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China has been a State Party to the World Heritage Convention since 1985. With 60 inscribed properties, the country ranks among the leading countries worldwide in terms of World Heritage Sites. The majority of its sites are cultural properties, reflecting a strong emphasis on historical and architectural heritage. One of these properties is shared with neighboring countries, demonstrating cooperation across borders in heritage conservation.

China as a State Party to the World Heritage Convention

State Party since: December 12, 1985

Status: Ratification

Mandates to the World Heritage Committee: 1991-1997, 1999-2005, 2007-2011, 2017-2021

Total of Mandate Years: 20

Total of Mandates: 4

WHC Electoral Group: IV (Asia/Pacific)

World Heritage Sites in China (60)

Cultural: 41 | Natural: 15 | Mixed: 4

Map of World Heritage Sites

This interactive map shows the location of all UNESCO World Heritage Sites in China.

Tentative World Heritage Sites (60)

  • Guizhou Shuanghe Cave · submitted: May 20, 2025
  • Zhangye Colorful Hills · submitted: May 20, 2025
  • Hezheng Mammalian Fossil Sites of Gansu · submitted: May 17, 2024
  • Fujian Minjiang River Estuary: The ecotone between marine and terrestrial biogeographical regions · submitted: August 16, 2022
  • Hainan Tropical Rainforest and the Traditional Settlement of Li Ethnic Group · submitted: January 19, 2022
  • Huangguoshu Scenic Area · submitted: January 30, 2019
  • Guizhou Triassic Fossil Sites · submitted: January 30, 2019
  • Imperial Kiln Sites of Jingdezhen · submitted: September 5, 2017
  • Guancen Mountain -- Luya Mountain · submitted: February 28, 2017
  • Hulun Buir Landscape & Birthplace of Ancient Minority · submitted: February 28, 2017
  • Qinghai Lake · submitted: February 28, 2017
  • Scenic and historic area of Sacred Mountains and Lakes · submitted: February 28, 2017
  • Taihang Mountain · submitted: February 28, 2017
  • Vertical Vegetation Landscape and Volcanic Landscape in Changbai Mountain · submitted: February 28, 2017
  • The Chinese Section of the Silk Roads · submitted: February 22, 2016
  • Xinjiang Yardang · submitted: January 30, 2015
  • Dunhuang Yardangs · submitted: January 30, 2015
  • Tianzhushan · submitted: January 30, 2015
  • Jinggangshan--North Wuyishan (Extension of Mount Wuyi) · submitted: January 30, 2015
  • ShuDao · submitted: January 30, 2015
  • Tulin-Guge Scenic and Historic Interest Areas · submitted: January 30, 2015
  • Wooden Structures of Liao Dynasty—Wooden Pagoda of Yingxian County，Main Hall of Fengguo Monastery of Yixian County · submitted: January 29, 2013
  • Sites of Hongshan Culture: The Niuheliang Archaeological Site, the Hongshanhou Archaeological Site, and Weijiawopu Archaeological Site · submitted: January 29, 2013
  • Ancient Porcelain Kiln Site in China · submitted: January 29, 2013
  • SanFangQiXiang · submitted: January 29, 2013
  • Dong Villages · submitted: January 29, 2013
  • Lingqu Canal · submitted: January 29, 2013
  • Diaolou Buildings and Villages for Tibetan and Qiang Ethnic Groups · submitted: January 29, 2013
  • Archaeological Sites of the Ancient Shu State: Site at Jinsha and Joint Tombs of Boat- shaped Coffins in Chengdu City, Sichuan Province; Site of Sanxingdui in Guanghan City, Sichuan Province 29C.BC-5C.BC · submitted: January 29, 2013
  • Taklimakan Desert—Populus euphratica Forests · submitted: January 29, 2010
  • China Altay · submitted: January 29, 2010
  • Karakorum-Pamir · submitted: January 29, 2010
  • The Four Sacred Mountains as an Extension of Mt. Taishan · submitted: April 7, 2008
  • Sites for Liquor Making in China · submitted: March 28, 2008
  • Ancient Residences in Shanxi and Shaanxi Provinces · submitted: March 28, 2008
  • City Walls of the Ming and Qing Dynasties · submitted: March 28, 2008
  • Slender West Lake and Historic Urban Area in Yangzhou · submitted: March 28, 2008
  • The Ancient Waterfront Towns in the South of Yangtze River · submitted: March 28, 2008
  • 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 · submitted: March 28, 2008
  • Fenghuang Ancient City · submitted: March 28, 2008
  • Site of Southern Yue State · submitted: March 28, 2008
  • Baiheliang Ancient Hydrological Inscription · submitted: March 28, 2008
  • Miao Nationality Villages in Southeast Guizhou Province: The villages of Miao Nationality at the Foot of Leigong Mountain in Miao Ling Mountains · submitted: March 28, 2008
  • Karez Wells · submitted: March 28, 2008
  • Expansion Project of Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties: King Lujian’s Tombs · submitted: March 28, 2008
  • Yalong, Tibet · submitted: November 29, 2001
  • Yangtze Gorges Scenic Spot · submitted: November 29, 2001
  • Jinfushan Scenic Spot · submitted: November 29, 2001
  • Heaven Pit and Ground Seam Scenic Spot · submitted: November 29, 2001
  • Hua Shan Scenic Area · submitted: November 29, 2001
  • Yandang Mountain · submitted: November 29, 2001
  • Nanxi River · submitted: November 29, 2001
  • Maijishan Scenic Spots · submitted: November 29, 2001
  • Wudalianchi Scenic Spots · submitted: November 29, 2001
  • Haitan Scenic Spots · submitted: November 29, 2001
  • Dali Chanshan Mountain and Erhai Lake Scenic Spot · submitted: November 29, 2001
  • Dongzhai Port Nature Reserve · submitted: February 12, 1996
  • The Alligator Sinensis Nature Reserve · submitted: February 12, 1996
  • Poyang Nature Reserve · submitted: February 12, 1996
  • The Lijiang River Scenic Zone at Guilin · submitted: February 12, 1996

Source: UNESCO Tentative Lists

Country Profile China

Official Name: People's Republic of China

Continent: Asia

Subregion: Eastern Asia

UNESCO Region: Asia and the Pacific

Capital: Beijing

Population (2024): 1,408,975,000

Land Area: 9,388,210 km²

Currency: Chinese yuan (CNY)

Country Data Sources

Links

UNESCO World Heritage Convention: State Party China

About States Parties

States Parties are countries that have joined the World Heritage Convention. They commit to identifying, nominating, and protecting properties of outstanding cultural or natural value on their territory. States Parties are also expected to monitor and report on the condition of inscribed sites.

World Heritage Insights

How Politics and Institutions Shape the UNESCO World Heritage List

The UNESCO World Heritage List is usually seen as a catalogue of the world’s most important cultural and natural places. Yet behind every inscription there is a structured decision process: countries must first join the Convention, run for a seat on the World Heritage Committee, prepare nominations through a fixed procedure, and finally obtain enough votes for inscription.

World Heritage Info

Background

Learn about UNESCO, the World Heritage Convention, Tentative Lists, and how World Heritage Sites are selected and preserved. Explore the history, structures, and processes that protect humanity’s cultural and natural treasures.

Portions of this page are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset. Changes made. Original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE) is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Commission. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.

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