UNESCO Sites in China

China UNESCO has registered 56 sites on the World Heritage list and 62 on the tentative list.

Some places are so interesting that it’s relevant to keep them for future generations. This is why UNESCO has built a list of crucial classified properties in which superb places stand out for their aesthetic, natural, artistic, or cultural significance.

More than a thousand places are registered as Unesco’s World Heritage worldwide. Due to my interest in visiting World Heritage sites, I compiled the UNESCO list in China and the corresponding map.

China UNESCO list

1. Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains
2. Ancient City of Ping Yao
3. Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui – Xidi and Hongcun
4. Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City
5. Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom
6. Classical Gardens of Suzhou
7. Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces
8. Dazu Rock Carvings
9. Fujian Tulou
10. Historic Centre of Macao
11. Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, Lhasa
12. Historic Monuments of Dengfeng
13. Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing and Shenyang
14. Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties
15. Kaiping Diaolou and Villages
16. Kulangsu, a Historic International Settlement
17. Longmen Grottoes
18. Lushan National Park
19. Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor
20. Mogao Caves
21. Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System
22. Mount Wutai
23. Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples, Chengde
24. Old Town of Lijiang
25. Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian
26. Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor
27. Site of Xanadu
28. Summer Palace, an Imperial Garden in Beijing
29. Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu
30. Temple of Heaven: an Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing
31. The Grand Canal
32. The Great Wall
33. Tusi Sites
34. West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou
35. Yin Xu
36. Yungang Grottoes
37. Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape
38. Chengjiang Fossil Site
39. China Danxia
40. Fanjingshan
41. Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area
42. Hubei Shennongjia
43. Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area
44. Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf
45. Mount Sanqingshan National Park
46. Qinghai Hoh Xil
47. Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries – Wolong, Mt Siguniang and Jiajin Mountains
48. South China Karst
49. Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas
50. Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area
51. Xinjiang Tianshan
52. Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area
53. Mount Huangshan
54. Mount Taishan
55. Mount Wuyi
56. Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China

China UNESCO Map

Click on the blue pins to view more relevant information about each World Heritage site in China.

Description

1. The Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains is a cultural heritage site located in the Wudang Mountains of Hubei Province, China. It contains many important Taoist temples and landmarks that reflect the region’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage.
2. The Ancient City of Ping Yao is a cultural heritage site located in the city of Ping Yao in Shanxi Province, China. It contains a well-preserved historic city center that provides valuable insights into the region’s rich cultural and architectural traditions.
3. The Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui – Xidi and Hongcun are cultural heritage sites in Anhui Province, China. They contain several well-preserved historic villages and landmarks that reflect the region’s rich cultural and architectural traditions.
4. The Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City is a cultural heritage site in the Yangtze River Basin in eastern China. It contains the remains of the ancient city of Liangzhu, an important center of prehistoric culture and civilization in the region.
5. The Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom are cultural heritage sites in northeastern China. They contain a number of important historic landmarks and archaeological ruins that provide valuable insights into the history and culture of the ancient Koguryo Kingdom.
6. The Classical Gardens of Suzhou is a cultural heritage site in Suzhou in Jiangsu Province, China. They contain many well-preserved traditional Chinese gardens and landmarks that reflect the region’s rich cultural and architectural traditions.
7. The Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces is a natural heritage site in Yunnan Province, China. It contains a large area of rice terraces that the Hani people have cultivated for over 1,300 years.
8. The Dazu Rock Carvings are a cultural heritage site in Chongqing Municipality, China. They contain many well-preserved rock carvings and sculptures that date back to the 7th century AD.
9. Fujian Tulou is a cultural heritage site located in Fujian Province, China. It contains many well-preserved earthen structures that the Hakka people built in the 12th century AD.
10. The Historic Centre of Macao is a cultural heritage site located in the city of Macao, China. It contains many well-preserved historic buildings and landmarks that reflect the region’s rich cultural and architectural traditions.
11. The Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, Lhasa is a cultural heritage site in Lhasa, Tibet, China. It contains the Potala Palace, the winter palace of the Dalai Lama and an important example of traditional Tibetan architecture.
12. The Historic Monuments of Dengfeng is a cultural heritage site in Henan Province, China. It contains several important historic landmarks and cultural heritage sites, including the Shaolin Temple, an important center of Chinese martial arts.
13. The Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing and Shenyang are cultural heritage sites in Beijing and Shenyang, respectively. They contain many well-preserved imperial palaces and gardens that reflect the grandeur and power of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
14. The Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties are cultural heritage sites in Beijing and Hebei Province, China. They contain several well-preserved imperial tombs and mausoleums that reflect the power and grandeur of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
15. Kaiping Diaolou and Villages is a cultural heritage site in Guangdong Province, China. It contains some well-preserved fortified tower houses, known as diaolou, that overseas Chinese built in the early 20th century.
16. Kulangsu – a Historic International Settlement is a cultural heritage site located on the island of Kulangsu, off the coast of Xiamen, China. It contains many well-preserved historic buildings and landmarks that reflect the region’s rich cultural and architectural traditions.
17. Longmen Grottoes is a cultural heritage site located in Henan Province, China. It contains many well-preserved Buddhist sculptures and grottoes that date back to the Tang Dynasty.
18. Lushan National Park is a natural heritage site in Jiangxi Province, China. It contains many important ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, and freshwater lakes, and provides important habitat for some rare and endangered plant and animal species.
19. Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor is a cultural heritage site in Shaanxi Province, China. It contains the tomb of the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, and is famous for its many well-preserved terracotta warriors and other artifacts.
20. Mogao Caves is a cultural heritage site located in Gansu Province, China. It contains many well-preserved Buddhist cave temples and grottoes that date back to the 4th century AD.
21. Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System are cultural and natural heritage sites in Sichuan Province, China. They contain some important cultural and historical landmarks, including the Qingcheng Taoist temples, important natural ecosystems and water management systems.
22. Mount Wutai is a cultural heritage site located in Shanxi Province, China. It contains several well-preserved Buddhist temples and landmarks that reflect the region’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage.
23. Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples, Chengde is a cultural heritage site in Chengde City, Hebei Province, China. It contains a large number of well-preserved temples and imperial palaces that were used as a summer retreat by the Qing Dynasty emperors.
24. Old Town of Lijiang is a cultural heritage site in Lijiang City, Yunnan Province, China. It has a well-preserved historic town center reflecting the region’s rich cultural and architectural traditions.
25. Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian is a cultural heritage site in Beijing, China. It contains important archaeological remains and artifacts related to the prehistoric Peking Man and provides valuable insights into human evolution in Asia.
26. Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor is a cultural heritage site in China, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. It contains many historic landmarks and archaeological sites that reflect the cultural and economic exchange along the ancient Silk Road trade routes.
27. Site of Xanadu is a cultural heritage site located in Inner Mongolia, China. It contains the ruins of the imperial summer palace of Kublai Khan, which reflects the grandeur and power of the Mongol Empire.
28. Summer Palace, an Imperial Garden in Beijing is a cultural heritage site located in Beijing, China. It contains a large number of well-preserved imperial gardens and palaces that reflect the grandeur and power of the Qing Dynasty.
29. Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu is a cultural heritage site in Qufu City, Shandong Province, China. It has many well-preserved historic buildings and landmarks reflecting the region’s rich cultural and intellectual traditions.
30. Temple of Heaven: an Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing is a cultural heritage site in Beijing, China. It contains a well-preserved imperial altar and park that reflects the religious and cultural practices of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
31. The Grand Canal is a cultural heritage site located in China. It is a large system of waterways that stretches over 1,700 km, connects Beijing in the north to Hangzhou in the south, and contains some important historic landmarks and cultural heritage sites.
32. The Great Wall is a cultural heritage site located in China. It is a fortified system stretching over 21,000 km and was built to protect China from invaders.
33. Tusi Sites is a cultural heritage site located in China. It contains several historic sites and landmarks related to the Tusi system, a political and administrative system used by ethnic minorities in southwestern China during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties.
34. West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou is a cultural heritage site in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. It contains many scenic natural landscapes, including the famous West Lake, and several well-preserved historic landmarks and cultural heritage sites.
35. Yin Xu is a cultural heritage site in Anyang City, Henan Province, China. It contains the ruins of the ancient capital of the Shang Dynasty and provides valuable insights into the political, social, and cultural history of ancient China.
36. Yungang Grottoes is a cultural heritage site in Datong City, Shanxi Province, China. It contains many well-preserved Buddhist sculptures and grottoes that date back to the Northern Wei Dynasty.
37. Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape is a cultural heritage site in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. It contains many well-preserved rock art sites that reflect the region’s indigenous people’s rich cultural and artistic traditions.
38. Chengjiang Fossil Site is a natural heritage site located in Yunnan Province, China. It contains many well-preserved fossils that date back to the Cambrian period and provide valuable insights into the evolution of early life on Earth.
39. China Danxia is a natural heritage site located in southeastern China. It contains many unique red sandstone landforms from millions of years of geological processes.
40. Fanjingshan is a natural heritage site located in Guizhou Province, China. It contains a large area of unique karst landscapes, as well as a number of important cultural heritage sites related to Buddhism.
41. Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area is a natural heritage site in Sichuan Province, China. It contains a large area of unique karst landscapes and several important cultural heritage sites related to Tibetan Buddhist culture.
42. Hubei Shennongjia is a natural heritage site located in Hubei Province, China. It contains many important ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, and freshwater lakes, and provides important habitats for several rare and endangered plant and animal species.
43. Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area is a natural heritage site in Sichuan Province, China. It contains a large area of important ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, and freshwater lakes, and provides important habitat for a number of rare and endangered plant and animal species.
44. Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf is a natural heritage site along China’s Yellow Sea and Bohai Gulf. It provides important habitat for many migratory bird species and is an important stopover site for birds during their long migrations.
45. Mount Sanqingshan National Park is a natural heritage site in Jiangxi Province, China. It is known for its unique granite peaks and pillars, often shrouded in mist, creating a mystical atmosphere.
46. Qinghai Hoh Xil is a natural heritage site in the northwestern part of Qinghai Province, China. It contains many unique high-altitude ecosystems, including the world’s largest plateau wildlife migration routes.
47. Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries – Wolong, Mt Siguniang, and Jiajin Mountains is a natural heritage site in Sichuan Province, China. It contains a number of protected areas that are important for the conservation of the giant panda and other rare and endangered species.
48. South China Karst is a natural heritage site located in the Guangxi, Guizhou, and Yunnan Provinces of China. It contains a large area of unique limestone landscapes, including karst hills, towers, and caves.
49. Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas is a natural heritage site located in Yunnan Province, China. It contains a large area of important ecosystems, including the headwaters of three major rivers, and provides important habitat for a number of rare and endangered plant and animal species.
50. Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area is a natural and cultural heritage site located in Hunan Province, China. It contains a large area of unique sandstone landscapes, including towering pillars and ravines, as well as a number of important cultural heritage sites related to the region’s indigenous people.
51. Xinjiang Tianshan is a natural heritage site located in Xinjiang Province, China. It contains a large area of unique high-altitude ecosystems, including glaciers, mountain lakes, and a number of rare and endangered plant and animal species.
52. Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area is a natural and cultural heritage site located in Sichuan Province, China. It contains many important ecosystems and several important cultural heritage sites related to Buddhism, including the world’s largest stone Buddha statue.
53. Mount Huangshan is a natural heritage site located in Anhui Province, China. It contains many unique granite landscapes, including jagged peaks and pillars, and some important cultural heritage sites related to the region’s indigenous people.
54. Mount Taishan is a cultural heritage site located in Shandong Province, China. It contains many important cultural heritage sites related to Chinese mythology and religion, as well as the famous Taishan Mountain, which has been an important pilgrimage site for thousands of years.
55. Mount Wuyi is a natural and cultural heritage site in Fujian Province, China. It contains a large area of unique granite landscapes, as well as a number of important cultural heritage sites related to the region’s indigenous people and the development of Chinese tea culture.
56. Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China is a natural heritage site along the coast of China’s Yellow Sea and Bohai Gulf. It provides important habitat for a large number of migratory bird species and is an important stopover site for birds during their long migrations.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in China have protected places for their cultural and natural importance.

Sites on the Tentative List

1. Dongzhai Port Nature Reserve
2. The Alligator Sinensis Nature Reserve
3. Poyang Nature Reserve
4. The Lijiang River Scenic Zone at Guilin
5. Yalong, Tibet
6. Yangtze Gorges Scenic Spot
7. Jinfushan Scenic Spot
8. Heaven Pit and Ground Seam Scenic Spot
9. Hua Shan Scenic Area
10. Yandang Mountain
11. Nanxi River
12. Maijishan Scenic Spots
13. Wudalianchi Scenic Spots
14. Haitan Scenic Spots
15. Dali Chanshan Mountain and Erhai Lake Scenic Spot
16. Sites for Liquor Making in China
17. Ancient Residences in Shanxi and Shaanxi Provinces
18. City Walls of the Ming and Qing Dynasties
19. Slender West Lake and Historic Urban Area in Yangzhou
20. The Ancient Waterfront Towns in the South of Yangtze River
21. 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
22. Fenghuang Ancient City
23. Site of Southern Yue State
24. Baiheliang Ancient Hydrological Inscription
25. Miao Nationality Villages in Southeast Guizhou Province: The villages of Miao Nationality at the Foot of Leigong Mountain in Miao Ling Mountains
26. Karez Wells
27. Expansion Project of Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties: King Lujian’s Tombs
28. The Four Sacred Mountains as an Extension of Mt. Taishan
29. Taklimakan Desert—Populus euphratica Forests
30. China Altay
31. Karakorum-Pamir
32. The Central Axis of Beijing (including Beihai)
33. Wooden Structures of Liao Dynasty—Wooden Pagoda of Yingxian County，Main Hall of Fengguo Monastery of Yixian County
34. Sites of Hongshan Culture: The Niuheliang Archaeological Site, the Hongshanhou Archaeological Site, and Weijiawopu Archaeological Site
35. Ancient Porcelain Kiln Site in China
36. SanFangQiXiang
37. Ancient Tea Plantations of Jingmai Mountain in Pu’er
38. Western Xia Imperial Tombs
39. Dong Villages
40. Lingqu Canal
41. Diaolou Buildings and Villages for Tibetan and Qiang Ethnic Groups
42. Archaeological Sites of the Ancient Shu State: Site at Jinsha and Joint Tombs of Boat- shaped Coffins in Chengdu City; Site of Sanxingdui in Guanghan City
43. Xinjiang Yardang
44. Dunhuang Yardangs
45. Tianzhushan
46. Jinggangshan–North Wuyishan (Extension of Mount Wuyi)
47. ShuDao
48. Tulin-Guge Scenic and Historic Interest Areas
49. Historic Monuments and Sites of Ancient Quanzhou (Zayton)
50. The Chinese Section of the Silk Roads
51. Guancen Mountain – Luya Mountain
52. Hulun Buir Landscape & Birthplace of Ancient Minority
53. Qinghai Lake
54. Scenic and historic area of Sacred Mountains and Lakes
55. Taihang Mountain
56. Vertical Vegetation Landscape and Volcanic Landscape in Changbai Mountain
57. Imperial Kiln Sites of Jingdezhen
58. Badain Jaran Desert—Towers of Sand and Lakes
59. Huangguoshu Scenic Area
60. Guizhou Triassic Fossil Sites
61. Hainan Tropical Rainforest and the Traditional Settlement of Li Ethnic Group
62. Fujian Minjiang River Estuary: The ecotone between marine and terrestrial biogeographical regions