World cultural heritage belongs to the category of world heritage and is called "world cultural and natural heritage". 1972, UNESCO adopted the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage in Paris and established the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. Its purpose is to promote cooperation between countries and peoples and make positive contributions to the rational protection and restoration of the common heritage of all mankind.

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee is an intergovernmental organization, consisting of 265,438+0 member countries. It meets once a year to decide which heritages can be included in the World Heritage List, and to supervise and guide the protection of the listed world heritages. The Committee consists of seven members, and the presidium of the World Heritage Committee meets twice a year to prepare for the work of the Committee. The World Heritage Committee undertakes four main tasks:

1. Be responsible for explaining the definition of world heritage when selecting cultural and natural heritage listed in the World Heritage List;

2. Review the World Heritage Protection Report. When the heritage is not properly handled and protected, the Committee allows the state party to take special protection measures;

3. After consultation with relevant States parties, the Committee decided to include the endangered heritage in the List of World Heritage in Danger;

4. Manage the World Heritage Fund (World Cultural and Natural Heritage Protection Fund). Provide technical and financial assistance to countries that apply for assistance to protect their heritage. The Convention provides for the establishment of.

By the end of 2002, 175 countries or regions in the world have joined the World Heritage Convention, which is one of the conventions with the largest number of countries. Since 1985 China became a party to the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, China and UNESCO have always maintained a good cooperative relationship in the field of world heritage protection.

(B) the concept and types of world heritage

The symbol of the World Heritage Convention symbolizes the interdependence of cultural heritage and natural heritage. The square in the middle is the shape created by human beings, and the circle represents nature. The two are closely linked. This sign is round, symbolizing the whole world and protection.

World heritage is divided into five categories: natural heritage, cultural heritage, the mixture of natural heritage and cultural heritage (that is, dual heritage), cultural landscape and intangible heritage established in recent years. By the end of 2003, there were 754 world heritages in 128 countries, including 582 cultural heritages, 49 natural heritages 149 and 23 dual cultural and natural heritages.

cultural heritage

According to the Convention, heritage belonging to one of the following categories can be classified as cultural heritage:

Cultural relics: buildings, sculptures and paintings with outstanding and universal value, components or structures with archaeological significance, inscriptions, caves, settlements and various cultural relics from the perspective of history, art or science;

Buildings: individual or interrelated buildings with outstanding and universal value from the perspective of history, art or science because of their architectural form, identity and position in the landscape;

Sites: man-made projects or masterpieces of man and nature and archaeological sites with outstanding and universal value from the perspective of history, aesthetics, ethnology or anthropology.

Any cultural heritage project nominated for inclusion in the World Heritage List must meet one or more of the following criteria before it can be approved:

1 represents a unique artistic achievement and a creative masterpiece of genius;

2. It can have a significant impact on the development of architectural art, memorial art, town planning or landscape design in a certain period or in a certain cultural area of the world;

3. It can provide a unique or at least special witness for a disappearing civilization or cultural tradition;

4. It can be used as an outstanding example of a building, a group of buildings or a landscape to show an important stage (or stages) in the history of the visit;

5. It can be regarded as an outstanding example of a traditional place where human beings live or use, representing one (or several) cultures, especially under the influence of irreversible changes.

6. It is directly or substantively related to events with special universal significance, current traditions, ideas, beliefs or literary and artistic works.

Natural heritability

The Convention defines natural heritage as one of the following:

From the aesthetic or scientific point of view, the natural features consisting of geological and biological structures or such structural groups with outstanding and universal values;

From the point of view of science or protection, geological and natural geographical structures with outstanding and universal values, and clearly defined ecological zones of endangered animal and plant species;

From the point of view of science, protection or natural beauty, there are only natural places or clearly defined natural areas with outstanding and universal value.

Natural heritage projects listed in the World Heritage List must meet one or more of the following criteria and be approved:

1, which constitutes an outstanding example representing an important stage in the history of earth evolution;

2. It is an outstanding example representing important geological processes, biological evolution processes and the relationship between human beings and the natural environment;

3. Unique, rare or wonderful natural phenomena, landforms or areas with rare natural beauty;

4. Habitats of existing rare or endangered animal and plant species.

Cultural landscape and others

The concept of cultural landscape was put forward at the16th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Santa Fe, USA in February, and was listed in the World Heritage List. Cultural landscape represents the "works of nature and human beings" expressed in Article 1 of the Convention for the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage. The choice of cultural landscape should be based on its outstanding and universal value, the representativeness of its clearly defined geographical and cultural areas and its ability to reflect the basic and unique cultural factors of these areas. It usually embodies the modern technology of sustainable land use and maintains or enhances the natural value of the landscape. Protecting the existing cultural landscape helps to protect biodiversity. Generally speaking, there are the following types of cultural landscapes:

Landscape intentionally designed and built by human beings. Including gardens and parks built for aesthetic reasons, they are often (but not always) associated with religious or other memorial buildings or buildings.

Landscape of organic evolution. It originated from the initial social, economic, administrative and religious needs, and developed into the present form through the connection or adaptation with the surrounding natural environment. It also includes two sub-categories: one is residual (or fossil) landscape, which represents the evolutionary process that has ended in the past, whether it is sudden or gradual. They have outstanding and universal value because their distinctive features are still reflected in the physical objects. Secondly, the sustainable landscape has maintained a positive social role in today's society, and it is still in the process of its own evolution, which also shows the physical evidence of its evolution and development in history.

Related cultural landscape. This kind of landscape is listed in the World Heritage List, which is characterized by its connection with natural factors, strong religion, art or culture, rather than cultural material evidence. At present, there are not many cultural landscapes listed in the World Heritage List, and Lushan Scenic Area is the only cultural landscape in China's "World Heritage". In addition, once the historical sites and natural landscapes listed in the World Heritage List are seriously threatened, they can be listed in the List of Endangered World Heritage after investigation and consideration by the World Heritage Committee, pending emergency rescue measures.

Intangible cultural heritage

Refers to all creations from a cultural community, based on tradition, expressed by a certain group or some individuals, and considered to meet the expectations of the community as the expression of its cultural and social characteristics; Norms and values are passed down orally through imitation or other means. Its forms include: language, literature, music, dance, games, myths, etiquette, habits, handicrafts, architecture and other arts. China's Kunqu Opera is listed as an intangible cultural heritage in the World Heritage List.

China World Cultural Heritage List

Forbidden City in Ming and Qing Dynasties: Cultural Heritage, listing 1987, Beijing.

Summer Palace: Cultural Heritage, listing 1998, Beijing.

Temple of Heaven: Cultural Heritage, Listing 1998, Beijing.

Great Wall: Cultural Heritage, listing 1987, Beijing.

Zhoukoudian Peking Man Site: Cultural Heritage, listing 1987, Beijing.

Chengde mountain resort and surrounding temples: cultural heritage, listed in Hebei Province 1994.

Pingyao Ancient City: Cultural Heritage, Listing 1997, Shanxi Province.

Confucius Temple in Qufu, Kong Lin: Cultural Heritage, listed in Shandong Province 1994.

Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes: Cultural Heritage, listed in 1987, Gansu Province

Dazu stone carving: cultural heritage, listing 1999, Chongqing.

Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor: Cultural Heritage, listed in 1987, Shaanxi Province.

Suzhou Ancient Theater: Cultural Heritage, listed 1997, Jiangsu Province.

Wudang Mountain Ancient Buildings: Cultural Heritage, Listing 1994, Hubei Province.

Potala Palace in Lhasa: Cultural Heritage, listed in Xizang Autonomous Region 1994.

Old Town of Lijiang: Cultural Heritage, 1997, Yunnan Province.

Mount Tai: Natural and Cultural Heritage, Column 1987, Shandong Province.

Huangshan Mountain: Natural and Cultural Heritage, column 1990, Anhui Province.

Emei Mountain-giant buddha: Natural and Cultural Heritage, listed in 1996, Sichuan Province.

Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area: Natural Heritage, listed in 1992, Sichuan Province.

Huanglong Scenic Area: Natural Heritage, listed in 1992, Sichuan Province.

Wulingyuan Scenic Area: Natural Heritage, listed in 1992, Hunan Province.

Lushan Mountain Scenic Area: World Cultural Landscape, column 1995, Jiangxi Province.

Wuyishan Scenic Area: Natural and Cultural Heritage, listed in 1999, Fujian Province.

Longmen Grottoes: Cultural Heritage, which was listed in Henan Province in 2000.

Qingchengshan-Dujiangyan: Cultural Heritage, which was listed in Sichuan Province in 2000.

Ancient villages in southern Anhui (Xidi and Hongcun): cultural heritage, listed in 2000, Anhui Province.

Imperial tombs of the ming and qing dynasties: Cultural heritage, (Ming Tombs in Hubei, Qing Tombs in Hebei and Qing Tombs in Hebei) was listed in 2000 and (Ming Tombs in Beijing and Ming Tombs in Nanjing) in 2003.

Yungang Grottoes: Cultural Heritage, Column 200 1, Shanxi Province.

Koguryo Imperial City, Mausoleum and Noble Tombs: Cultural Heritage, which was listed in Jilin Province in 2004.

Macao Historic District: Cultural Heritage, listed in the list of Macao Special Administrative Region in 2005.

Parallel rivers: natural heritage, listed in Yunnan Province in 2003.

Sichuan giant panda habitat: natural heritage, listed in Sichuan Province in 2006.

Yin Ruins in Anyang: Historical and Cultural Heritage, listed in July 2006 13, Henan Province.

Kaiping Diaolou and Village: Cultural Heritage was listed by Guangdong Province on June 28th, 2007.

According to the provisions of the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, those belonging to one of the following categories can be classified as cultural heritage: ① Cultural relics: buildings, sculptures and paintings with outstanding and universal value from the perspective of history, art or science, elements or structures with archaeological significance, inscriptions, caves, settlements and the synthesis of various cultural relics; (2) Building: a single or interrelated building with outstanding and universal value from a historical, artistic or scientific point of view because of its architectural form, identity and position in the landscape; (3) Sites: man-made projects or masterpieces of man and nature with outstanding and universal values and archaeological sites from the perspective of history, aesthetics, ethnology or anthropology.

Any cultural heritage project nominated for inclusion in the World Heritage List must meet one or more of the following criteria before it can be approved. (1) represents a unique artistic achievement and a creative masterpiece of genius; ② It can have a great influence on the development of architectural art, memorial art, town planning or landscape design in a certain period or a certain cultural region in the world; ③ It can provide a unique or at least special witness for a disappearing civilization or cultural tradition; ④ It can be used as an outstanding example of a building, a group of buildings or a landscape, showing an important stage (or stages) in the visit history; ⑤ It can be regarded as an outstanding example of a traditional place where human beings live or use, representing one (or several) cultures, which are easily destroyed under the influence of irreversible changes, and it has direct or substantial connection with events with special universal significance or current traditions or ideas or beliefs or literary and artistic works. (Only under some special circumstances or when this standard works with other standards, this paragraph can be the reason for listing in the World Heritage List. )

the Great Wall

Wan Li Great Wall, a world-famous ancient building in China, starts from Shanhaiguan in Bohai Bay in the east and Jiayuguan in Gansu Province in the west. It runs through mountains and stretches for 65,438+20 Wan Li, spanning seven provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in northern China. As early as the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, countries built the Great Wall to guard against the enemy. After China was unified by the Qin Dynasty, the segmented defensive walls were connected to build the magnificent Great Wall of Wan Li, which was later strengthened and repaired by successive dynasties. In the Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644), it was gradually rebuilt on the old basis. The Great Wall of Wan Li is magnificent and one of the greatest projects in the history of the world. 1987 is listed in the world cultural heritage list. More >>

Ming and Qing imperial palace

Located in the center of Beijing. Formerly known as the Forbidden City, it was the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The largest and most complete ancient architectural complex in China. It was built in the 4th to 18th year of Yongle in Ming Dynasty (1406- 1420), and it has been rebuilt and rebuilt many times, and still maintains its original layout. It covers an area of more than 720,000 square meters, with a construction area of about 6.5438+0.5 million square meters and more than 9,000 houses. The surrounding palace wall is 654.38+00 meters high and about 3 kilometers long. Four feet stand on a beautiful turret, surrounded by a moat with a width of 52 meters. The whole building complex is magnificent, luxurious, with open and symmetrical layout and magnificent interior and exterior decoration. It is the essence of ancient architectural art in China, and 1987 is listed in the World Cultural Heritage List. On July 1 day, 2004, Shenyang Forbidden City was listed in the World Heritage List as an extension project of the palace cultural heritage of Ming and Qing Dynasties. More >>

Mogao grottoes in Mogao grottoes

Located on the cliff at the eastern foot of Mingsha Mountain in Dunhuang City, Gansu Province. Commonly known as the Thousand Buddha Cave, it is the largest existing treasure house of Buddhist art in the world. It was first chiseled in 366 years before Qin Jianyuan, and it was chiseled in all dynasties. The cave is divided into five layers, which are arranged in sequence, and the length from north to south is 1600 meters. Its shapes mainly include Zen Grottoes, Zhongzhu Grottoes and Diedouding Grottoes. There are 492 numbered caves, more than 45,000 square meters of murals, more than 3,000 painted sculptures and 5 wooden buildings in Tang and Song Dynasties. /kloc-in 0/900, more than 50,000 paintings of classics, history, books and collections from the Western Jin Dynasty to the Song Dynasty were found in the Tibetan Sutra Cave. The Mogao Grottoes, which integrates architecture, painting and sculpture, is the richest grotto art treasure house in China. 1987 is listed in the world cultural heritage list. More >>

Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor

Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor

Located at the northern foot of Lishan Mountain, Lintong District, Xi, Shaanxi Province. The mausoleum was built from 246 BC to 208 BC, and the existing tomb is 40 meters high. The layout of the cemetery imitates Xianyang, Qin Dou, and is divided into two cities, with an inner city of about 2.5 kilometers and an outer city of about 6.3 kilometers. Terracotta Warriors and Horses Pit, located in the east of Qin Shihuang Mausoleum, is a large tomb pit of Qin Mausoleum, which was discovered in 1974. Four pits have been dug, covering an area of more than 25,000 square meters. A large number of painted pottery terracotta warriors and horses with the same size as real horses and various weapons used in actual combat at that time can be buried in the inner bush. As many as ten thousand cultural relics have been unearthed. 1987 is listed in the world cultural heritage list. More >>

Zhoukoudian Peking Man Site Zhoukoudian Peking Man Site

Located in Gulong Mountain, Zhoukoudian, Fangshan District, Beijing. This is an important Paleolithic site in China. 1927 started excavation, and three complete skulls and some residual bones were found in the cave, which is the discovery place of Peking man and Neanderthal fossils. Cavemen represent the types of new human beings more than 10,000 years ago, and are important physical materials for studying human evolution. Since the founding of New China, Peking man fossils, stone tools, fire relics and other new materials have been discovered one after another, which are extremely valuable materials for studying the history of human development and the primitive social history of China. 1987 is listed in the world cultural heritage list. More >>

Chengde mountain resort and surrounding temples

Chengde mountain resort and its peripheral temples

Located in Chengde City, Hebei Province. Also known as "Chengde Ligong" and "Jehol Palace". It was built from the 42nd year of Kangxi to the 55th year of Qianlong (1703- 1790). Covering an area of more than 5.6 million square meters, with more than 1 10 buildings, it was the place where emperors in the Qing Dynasty spent their summer vacation and handled government affairs. It is divided into two parts: the palace area and the garden area, surrounded by a stone palace wall with a length of 10 km. The Forbidden City is divided into four groups of buildings: the main palace, the East Palace, Song Hezhai and Wanhe Song Feng. The Lianbo Jingcheng Hall in the main palace is all made of nanmu structure, and all kinds of ceremonies are held here. It is the largest existing ancient palace in China. 1994 is listed in the world cultural heritage list. More >>

Confucius House, Confucius Temple and Confucius Forest

Qufu Confucius Temple, Confucius Cemetery, Confucius House

Located in Qufu City, Shandong Province. Qufu Confucius Temple is the earliest and largest Confucius Temple in China. It covers an area of about 6,543,800 square meters and has 466 halls. The main buildings are the Monument Pavilion in Jin and Yuan Dynasties, Kuiwen Pavilion built in Ming Dynasty and Dacheng Hall rebuilt in Qing Dynasty. Adjacent to the Confucius Temple, the Confucius House is the residence of the Duke of Feast, a direct descendant of Confucius. Kong Lin is the graveyard of Confucius and his descendants, and there are inscriptions praising Confucius in all previous dynasties. 1994 is listed in the world cultural heritage list. More >>

Potala Palace in Tibet Potala Palace in Lhasa

Located in Lhasa, Xizang Autonomous Region. It is a famous palace-style building complex and a famous Tibetan Buddhist temple in China. It is more than 3000 meters above sea level. Built to commemorate the marriage of Princess Wencheng in Tang Dynasty and Songzan Gambu in Tibet, it has a history of 1300 years. The magnificent Potala Palace is built on the hill, with a height of 13 stories and a height of 1 17 meters. It is all made of granite with golden cornices and carved beams and painted buildings. It is the most precious treasure house of religion, art and culture in Tibet. There are palaces, Buddhist temples, study rooms, bedrooms, Lingta halls and courtyards. All the buildings overlap, and the hall is rugged and majestic, which reflects the distinctive characteristics of Tibetan architecture and some styles of integration of Chinese and Tibetan cultures. 1994 is listed in the world cultural heritage list. In 2000, Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka were approved to be included in the World Heritage List as extensions of the Potala Palace historical complex. More >>

ancient building complex in the wu dang mountains

Located in danjiangkou city, Hubei Province. It was called Taihe Mountain in ancient times. Fiona Fang is 400 kilometers long, with 72 peaks, 36 rocks and 24 streams. The elevation of Tianzhu Peak, the main peak, is 16 12m. The peaks and valleys are dangerous and the caves are secluded. There are huge ancient buildings belonging to Taoism on the mountain, including Bagong Hall, Erguan Hall, Thirty-six Luan Hall and Seventy-two Rock Temple. This mountain peak was built in the Golden Hall of the Ming Dynasty and is famous for its bronze casting and gold plating. It is one of the biggest architectural treasures of copper in China. Wudang Mountain is the birthplace of Wutang Boxing. 1994 is listed in the world cultural heritage list. More >>

Ancient City-Lijiang, Old Town of Lijiang

Located in Lijiang Naxi Autonomous County, Yunnan Province. Founded in the late Song Dynasty and early Yuan Dynasty (from the end of 12 century to the middle of 13 century), with an area of 1.6 square kilometers, it is the settlement of Naxi people. There are places of interest such as Black Dragon Pool and Wufenglou. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the "Lijiang Man" stone was discovered. The ancient city is surrounded by green hills. Three tributaries of the Black Dragon Pool water pass through the ancient city. On the way, they flow into the walls around the residents, forming a complete water system, and Jing Quan is strewn at random. The well-known Dongba hieroglyphs, paintings, music, dances and Dongba scriptures are rich in connotation. It is a valuable example to study the unique living environment, local history and culture and national folk customs of Naxi nationality. 1997 is listed in the world cultural heritage list. More >>

Ancient City-Pingyao-Pingyao

Located in Pingyao County, Shanxi Province. It was built in the period of West Zhou Xuanwang (827-782 BC) and in the third year of Hongwu in Ming Dynasty (1370). It is square, with a wall height of about12m, a circumference of 6.4km and an area of 2.25km2.. There are urns, battlements, watchtowers and other city defense facilities, as well as Kuixing Tower, Point Platform and Watchtower. There were cosmetic repairs in Ming and Qing dynasties, but the shape and structure of the early Ming dynasty were basically maintained. The streets, buildings and shops in the city still retain their original shapes, which are the physical materials for studying the construction of county towns in Ming Dynasty. 1997 is listed in the world cultural heritage list.