UNESCO World Heritage Site in China
The United Nations maintains a list of the most important sites for world heritage. This list includes sites of both cultural heritage and natural heritage. Only the most important sites are on the list. These World Heritage Sites receive special protection. There are 38 Sites in China which are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. All of these sites are open to the public as museums, national parks or similar. I have linked each to the public tourist site of each World Heritage Site. Some World Heritage Sites are extremely large (e.g. The Great Wall) or spread out over several locations. Also, not all sites are fully open to the public. Most sites contain parks and museums but not all of the sites or buildings are parks and museums. In such entries, rather than giving general info about the entire heritage site, I have linked to only the parts of sites that are open to the public.
- The Great Wall (1987)
- Mount Taishan, Shandong province (1987)
- Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing (the Forbidden City) (1987) and Shenyang (Mukden) Palace (2004)
- Mogao Caves, Dunhuang, Gansu province (1987)
- Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor in Xi'an, Shaanxi province (1987)
- Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian, Beijing municipality (1987)
- Huangshan, Anhui province (1990)
- Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area, Sichuan province (1992)
- Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area, Sichuan province (1992)
- Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, Hunan province (1992)
- Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples in Chengde, Hebei province (1994)
- Temple and Cemetery of Confucius, and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu, Shandong province (1994)
- Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains, Hubei province (1994)
- Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, including the Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka, Lhasa, Tibet (1994, 2000, 2001)
- Lushan National Park, Jiangxi province (1996)
- Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area, Sichuan province (1996)
- Old Town of Lijiang, Yunnan province (1997)
- Ancient City of Ping Yao, Shanxi province (1997)
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Classical Gardens of Suzhou, Jiangsu province (1997, 2000)
- Humble Administrator’s Garden
- Master-of-Nets Garden
- Lingering Garden
- Cangling Pavilion Garden
- Lion Forest Garden
- The Mountain Villa with Embracing Beauty Garden
- Garden of Cultivation
- Couple's Retreat Garden
- Retreat & Reflection Garden
- Summer Palace, an Imperial Garden in Beijing (1998)
- Temple of Heaven: an Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing (1998)
- Mount Wuyi, Fujian province (1999)
- Dazu Rock Carvings, Chongqing (1999)
- Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, Sichuan province (2000)
- Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui - Xidi and Hongcun (2000)
- Longmen Grottoes, Luoyang, Henan province (2000)
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Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, including the Ming Dynasty Tombs and the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum (2000, 2003, 2004)
- Thirteen tombs of Ming Dynasty in Beijing
- Eastern tombs of the Qing Dynasty in Hebei
- Western tombs of the Qing Dynasty in Hebei
- Zhaoling tomb in Shenyang, Liaoning
- Fuling tomb in Shenyang, Liaoning
- Yongling Tomb in Fushun, Liaoning
- Yungang Grottoes, Datong, Shanxi province (2001)
- Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas, Yunnan province (2003)
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Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom, Jilin and Liaoning provinces (2004)
- Wunu Mountain City in Huanren County, Liaoning
- Guonei City in Ji'an City, Jilin
- Wandu Mountain City in Ji'an City, Jilin
- Ranmou Tomb and Huanwen Tomb in Ji'an City, Jilin
- Changchuan Tomb No. 1, 2, 4 in Ji'an City, Jilin
- Historic Centre of Macau (2005)
- Giant Panda Sanctuaries, Sichuan province (2006)
- Yin Xu, Henan province (2006)
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Kaiping Diaolou and Villages, Guangdong province (2007)
- Yinglong Lou (at Sanmenli Village) in Chican
- Zili Village and the Fang Clan Watch Tower in Tangkou
- Majianlong Village Cluster in Baihe
- Jingjiangli Village in Xiangang
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South China Karst, Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi provinces (2007)
- Shilin Karst – Naigu Stone Forest in Shilin Yi County
- Shilin Karst – ‘Suogeyi Village’ in Shilin Yi County
- Libo Karst – ‘Xiaoqijong’ in Libo County
- Libo Karst – ‘Dongduo’ in Libo County
- Wulong Karst – Qingkou Giant Doline (Tiankeng) in Wulong County
- Wulong Karst – Furong Cave in Wulong County
- Fujian Tulou, Fujian province (2008)
- Mount Sanqingshan National Park, Jiangxi province (2008)
- Mount Wutai, Shanxi province (2009)
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Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in “The Centre of Heaven and Earth” (2010)
- Taishi Que Gates, Zhongue Temple
- Shaoshi Que Gates
- Qimu Que Gates
- Songye Temple Pagoda
- Architectural Complex of Shaolin Temple (Kernel Compound, Chuzu Temple, Pagoda Forest)
- Huishan Temple
- Songyang Academy of Classical Learning
- Observatory
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China Danxia (2010)
- Chishui - West Section
- Chishui - East Section
- Taining - North Section
- Taining -South Section
- Langshan
- Danxiashan
- Longhushan: Longhushan Section
- Longhushan: Guifeng Section
- Jianglangshan