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World Heritage Sites in China

World Heritage Sites in China

Written by Candice SongUpdated Nov. 14, 2023

As of 2015, 48 noteworthy Chinese sites were inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List: 37 Cultural Heritage, 8 Natural Heritage, and 3 Cultural and Natural Heritage. China is second only to Italy for World Heritage sites.

A catalogue of all of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites located in China is shown below, with links to specific web pages that provide in-depth information.

List of World Heritage Sites in China

Year of Recognition World Heritage Sites (48 sites) Location Category
Category: C = Cultural Heritage; N = Natural Heritage; CN = Cultural and Natural Heritage
1987 The Great Wall Beijing C
1987, 2004 Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing and Shenyang: The Forbidden City, Shenyang Imperial Palace Beijing, Shenyang C
1987 Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor (Terracotta Army) Xi'an C
1987 Mount Taishan Tai'an, Shandong CN
1987 Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian Beijing C
1987 Mogao Grottoes Dunhuang C
1990 Mount Huangshan (The Yellow Mountains) Huangshan, Anhui CN
1992 Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area Sichuan N
1992 Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area Zhangjiajie N
1992 Huanglong Scenic and historic Interest Area Sichuan N
1994 Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples, Chengde Chengde C
1994, 2000, 2001 Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, Lhasa (Jokhang Temple, Norbulingka) Lhasa C
1994 Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion Qufu, Shandong C
1994 Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains Shiyan, Hubei C
1996 Mount Emei Scenic Spot and Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Spot Leshan, Sichuan CN
1996 Lushan National Park Jiujiang, Jiangxi C
1997 Old Town of Lijiang Lijiang, Yunnan C
1997 Pingyao Ancient Town Jinzhong, Shanxi C
1997, 2000 Classic Gardens of Suzhou: Lion Grove, Humble Administrator Garden, Lingering Garden, Garden of Master of the Nets Suzhou, Jiangxi C
1998 Summer Palace, an Imperial Garden in Beijing Beijing C
1998 Temple of Heaven, an Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing Beijing C
1999 Dazu Rock Carvings Chongqing C
1999 Mount Wuyi Wuyishan, Fujian CN
2000, 2003, 2004 Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties: Xiaoling Tomb (Nanjing, Jiangsu), 13 Ming Tombs (Beijing), Jingtailing Tomb (Beijing),Three Imperial Tombs of the Qing Dynasty (Shenyang, Liaoning), Xianling Tomb (Hubei), the Eastern and Western Qing Tombs (Hebei), Jiangsu, Beijing, Liaoning, Hubei, Hebei C
2000 Xidi Village and Hongcun Village Huangshan, Anhui C
2000 Qingchengshan Mountain and Dujiangyan Irrigation Project Chengdu, Sichuan C
2000 Longmen Grottoes Luoyang, Henan C
2001 Yungang Grottoes Datong, Shanxi C
2003 Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas Yunnan N
2004 Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom Tonghua, Jilin C
2005 Historic Centre of Macau Macau C
2006 Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries: Wolong, Mt Siguniang and Jiajin Mountains Sichuan N
2006 Yin Xu Anyang, Henan C
2007, 2014 South China Karst Guizhou, Guangxi, Yunnan, Chongqing N
2007 Kaiping Diaolou and Villages Jiangmen, Guangdong C
2008 Mount Sanqingshan National Park Shangrao, Jiangxi N
2008 Fujian Tulou Fujian C
2009 Wutai Mountain Xinzhou, Shanxi C
2010 Danxia Landform Guizhou, Fujian, Hunan, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Zhejiang N
2010 Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in "The Centre of Heaven and Earth" (Dengfeng Shaolin Temple) Dengfeng, Henan C
2011 West Lake Hangzhou, Zhejiang C
2012 The Site of Xanadu Inner Mongolia C
2012 Chengjiang Fossil Site Yunnan N
2013 Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces Yunnan C
2013 Xinjiang Tianshan Xinjiang N
2014 Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor Gansu, Shaanxi, Ningxia, Qinghai, Xinjiang C
2014 The Grand Canal Beijing, Hangzhou C
2015 Tusi Sites Hubei C
2016 Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape Guangxi C

World Heritage Candidates

Yunju Temple Pagoda and Stone Sutras at Fangshan Lugou Bridge Anji Bridge
Yongle Palace Niuheliang Site Lunan Stone Forest
West Lake Liangzhu Site Water Towns South of the Yangtze River: Zhouzhuang and Tongli Copper Mine Remains of Tonglushan
Shennongjia Natural Reserve The Wooden Tower in Fogong Temple Li River of Guilin
Beihai Park The Pagoda in Kaiyuan Temple Dule Temple
The Dingcun Old Residence The Daming Palace Site of the Han Dynasty The Ancient City Wall of Xi'an
Yongji Bridge at Chengyang The site of Chang'an of the Han Dynasty Stele Forest of Xi'an
Wudalianchi in Heilongjiang Province    

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