China World Heritage Sites showcase the country’s rich history, diverse cultures, and breathtaking natural landscapes, making it home to one of the largest collections of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world. From ancient cities and imperial palaces to scenic mountains, rivers, and deserts, these sites reflect thousands of years of civilization and architectural achievement.
Famous cultural sites include the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, and the Terracotta Army, while natural treasures include Jiuzhaigou Valley, Huangshan (Yellow Mountains), and Wulingyuan Scenic Area. These destinations offer a mix of historical significance, cultural insight, and stunning scenery.
For travelers, visiting China’s World Heritage Sites is best done with early planning, proper timing, and respect for preservation rules. Hiring local guides or joining heritage tours enhances understanding of the sites’ history and significance. Exploring these treasures provides an unforgettable journey into China’s ancient civilizations, unique cultures, and natural wonders.
1. List of World Heritage Sites in China
Category: C = Cultural Heritage; N = Natural Heritage; CN = Cultural and Natural Heritage
| Year Listed |
Site |
Location |
Category |
| 1987 |
Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian |
Beijing |
C |
| 1987 |
The Great Wall |
Beijing |
C |
| 1987, 2004 |
The Forbidden City; Mukden Palace |
Beijing; Shenyang |
C |
| 1987 |
Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor |
Xian, Shanxi |
C |
| 1987 |
Mount Tai |
Taian, Shandong |
CN |
| 1987 |
Mogao Caves |
Dunhuang, Gansu |
C |
| 1990 |
Mount Huangshan |
Huangshan City, Anhui |
CN |
| 1992 |
Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area |
Zhangjiajie, Hunan |
N |
| 1992 |
Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area |
Songpan County, Sichuan |
N |
| 1992 |
Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area |
Jiuzhaigou County, Sichuan |
N |
| 1994 |
Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu |
Qufu, Shandong |
C |
| 1994 |
Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains |
Shiyan, Hubei |
C |
| 1994 |
Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples in Chengde |
Chengde, Hebei |
C |
| 1994, 2000, 2001 |
Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, including the Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka |
Lhasa, Tibet |
C |
| 1996 |
Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area |
Emeishan City and Leshan, Sichuan |
CN |
| 1996 |
Lushan National Park |
Lushan District, Jiangxi |
C |
| 1997 |
Ancient City of Ping Yao |
Pingyao County, Shanxi |
C |
| 1997, 2000 |
Classical Gardens of Suzhou |
Suzhou, Jiangsu |
C |
| 1997 |
Old Town of Lijiang |
Lijiang, Yunnan |
C |
| 1998 |
Summer Palace |
Beijing |
C |
| 1998 |
Temple of Heaven |
Beijing |
C |
| 1999 |
Dazu Rock Carvings |
Dazu District, Chongqing |
C |
| 1999 |
Mount Wuyi |
Fujian, Jiangxi |
CN |
| 2000 |
Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui – Xidi and Hongcun |
Yi County, Anhui |
C |
| 2000, 2003, 2004 |
Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, including the Ming Dynasty Tombs and the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum |
Beijing and Nanjing, Jiangsu |
C |
| 2000 |
Longmen Grottoes |
Luoyang, Henan |
C |
| 2000 |
Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System |
Dujiangyan City, Sichuan |
C |
| 2001 |
Yungang Grottoes |
Datong, Shanxi |
C |
| 2003 |
Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas |
Yunnan |
N |
| 2004 |
Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom |
Ji'an, Jilin |
C |
| 2005 |
Historic Centre of Macau |
Macau |
C |
| 2006 |
Yin Xu |
Anyang, Henan |
C |
| 2006 |
Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries |
Sichuan |
N |
| 2007 |
Kaiping Diaolou and Villages |
Kaiping, Guangdong |
C |
| 2007, 2014 |
South China Karst |
Yunnan, Guizhou, Chongqing and Guangxi |
N |
| 2008 |
Fujian Tulou |
Fujian |
C |
| 2008 |
Sanqingshan |
Yushan County, Jiangxi |
N |
| 2009 |
Mount Wutai |
Wutai County, Shanxi |
C |
| 2010 |
Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in “The Centre of Heaven and Earth |
Dengfeng, Henan |
C |
| 2010 |
China Danxia |
Hunan, Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, and Guizhou |
N |
| 2011 |
West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou |
Hangzhou, Zhejiang |
C |
| 2012 |
Site of Xanadu |
Xilingol, Inner Mongolia |
C |
| 2012 |
Chengjiang Fossil Site |
Chengjiang County, Yunnan |
N |
| 2013 |
Xinjiang Tianshan |
Xinjiang |
N |
| 2013 |
Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces |
Yuanyang County, Yunnan |
C |
| 2014 |
Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor |
Gansu, Shaanxi, Ningxia, Qinghai, Xinjiang |
C |
| 2014 |
Grand Canal |
Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Henan |
C |
| 2015 |
Tusi Sites |
Hunan, Hubei and Guizhou |
C |
| 2016 |
Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape |
Guangxi |
C |
| 2016 |
Hubei Shennongjia |
Hubei |
C |
| 2017 |
Qinghai Hoh Xil |
Qinghai |
C |
| 2017 |
Kulangsu: a Historic International Settlement |
Xiamen, Fujian |
C |
| 2018 |
Fanjingshan |
Tongren, Guizhou |
N |
2. Map of World Heritage Sites in China

3. Tentative list of World Heritage Sites in China
| Dongzhai Port Nature Reserve (1996) |
The Alligator Sinensis Nature Reserve (1996) |
| Poyang Nature Reserve (1996) |
The Li River Scenic Zone at Guilin (1996) |
| Yalong, Tibet (2001) |
Yangtze Gorges Scenic Spot (2001) |
| Jinfushan Scenic Spot (2001) |
Heaven Pit and Ground Seam Scenic Spot (2001) |
| Yandang Mountain (2001) |
Hua Shan Scenic Area (2001) |
| Nanxi River (2001) |
Maijishan Scenic Spots (2001) |
| Wudalianchi Scenic Spots (2001) |
Haitan Scenic Spots (2001) |
| Dali Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake Scenic Spot (2001) |
Sites for Liquor Making in China (2008) |
| Ancient Residences in Shanxi and Shaanxi Provinces (2008) |
City Walls of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (2008) |
| Slender West Lake and Historic Urban Area in Yangzhou (2008) |
Ancient Water Towns South of the Yangtze River (Zhouzhuang, Luzhi, Wuzhen, and Xitang) (2008) |
| Fenghuang Ancient City (2008) |
Sites of the Southern Yue State (2008) |
| Baiheliang Ancient Hydrological Inscription (2008) |
Miao Nationality Villages in Southeast Guizhou Province: The villages of Miao Nationality at the Foot of Leigong Mountain in Miao Ling Mountains (2008) |
| Karez Wells (2008) |
Expansion Project of Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties: King Lujian’s Tombs (2008) |
| The Four Sacred Mountains as an extension of Mt. Taishan (2008) |
Taklimakan Desert–Populus euphratica Forests (2010) |
| China Altay (2010) |
Karakorum–Pamir (2010) |
| The Central Axis of Beijing (including Beihai) (2013) |
Wooden Structures of Liao Dynasty – Wooden Pagoda of Yingxian County, Main Hall of Fengguo Monastery of Yixian County (2013) |
| Sites of the Hongshan Culture: Niuheliang, Hongshanhou, and Weijiawopu (2013) |
Liangzhu Archaeological Site (2013) |
| Ancient Porcelain Kiln Site in China (2013) |
Sanfang Qixiang (2013) |
| Ancient Tea Plantations of Jingmai Mountain in Pu'er (2013) |
Western Xia Imperial Tombs (2013) |
| Dong Villages (2013) |
Lingqu Canal (2013) |
| Diaolou Buildings and Villages for Tibetan and Qiang Ethnic Groups (2013) |
Archaeological Sites of the Ancient Shu State: Jinsha site and Joint Tombs of Boat-shaped Coffins in Chengdu, Sichuan; Sanxingdui site in Guanghan, 29th – 5th century BC (2013) |
| Xinjiang Yardang (2015) |
Dunhuang Yardangs (2015) |
| Tianzhushan (2015) |
Jinggangshan–North Wuyishan (extension of Mount Wuyi) (2015) |
| Shudao (2015) |
Tulin–Guge Scenic and Historic Interest Areas (2015) |
| Historic Monuments and Sites of Ancient Quanzhou (Zayton) (2016) |
The Chinese Section of the Silk Roads (2016) |
| Guancen Mountain – Luya Mountain (2017) |
Hulun Buir Landscape & Birthplace of Ancient Minority (2017) |
| Qinghai Lake (2017) |
Scenic and historic area of Sacred Mountains and Lakes (Gang Rinpoche, Naimona'nyi, Lake Manasarovar and Lhanag-tso) (2017) |
| Taihang Mountain (2017) |
The Coast of the Bohai Gulf and the Yellow Sea of China (2017) |
| Vertical Vegetation Landscape and Volcanic Landscape in Changbai Mountain (2017) |
|
4. Recommended China World Heritage Tours
7 Days Shanghai-Hangzhou and Mount Huangshan Tour by Speed Train
8 Days Best China Tour to Beijing, Xian, Shanghai
9 Days Sichuan World Heritages Tour
11 Days China Classic Tour with Mysterious Tibet
11 Days Beijing Datong Pingyao Xian Tour
11 Days Yunnan Classic Tour with Jianshui Old Town and Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces
For more China Tours, you can check the tour list or contact our travel consultant to create your own China tour according to your interests and requirements.