New World Heritage Sites in China Recognized
On May 28, 2997, the State Council of China issued official certificates to two World Heritage Sites in the country that were recently designated by the United Nation Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. In July 2006The UNESCO's World Heritage Center accorded Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries as a World Heritage Site in recognizing the world’s “largest remaining contiguous habitat of the giant panda.” Yin Xu, ruins of China’s capital during the period from 1766 BC to 1050 BC were accorded the same status a a representation of “the golden age of early Chinese culture, crafts and sciences in a time of great prosperity.”
Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries are located in the mountains standing between the Tibetan plateau and the plain around the city of Chengdu in Southwest China. Consisted of seven environmental protection zones and nine scenic areas, the sanctuaries measure 9,245 square kilometers in total.
Located outside Anyang in Henan Province in Central China, Yin Xu, ruins of China's oldest capital, was first unearth in the early 20th century. So far remains of over a hundred ancient temples and tombs and other archeological sites have been excavated, resulting in the finding of tens of thousands of precious artifacts. The oracle bones found here, for instance, bear the evidence of earliest Chinese writing.
With the new addition of the giant panda sanctuaries and Yin Xu, the number of World Heritage Sites in China increased to 33.
List of World Heritage Sites in China (Year of Designation):
Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains (1994)
Ancient City of Ping Yao (1997)
Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui – Xidi and Hongcun (2000)
Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom (2004)
Classical Gardens of Suzhou (1997, 2000)
Dazu Rock Carvings (1999)
The Great Wall (1987)
Historic Centre of Macao (2005)
Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, Lhasa (1994, 2000, 2001)
Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area (1992)
Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing and Shenyang (1987, 2004)
Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (2000, 2003, 2004)
Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area (1992)
Lushan National Park (1996)
Longmen Grottoes (2000)
Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor (1987)
Mogao Caves (1987)
Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area (1996)
Mount Huangshan (1990)
Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System (2000)
Mount Taishan (1987)
Mount Wuyi (1999)
Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples, Chengde (1994)
Old Town of Lijiang (1997)
Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian (1987)
Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries (2006)
Summer Palace, an Imperial Garden in Beijing (1998)
Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu (1994)
Temple of Heaven: an Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing (1998)
Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas (2003)
Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area (1992)
Yin Xu (2006)
Yungang Grottoes (2001)
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