World Heritage Sites in China

The World Heritage List was established under terms of The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage adopted in November 1972 at the 17th General Conference of UNESCO.

China started to submit to The World Heritage List in 1987. As of July 2005, among the 812 World Heritage Sites listed by UNESCO in 137 states parties, China has 31, ranking the third in the world. These sites comprise the most essential part of China 's valuable and rich tourism resources.

1987 The Great Wall

1987 Mount Taishan

1987 Imperial Palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties

1987 Mogao Caves

1987 Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor

1987 Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian

1990 Mount Huangshan

1992 Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area

1992 Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area

1992 Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area

1994 Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples, Chengde

1994 Temple and Cemetery of Confucius, and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu

1994 Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains

1994 2000 Potala Palace and the Jokhang Temple Monastery, Lhasa

1996 Lushan National Park

1996 Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area

1997 Old Town of Lijiang

1997 Ancient City of Ping Yao

1997 2000 Classical Gardens of Suzhou

1998 Summer Palace, and Imperial Garden in Beijing

1998 Temple of Heaven and Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing

1999 Mount Wuyi

1999 Dazu Rock Carvings

2000 Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System

2000 Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui - Xidi and Hongcun

2000 Longmen Grottoes

2000 Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties

2001 Yungang Grottoes

2003 Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas

2004 Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom