人民网
Mon,Jun 23,2014
English>>Life & Culture

Silk Road, China's Grand Canal listed as World Heritage Sites

(Xinhua)    07:11, June 23, 2014
Email|Print|Comments       twitter     facebook     Sina Microblog     reddit    
Photo taken on May 17, 2013 shows a worker maintaining Nuomi dam in Huajiakou section of China's Grand Canal, in Anling Township of Jingxian County, north China's Hebei Province. The dam, a turning point on the canal, used to breach a lot before it was reinforced in 1911. It was listed as a heritage point of China's Grand Canal in 2013. China's Grand Canal, the longest artificial waterway in the world, was inscribed on the World Heritage list on June 22, 2014. The Grand Canal with a history of more than 2,400 years was recognized by UNESCO World Heritage Committee which convened its 38th session in the Qatari capital. The 1,794-km canal runs from Beijing to Hangzhou in China's eastern Zhejiang Province. (Xinhua)

DOHA, June 22 (Xinhua) -- The famous ancient Silk Road and China's Grand Canal, the world's longest artificial waterway, were inscribed on the list of World Heritage Sites here on Sunday.

Jointly submitted by China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, the application for adding part of the Silk Road, which served as a corridor for trade and cultural exchanges between Asia and Europe dating back to 2,000 years ago, to the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) list was approved by the World Heritage Committee at a session in the Qatari capital.

The application consists of 33 historical sites along the millennium-old trade route, including 22 in China, eight in Kazakhstan and three in Kyrgyzstan. They range from palaces and pagoda sites in cities to ruins in remote, inaccessible deserts.

It is the first time China has cooperated with foreign countries for a World Heritage nomination.

Du Yue, secretary general of the Chinese delegation at the 38th session of the World Heritage Committee, said the approval of the application would strengthen cultural exchanges between China and the two Central Asian nations.

He called for the three countries' close coordination to jointly protect and pass on the Silk Road heritage from generation to generation.

At Sunday's session, UNESCO also included the Grand Canal, with a history of more than 2,400 years, in the World Heritage list.

Participants at the meeting said the 1,794-km canal, which runs from Beijing to Hangzhou in China's eastern Zhejiang province, is a valuable fruit of the Chinese people's diligence and wisdom, adding that its inclusion has enriched the content of the World Heritage.

The Paris-based UNESCO oversees the system of granting World Heritage status to important cultural and natural sites around the globe.

The 38th session of the World Heritage Committee opened on June 15 and will continue through Wednesday.


【1】【2】【3】【4】【5】【6】【7】【8】【9】【10】【11】【12】【13】【14】【15】【16】【17】【18】【19】【20】【21】【22】【23】【24】【25】【26】【27】

(Editor:Liang Jun、Yao Chun)

Hot News

We Recommend

Photos

prev next

Related reading

Most Viewed

Day|Week|Month

Links