Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System


World Heritage Identification Number: 1001

World Heritage since: 2000

Category: Cultural Heritage

Transboundary Heritage: No

Endangered Heritage: No

Country: 🇨🇳 China

Continent: Asia

UNESCO World Region: Asia and the Pacific

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Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System: A Unique Blend of Religious and Engineering Marvels

Mount Qingcheng (Qingcheng Shan) and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System represent two distinct yet interconnected aspects of China's rich cultural heritage. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, these sites showcase the harmonious coexistence of religious beliefs and engineering prowess that have shaped Chinese civilization for centuries.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

Construction of the Dujiangyan irrigation system began in the 3rd century B.C. This system still controls the waters of the Minjiang River and distributes it to the fertile farmland of the Chengdu plains. Mount Qingcheng was the birthplace of Taoism, which is celebrated in a series of ancient temples.

UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site

Criterion (ii): The Dujiangyan Irrigation System, begun in the 2nd century BCE, is a major landmark in the development of water management and technology, and is still discharging its functions perfectly.

Criterion (iv): The immense advances in science and technology achieved in ancient China are graphically illustrated by the Dujiangyan Irrigation System.

Criterion (vi): The temples of Mount Qingcheng are closely associated with the foundation of Taoism, one of the most influential religions of East Asia over a long period of history.

Encyclopedia Record: Mount Qingcheng

Mount Qingcheng is a sacred Taoist mountain in Dujiangyan, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.

Read more on Wikipedia

Additional Site Details

Area: Not available

UNESCO Criteria: (ii) — Significant interchange of human values
(iv) — Outstanding example of a type of building or landscape
(vi) — Directly associated with events or living traditions

Coordinates: 31.00167 , 103.60528

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Image of Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System

© JianEn Yu, CC BY 2.0 Resized from original.

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Country Information: China

Flag of China

Official Name: People's Republic of China

Capital: Beijing

Continent: Asia

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

Population (2023): 1,410,710,000

Population (2022): 1,412,175,000

Land Area: 9,388,210 sq km

Currency: Chinese yuan (CNY)

Country Data Sources

Last updated: January 18, 2026

Portions of the page Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset and on text from the Wikipedia article Mount Qingcheng, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes made. Additional original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Committee. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.

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