The fifth Yunnan International Communication Forum opened in Xishuangbanna, southwest China's Yunnan Province, on Thursday with a themed event, "Life in Yunnan," inviting audiences from around the world to discover the province through its six UNESCO World Heritage sites.

When people think of Yunnan, they often picture its lush tropical rainforests, rich ethnic cultures and long-standing tradition of harmony between people and nature. The forum highlighted these defining features through presentations by six guests closely connected to the province's World Heritage sites, each sharing the stories behind the places they represent.

Ancient City of Lijiang

Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997, the Ancient City of Lijiang is known for its mountain-adapted urban layout, sophisticated water system and well-preserved cultural heritage. Centuries-old Naxi music and the Dongba script, still used by the ethnic Naxi people today, reflect the city's enduring multicultural traditions.

Three Parallel Rivers

Gaoligong Mountain, located within the Three Parallel Rivers World Natural Heritage site, rises from 210 meters to 5,128 meters above sea level, encompassing ecosystems from tropical forests to alpine glaciers. Formed over hundreds of millions of years, it is also one of the world's richest biodiversity hotspots.

Stone Forest

Shilin, or the Stone Forest, is regarded as one of the world's finest examples of karst landscape. Its sword-, pagoda-, pillar- and mushroom-shaped rock formations preserve a complete record of karst evolution. UNESCO has described it as one of the world's most outstanding examples of karst landform development.

Chengjiang Fossil Site

The Chengjiang Fossil Site is renowned for the exceptional preservation of Early Cambrian fossils. It offers one of the most complete records of the Cambrian Explosion, when most major animal groups first appeared, providing scientists with invaluable insight into the early evolution of life on Earth.

Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces

Home to forests, traditional villages and terraced fields, Yuanyang showcases centuries of sustainable farming practices. The Hani Rice Terraces hold three international designations: a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System, and a World Irrigation Engineering Heritage site.

Jingmai Mountain

Jingmai Mountain preserves a thousand-year-old cultural landscape where ancient tea forests, villages and local communities have coexisted in harmony. It is the world's first UNESCO World Heritage site dedicated to tea culture, with tea deeply woven into local customs, from ancestor worship to welcoming guests.

Now in its fifth consecutive year, the Yunnan International Communication Forum aims to promote cultural exchange, tell China's stories to global audiences and share Yunnan's unique heritage with the world.