Source: UNESCO. Kulangsu: a Historic International Settlement, China. © Cultural Heritage Conservation Center of THAD / Qian Yi | Image Source: Nomination File (Update).
The World Heritage Committee designated 21 new locations to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2017. Additionally, the boundaries of five existing sites were expanded or adjusted. These additions bring the total number of sites on the World Heritage List to 1,073.
The Asia Pacific region saw the addition of these new natural sites:
Source: UNESCO. Mount Bukadaban at dusk. Qinghai Hoh Xil, China © Peking University / Hoh Xil Nature Reserve Administration | Image Source: Nomination File.
Qinghai Hoh Xil (China)
Situated in the northeastern part of the Tibetan Plateau, Qinghai Hoh Xil stands as the planet’s largest and highest plateau. This region, characterized by alpine mountains and steppe ecosystems, sits at an elevation exceeding 4,500 meters, experiencing subzero average temperatures year-round. The distinctive geographical and climatic conditions of this site have fostered exceptional biodiversity. Over a third of the plant species and the entirety of the herbivorous mammal population are unique to this plateau. Notably, the property encompasses the complete migratory path of the Tibetan antelope, a threatened large mammal species native to the plateau.
Landscapes of Dauria (Mongolia/Russian Federation)
This site, jointly held by Mongolia and the Russian Federation, exemplifies the Daurian Steppe ecoregion. It stretches from eastern Mongolia into Russian Siberia and northeastern China. The region’s cyclical climate patterns, characterized by alternating dry and wet periods, have given rise to a rich diversity of species and ecosystems of global importance. Within this landscape, various steppe types, including grasslands and forests, along with lakes and wetlands, provide habitats for rare animal species. Among them are the white-naped crane and the great bustard, in addition to a vast number of vulnerable, endangered, or threatened migratory birds. Furthermore, this site serves as a vital point along the migratory route of the Mongolian gazelle.
The Asia Pacific and the Middle East regions welcomed these new cultural sites:
Temple Zone of Sambor Prei Kuk, Archaeological Site of Ancient Ishanapura (Cambodia)
The archaeological site of Sambor Prei Kuk, whose name translates to “the temple in the richness of the forest” in Khmer, has been recognized as Ishanapura, the capital of the Chenla Empire, which prospered between the late 6th and early 7th centuries. The remnants of this city sprawl across 25 square kilometers and feature a walled city center along with numerous temples. The artistic and architectural styles developed here served as prototypes for other areas in the region, forming the foundation for the distinctive Khmer style characteristic of the Angkor period.
Kulangsu: a Historic International Settlement (China)
Kulangsu is an island situated at the mouth of the Chiulung River, opposite the city of Xiamen. With the establishment of a commercial port in Xiamen in 1843 and the island’s designation as an international settlement in 1903, this island off the southern coast of China swiftly became a crucial hub for Sino-foreign interactions. Kulangsu stands as a remarkable testament to the cultural fusion that arose from these exchanges. The island showcases a blend of architectural styles, including the traditional Southern Fujian style, the Western classical revival style, and the veranda colonial style. The most extraordinary evidence of this fusion of styles is a novel architectural movement known as the Amoy Deco Style. This style represents a synthesis of the early 20th-century Modernist style and Art Deco.
Historic City of Ahmadabad (India)
Established by Sultan Ahmad Shah in the 15th century, the walled city of Ahmadabad sits on the eastern bank of the Sabarmati River. It boasts a rich architectural legacy dating back to the sultanate era, particularly the Bhadra citadel, the walls and gates of the Fort city, numerous mosques, tombs, and temples from later periods. The city’s urban fabric comprises densely arranged traditional houses, referred to as pols, within gated traditional streets known as puras. These streets are characterized by elements such as bird feeders, public wells, and religious institutions. Ahmadabad prospered as the capital of the state of Gujarat for six centuries, maintaining its capital status to this day.
Historic City of Yazd (Iran)
Located in the heart of the Iranian plateau, 270 kilometers southeast of Isfahan, Yazd sits near the historical Spice and Silk Roads. It offers a living testament to the resourcefulness employed for survival in the desert. Water reaches the city via a qanat system, designed to tap into underground water sources. Unlike many traditional earthen towns that have succumbed to modernization, Yazd’s earthen architecture has been preserved. It retains its traditional districts, the qanat system, traditional houses, bazaars, hammams (bathhouses), mosques, synagogues, and the exquisite Dolat-abad Garden.
Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region (Japan)
Positioned 60 kilometers off the west coast of Kyushu Island, Okinoshima stands as a remarkable illustration of the tradition of venerating sacred islands. The archaeological sites preserved on the island remain largely undisturbed, providing a chronological account of the evolution of rituals practiced there from the 4th to the 9th centuries.
Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town (Palestine)
The use of locally sourced limestone significantly influenced the construction of the old town of Hebron/Al-Khalil during the Mamluk period, spanning from 1250 to 1517. The town’s focal point was the site of Al-Mosque Ibrahim/the tomb of the Patriarchs. The structures within this complex were erected in the 1st century to safeguard the tombs of the patriarch Ibrahim and his kin. This location evolved into a pilgrimage destination for three monotheistic faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Situated at the junction of trade routes, the town welcomed caravans traveling between southern Palestine, the Sinai Peninsula, eastern Jordan, and the northern Arabian Peninsula. While the subsequent Ottoman period, from 1517 to 1917, witnessed the town’s expansion into surrounding areas and introduced various architectural additions, the core Mamluk-era layout of the town has largely endured. This includes its hierarchy of zones, quarters delineated by ethnic, religious, or occupational groups, and houses with clusters of rooms structured around a tree-like arrangement.
The site of Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town earned a simultaneous inscription on the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger, making it the sole addition to the latter list that year.
Aphrodisias (Turkey)
Nestled in southwestern Turkey, within the upper valley of the Morsynus River, this site encompasses the Aphrodisias archaeological site and the marble quarries located northeast of the city. The Temple of Aphrodite dates to the 3rd century, with the city’s construction following a century later. Aphrodisias derived its wealth from its marble quarries and the artistic creations of its sculptors. The city streets are arranged around several significant civic structures, including temples, a theater, an agora (marketplace), and a pair of bath complexes.
Interested?
Read the WorkSmart Asia blog post on the 2016 World Heritage Site additions, including and explanation of the qanat.