China’s Quest for UNESCO World Heritage Status

By snowball, on August 19th, 2010

Since 1986, China has been actively seeking recognition for cultural and natural heritage sites within its national territory. In 1985, China became a member of the International Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage. From then on, China has gone to great lengths to identify and nominate its sites for inclusion to the World Heritage list. At present, China has 40 sites listed and recognized by UNESCO.

China’s Latest UNESCO Status

Just this month, China’s Danxia Mountain (丹霞山) in Guangdong was recognized as a World Heritage site. “Danxia” does not refer to a single location, but is made up of six scenic areas, namely Taining (Fujian), Langshan (Hunan), Danxia Mountain (Guangdong), Longhushan and Guifeng (Jiangxi), Chishui (Guizhou) and Jianglangshan (Zhejiang). Danxia is renowned for its spectacular cliffs, canyons and land formations, tinged with a reddish hue.

China currently has 40 UNESCO World Heritage sites with the addition of Danxia Mountains in 2010. However, site degradations have forced UNESCO from reconsidering some of China's current World Heritage sites. (Source: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/p1JAalQvBdVgEHV4kdcf6w)

The Langshan local government of Hunan province undertook the initiative to develop and submit Danxiashan as a World Heritage site. Since 2006, the government has invested an estimated US$ 14.7 million to protect the area, prevent environmental degradation, deter naturally incompatible construction practices and improve tourist services. The Chinese government aims to strengthen tourism in the Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau triangle, relying on the drawing power of heritage sites such as Danxiashan and the Kaiping Watch Tower.

The inclusion of Danxiashan as a World Heritage site early this month is expected to boost its popularity domestically and overseas by approximately 3%. The heritage site receives around 4,000 people daily, which is well within its estimated capacity of 20,000 visitors and should not have any adverse effect on the protection of the site’s natural resources.

But the pursuit of World Heritage status for China’s cultural and natural heritage sites is not without problems. For one, China’s dogged perseverance in attaining recognition and boosting cultural tourism has resulted in stiff competition between local governments, resulting in some drastic measures.

Hangzhou officials, for example, have decided to lop off the top floors of skyscrapers deemed too high. Buildings, including a Shangri-La hotel, will have their highest floors removed in an effort to boost the city’s bid for World Heritage recognition. Last year, city officials ordered the demolition of the main teaching building of Zhejiang University – then the tallest building in the city.

Photos of China’s 40 UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties
Location: Beijing (Forbidden City), Shenyan (Mukden Palace)
Inception Year: 1987
Type: World Culture Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22240293@N05/4339550024/

Mogao Caves
Location: Dunhuan, Gansu province
Inception Year: 1987
Type: World Culture Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/48975388@N07/4840893612/

Mount Tai Shan
Location: Shangong province
Inception Year: 1987
Type: World Culture and Natural Site
Source: http://image.baidu.com/

Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian
Location: Beijing
Inception Year: 1987
Type: World Culture Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottsm/2292100076/

The Great Wall
Location: North China
Inception Year: 1987
Type: World Culture Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/p_h/2175016904/

Mount Huangshan
Location: Anhui Province
Inception Year: 1990
Type: World Culture and Nature Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25178987@N03/3393105538/

Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area
Location: Sichuan Province
Inception Year: 1992
Type: World Nature Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/juin/68706849/

Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area
Location: Sichuan Province
Inception Year: 1992
Type: World Nature Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/10946461@N05/4545819477/

Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area
Location: Hunan Province
Inception Year: 1992
Type: World Nature Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/drift_would/150982486/

Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains
Location: Hubei province
Inception Year: 1994
Type: World Culture Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sethkramer/2555627827/

Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, including the Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka
Location: Lhasa, Tibet
Inception Year: 1994, 2000, 2001
Type: World Culture Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thriol/1068433216/

Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples in Chengdu
Location: Hebei Province
Inception Year: 1994
Type: World Culture Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kattebelletje/3330958511/

Temple and Cemetery of Confucius, and the Kong Family Mansion
Location: Qufu, Shangdong province
Inception Year: 1994
Type: World Culture Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kanegen/2910431533/

Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area
Location: Sichuan province
Inception Year: 1996
Type: World Culture and Nature Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/amytmok/4099881282/

Lushan National Park
Location: Jiangxi Province
Inception Year: 1996
Type: World Culture Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/eaj/2054829680/

Ancient City of Ping Yao
Location: Shanxi province
Inception Year: 1997
Type: World Culture Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bluebulgaria/3719940179/

Classical Gardens of Suzhou
Location: Jiangsu Province
Inception Year: 1997, 2000
Type: World Culture Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fukagawa/2345895690/

Old Town of Lijiang
Location: Yunnan Province
Inception Year: 1997
Type: World Culture Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenneoh/3519931345/

Summer Palace
Location: Beijing
Inception Year: 1998
Type: World Culture Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/david-bank/3012224239/

Temple of Heaven
Location: Beijing
Inception Year: 1998
Type: World Culture Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivanwalsh/3810405773/

Dazu Rock Carvings
Location: Chongqing
Inception Year: 1999
Type: World Culture Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/major_clanger/1415793634/

Mount Wuyi
Location: Fujian province
Inception Year: 1999
Type: World Culture and Natural Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/achang/148171460/

Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui – Xidi and Hongcun
Location: Anhui province
Inception Year: 2000
Type: World Culture Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ishmattpics/3897097501/

Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, including the Ming Dynasty Tombs and the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum
Location: Beijing
Inception Year: 2000, 2003, 2004
Type: World Culture Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pedronet/2639572480/

Longmen Grottoes
Location: Luoyan, Henan province
Inception Year: 2000
Type: World Culture Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zieak/4034405456/

Mount Qingchen and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System
Location: Sichuan province
Inception Year: 2000
Type: World Culture Site
Source: http://image.baidu.com/

Yungan Grottoes
Location: Datong, Shanxi province
Inception Year: 2001
Type: World Culture Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pnp/1582103783/

Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas
Location: Yunnan Province
Inception Year: 2003 World Natural Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/larryhe/4151181621/

Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom
Location: Jilin Province
Inception Year: 2004
Type: World Culture Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/auws/3978751460/

Historic Center of Macau
Location: Macau
Inception Year: 2005
Type: World Culture Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stay-happy/4440936186/

Yin Xu
Location: Henan Province
Inception Year: 2006
Type: World Culture Site
Source: http://image.baidu.com/

Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries
Location: Sichuan province
Inception Year: 2006
Type: World Nature Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/remkotanis/3516818451/

Kaiping Diaolou and Villages
Location: Guangdong Province
Inception Year: 2007
Type: World Culture Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/randomwire/4492814669/

South China Karst
Location: Yunnan, Guizhou Provinces and Chongqing
Inception Year: 2007
Type: World Nature Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/synnwang/506367070/

Fujian Tulou
Location: Fujian Province
Inception Year: 2007
Type: World Culture Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kalevkevad/4514725990/

Sanqingshan
Location: Jiangxi Province
Inception Year: 2008
Type: World Nature Site
Source: http://image.baidu.com/

Mount Wutai
Location: Shanxi Province
Inception Year: 2009
Type: World Culture Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/luispabon/1341776165/

Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor
Location: Xi’an, Shaanxi province
Inception Year: 1987
Type: World Culture Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dondomingo/452625750/

Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in “The Center of Heaven and Earth”
Location: Henan Province
Inception Year: 2010
Type: World Culture Site
Source: http://image.baidu.com/

China Danxia
Location: Hunan, Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang and Guizhou Provinces
Inception Year: 2010
Type: World Nature Site
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alew/873318931/

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UNESCO Threatens to Remove Status

Apart from this, China has also run into problems in upkeep – UNESCO is now threatening to remove World Heritage status for some of China’s listed sites due to degradation. One example is the Three Parallel Rivers site in Yunnan, whose surrounding area is soon to have dams and mines constructed. Moreover, the commercialization of cultural heritage sites such as the ancient city of Lijiang, for example, negates the very idea of cultural preservation, with the historical significance of the site minimized as it becomes a “Disney” version of itself.

China also has to contend with the side effects of overdeveloped tourism on the environment, such as soil erosion and pollution. The increase in hotels, restaurants and shops built around the heritage site undoubtedly adds to the pollutants and wastes released to the area regularly. The modernization of areas surrounding sites accorded World Heritage status will inevitably have an adverse effect on the environment, if not checked early on.

At the moment, the overseers of Danxia Mountain claim that the daily foot traffic is well within the area’s capacity. In time, however, with greater efforts to boost tourism and more tourists traveling to the area, the environmental degradation will become more apparent. China will have to step up to maintain the current ecological integrity of the Danxia site, especially since it is home to 1.432 animal species and a host of rare fauna.

China will have to find a means to harness the economic bounty of cultural tourism without sacrificing the protection that these cultural and natural sites deserve.

Sources
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wikipedia.com
hkatvnews.com
cnr.cn
treehugger.com

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