During the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee in New Delhi, India, the Beijing Central Axis and Badain Jaran Desert were included in UNESCO's World Heritage List, raising the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 59, which makes it one of the countries with the largest number of World Heritage sites, along with Italy.
The Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, situated along the Beijing Central Axis. /CFP
China's Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the coast of the Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf (Phase II) was also inscribed during the session as a serial extension of the property of the same name (Phase I) already inscribed on the list.
Migratory birds flock at the Yalu River estuary, which is included in the Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the coast of the Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf (Phase II), in Dandong City, Liaoning Province, northeast China, April 7, 2024. /CFP
Preparation work for the Beijing Central Axis to be recognized as a World Heritage site started in 2011. It is a building ensemble that runs through the core area of the Chinese capital. Since then, the Beijing government has initiated more than 100 renovation projects for cultural relics on the axis.
Home to a variety of plant species and wildlife, the Badain Jaran Desert in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is known for its unique and varied landscapes.
The 46th session inscribed 16 new properties on the list, including 11 cultural sites, four natural sites, and a mixed cultural and natural property, along with two significant modifications to the boundaries.
China now has 15 World Natural Heritage sites, leading in the total number of World Natural Heritage sites worldwide. It also has four mixed heritage sites.
(Cover: The Badain Jaran Desert in Alxa League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, north China. /CFP)