The serene beauty of stone bridges, flowing waters, and quaint houses with white walls and dark tiles in the Jiangnan water towns has been immortalized by countless Chinese poets since ancient times. These images epitomize the unique cultural identity of the ancient water towns in the Jiangnan, the region south of the Yangtze River Delta in China.
An undated photo shows the view of Zhouzhuang, a water town in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. /CFP
Now, there is a concerted effort to secure World Heritage status for these iconic towns. Some of the most representative of these towns are preparing to formally submit their application to UNESCO in 2025.
An undated photo shows the view of Tongli, a water town in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. /CFP
"The Jiangnan water towns as a whole are the result of 2,000 years of human interaction with the waters within the wetland environment around Taihu Lake," said Zhao Yun, director of the China Academy of Cultural Heritage, while discussing the preparation of the nomination documents and related technical research.
An undated photo shows the view of Nanxun, a water town in Huzhou, Zhejiang Province. /CFP
Zhao emphasized that the selected towns represent the value of the cultural heritage of the Jiangnan region as a whole, rather than a single water town.
As the nomination process progresses, it is hoped that the unique and enduring cultural and historical value of the Jiangnan water towns will be recognized on the global stage, ensuring their preservation for future generations.