June 10 is Cultural and Natural Heritage Day in China, and the theme of this year is "Strengthening the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) and Promoting Sustainable Development," which aims to further raise people's awareness and create a good social atmosphere for the protection of intangible heritage.

"World Heritage" status is a rare and irreplaceable treasure of humanity recognized by UNESCO and the World Heritage Committee as a heritage site and natural landscape of outstanding significance and universal value to all mankind.

China has 43 items on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List and Roster, ranking first in the world. On June 9, the ceremony of the 2023 "Culture and Natural Heritage Day" and its 20th anniversary were held in Beijing. Activities related to the protection of ICH were also held in Jiangsu, Yunnan and Guizhou.

In April 2022, "Hainan Tropical Rainforest and the Traditional Settlement of Li Ethnic Group" was officially listed on the World Heritage Tentative List. From June 9 to June 30, seven cities in Hainan – Haikou, Sanya, Wuzhishan, Lingshui, Baoting, Dongfang and Changjiang – will carry out the theme of World Heritage tour exhibition. The first stop of the theme tour will be in Haikou Huacai Haikou Bay Square from June 9 to 11. It is the first large-scale World Heritage tour in Hainan, and people will be able to participate in games, knowledge quizzes and other interactive activities.

Let's go see the World Natural Heritage sites in China!

Exploring the World Natural Heritage site Mount Fanjing

Mainly consisting of metamorphic rocks, Mount Fanjing is surrounded by stretches of karst landforms predominated by limestones, making it resemble a secluded island of metamorphic rocks in the karst ocean.

Exploring the World Natural Heritage site Wuyi Mountains

The Wuyi Mountains are one of the most important tea-producing areas in the world. Regarded as "mother trees," some of the local tea trees are hundreds of years old, offering precious tea leaves of great quality.

Exploring the World Natural Heritage site Sanjiangyuan

Sanjiangyuan has earned the title "water tower of China" because the abundant glacier resources here have a freshwater reserve of 200 billion cubic meters. The precious water has nurtured numerous wild flora and fauna like snow leopards, Himalayan blue sheep, Thorold's deer, Tibetan wild asses and vultures.

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com.)