengjiang fossil lagerstätte (2005)
  18. The Grand Canal (2008)
  19. Pagoda, Library Caves and Stone Tablets of sutra of Yunju Temple (2008)
  20. Sites for Liquor Making in China (2008)
  21. Shanxi Businessmen's Courtyard Houses (2008)
  22. Ancient Residences in Shanxi and Shaanxi Provinces (2008)
  23. City Walls of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (2008)
  24. The Niuheliang Archaeological Site (2008)
  25. Sites of the Yuan Dynasty Upper Capital (Xanadu )and Middle Capital (2008)
  26. Slender West Lake and Historic Urban Area in Yangzhou (2008)
  27. The Ancient Waterfront Towns in the South of Yangtze River (2008)
  28. Liangzhu Archaeological Site (2008)
  29. Ancient Porcelain Kiln Site in China: The Yue-Kiln Site at Shanglin Lake (2008)
  30. Site of Ancient Copper Mine: Site of Ancient Copper Mine in Tongling (2008)
  31. Site of the Qi State Capital and the Mausoleum of King of the Qi State at Linzi (2008)
  32. Chinese Section of the Silk Road: Land routes in Henan Province, Shaanxi Province, Gansu Province, Qinghai Province, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region; Sea Routes in Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province and Quanzhou City, Fujian Province - from Western-Han Dynasty to Qing Dynasty (2008)
  33. Historic Monuments of Mount Song (2008)
  34. Fenghuang Ancient City (2008)
  35. Site of Southern Yue State (2008)
  36. Lingqu Canal (Xiang'an County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Qin Dynasty) (2008)
  37. The Rock Painting of the Mountain Huashan (2008)
  38. Baiheliang Ancient Hydrological Inscription (2008)
  39. Archaeological Sites of the Ancient Shu State: Site at Jinsha and Joint Tombs of Boat-shaped Coffins in Chengdu City, Sichuan Province; Site of Sanxingdui in Guanghan City, Sichuan Province 29C.BC- 5C.BC (2008)
  40. Diaolou Buildings and Villages for Tibetan and Qiang Ethnic Groups (2008)
  41. Miao Nationality Villages in Southeast Guizhou Province: The villages of Miao Nationality at the Foot of Leigong Mountain in Miao Ling Mountains (2008)
  42. Dong Nationality Villages in Southeast Guizhou Province: The Villages of Dong Nationality-Liudong and Jiudong Villages (2008)
  43. Hani Terraces (2008)
  44. Karez Wells (2008)
  45. Extension Project of Classical Gardens of Suzhou: Classical Gardens of Suzhou and Historical Street Blocks (2008)
  46. Extension Project of Ancient Villages in South Anhui Province: Tangyue, Likeng and Wangkou village (2008)
  47. Extension Project of Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu: Temple of Confucius at Nishan Mountain, Temple and Cemetery of Mencius and the Meng Family Mansion, Temple of Yanhui and Temple of Zeng Zi (2008)
  48. Expansion Project of Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties: King Lujian's Tombs (2008)
  49. Danxia Landform of China (2008)
  50. The Four Sacred Mountains as an Extension of Mt. Taishan (2008)

Marvels of Modern Architecture in China

  1. Jinmao Tower
  2. Oriental Pearl Tower
  3. Shanghai World Financial Center
  4. Three Gorges Dam

Return to My China Travel & Hotel Guide






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