World Cultural Heritage of China

Cultural Remains in China

China has a long history of 5000 years. It is one of the four great ancient civilized countries along with Babylon, Egypt and Ancient India. During its long established years although the ancient people had turned into dusk, the remains were evidence to their existence, at the same time showing their achievement of surviving.

The remains existed in varies forms, they may be buildings, artifacts, tombs, lakes, capital cities, rivers and canals, religious grottoes, mountains, murals, arts or even systems. By studying them, we learned more about their thoughts and values, their living style and how their society worked.

UNESCO Cultural Heritage of China

By establishing official world cultural heritage, UNESCO had raised the importance of protecting these remains. These cultural evidences were never easy to be made or recreate, and with threats like time, natural disaster or war, they might have gone in one night. The treasure of mankind is vulnerable, with no proper maintenance and restoration, it could disappear like the seven wonders of the ancient world.

It is a fact that if a new attraction is to be inscribed as world cultural heritage, a dramatic amount of travelers would flood the attraction. But nevertheless, if an attraction qualifies to be listed, it is better off getting its name all over papers than known to only a minority of people.

If the remains are on the list, it is for certain they are the most outstanding ones and stands out from the rest of the groups. But even if the attraction is not on the list doesn’t necessarily mean it worth nothing. The list is only a reference. And to be listed as a world cultural heritage, besides being one of the best among their group of remains, they have to fulfilling certain criteria drafted by the UNESCO and have the requirements drafted for submission. And when UNESCO committees examining if the attractions fulfill the criteria, they were to be voted by the UNESCO council for approval. So it is all depending on human impressions again. If it impresses the majority of the council, it will be listed; if not, better luck next year. Of course, all the world heritages are outstanding remains, that is for sure. But what I want to point out is that, even though the attraction is not yet to be approved, or even not on the tentative list, does not mean it does not worth time to visit and understand. Attractions are there because they have visitors and they have their market. Every visitor has different value and it might differ from UNESCO committees. Appreciating attractions should be based on our personal experience, our feelings and our knowledge, but not the feeling of a group of well known organization. You may see and discover more than the official council!

UNESCO Cultural Heritage Criteria

To be inscribed as a world cultural heritage, one of the following criteria have to be fulfilled.

• 1. the site has to be a masterpiece created by human
• 2. the site demonstrates a major exchange of human values over a period of time in a cultural environment
• 3. the site as an exemplify of a unique civilization, which is now existing or disappeared
• 4. outstanding buildings or landscape of important stages in human history
• 5. the representative of traditional human culture
• 6. the site is in some way related to living traditions, beliefs, or literary works(preferred to be used along with other criteria)

Details of the criteria could be found on the official UNESCO page.

China Heritage Location in Map

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China Heritage Attractions in Detail