World Cultural Heritage and Natural Heritage are both the classic masterpieces created by nature and humankind. Effectively protecting the world cultural heritage and natural heritage sites equates protecting the existent environment that human and humankind's civilization exist in. On November 16, 1972, in the 17th conference of UNESCO, Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage was approved; additionally, the definitions of cultural heritage and natural heritage were also fixed. China joined Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage on September 12, 1985 and was selected as member of the World Heritage Committee on October 29, 1999. China begun to apply for the items of world heritage in UNESCO was in 1986. From 1987 to 2011, there were in total 41 heritage sites of China written into World Heritage List and a large batch of intangible heritage sites of China also written into World Intangible Heritage List. Today, China has the third largest number of World Heritage Sites around the world ... (More Available)
Top World Heritage Sites in China
Longmen Grottoes
Impressively famous for its buddha statues, Longmen Grottoes is a tridimensional scroll of China Buddhism...
Suzhou Classical Gardens
The typical representatives of China traditional architectural styles and culture, Suzhou Gardens show the splendor of ancient China...
Chengde Summer Resort
Used to be the temporary imperial palaces of Qing Dynasty, Chengde Summer Resort is a building complex featured of empire's power...
Tomb of First Emperor
The highlights of this mausoleum is the valuable terra-cotta warriors and horses as well as the glory of Qin Empire...
Yungang Grottoes
Great place to appreciate the history and culture of China buddhism in the past thousands of years...
Shaolin Temple
Famous as the cradle of Kungfu, Shaolin Temple is famous both for its glorious history of Buddhism and Kungfu...
Index of Important World Heritage Sites in China
Architectures and Monuments: Ancient City of Ping Yao, Xidi and Hongcun, Capital Cities and Tombs of Ancient Koguryo Kingdom, Suzhou Gardens, Historic Centre of Macao, Potala Palace, Shaolin Temple, Fujian Tulou, Beijing Forbidden City, Shenyang Imperial Palaces, Kaiping Diaolou and Villages, Dujiangyan Irrigation System, Old Town of Lijiang, Chengde Summer Resort, Summer Palace, Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu, Temple of Heaven, The Great Wall, Tibet Jokhang Temple, Norbulingka Summer Palace, Lhasa Potala Palace,
Grottoes and Mausoleums: Yungang Grottoes, Ming and Qing Tombs, Dazu Rock Carvings, Longmen Grottoes, Mausoleum of Qinshihuang, Mogao Caves, Peking Man Site, Yin Xu
Natural Reserves and Habitats: China Danxia, Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area, Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries (Wolong, Mt Siguniang and Jiajin Mountains), South China Karst, Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas, Wulingyuan
Other Special UNESCO Sites: Hangzhou West Lake Cultural Landscape,
