World Heritage Sites

World Heritage Sites

It's not surprising that a country that counts its history in millennia would also have 33 UNESCO World Heritage sites—and seven of them in this region alone.

The newest additions to China's world heritage list are the two traditional villages of Xidi and Hongcun in Anhui. UNESCO states that they "preserve to a remarkable extent the appearance of nonurban settlements of a type that largely disappeared or was transformed during the last century."

In Jiangsu, UNESCO has acknowledged Suzhou for its nine classical gardens. Farther north, another site that blends harmoniously into nature is Chengde's Mountain Resort's vast complex of palaces, temples, and imperial gardens.

In addition to Taishan, Shandong Province has the temple, cemetery, and family mansion of Confucius in Qufu on the UNESCO list. The Qufu complex of monuments has managed to retain its outstanding artistic and historic character.