10 recent Chinese additions to the World Heritage List

China’s Shennongjia Forestry District in Central China’s Hubei province was added to the World Heritage List as a natural site on July 17, bringing the total number of China's world heritage sites to 50, second only to Italy in the whole world.

China became a state party of the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage on Dec. 12, 1985.

For the past three decades, China has spared no effort in making its contributions to world heritage.

Beijing tops the city level with the most cultural sites in the World Heritage List. Suzhou in East China’s Jiangsu province represents the only host city in China for the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.

Now let’s take a look at 10 newly added sites in China from 2011 to 2016.

A flock of birds sport on the pool at the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, one of the Ten Scenes of the West Lake. [Photo/IC]

1. West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou

The West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou, comprising the West Lake and the hills surrounding its three sides, has inspired famous poets, scholars and artists since the 9th century.

It comprises numerous temples, pagodas, pavilions, gardens and ornamental trees, as well as causeways and artificial islands.

It was added to the list on June 24, 2011.