Australian Convict Sites

country. Australia

year of inscription. 2010

criteria. Cultural

This WHS is composed of eleven penal sites, amongst the thousands, established by the British Empire in Australia in the 18th and 19th centuries CE. Some 166,000 men, women and children were transported to Australia between 1787 and 1868, sentenced by the British judicial system to be transported to convict colonies in Australia. This WHS commemorates the harsh use of forced migration in the form of convict transportation to help establish European colonial expansion. The various sites give insight into the difficult and deprived living conditions of these convicts, who cover the whole spectrum from hardened criminals to people convicted for minor offences, and to political opponents. The proliferation of these convict colonies also impacted Australian Aboriginal communities by forcing them to resettle in less fertile land in the hinterland.

The eleven sites are:

• In the state of New South Wales:
• Cocokatoo Island Convict Site,
• Hyde Park Barracks,
• Old Government House and Domain, and
• Old Great North Road;
• In the external territory of Norfolk Island:
• Kingston and Arthur’s Vale Historic Area;
• In the state of Tasmania:
• Brickendon and Woolmers Estates,
• Cascades Female Factory,
• Coal Mines Historic Site,
• Darlington Probation Station, and
• Port Arthur Historic Site; and
• In the state of Western Australia:
• Fremantle Prison.

Tasmanian Wilderness

country. Australia

year of inscription. 1989 (modifications: 2010, 2012, 2013)

criteria. Mixed

This WHS is made up of a vast expanse of one of the last remaining temperate rainforests in the world, in a region shaped by severe glaciation. Furthermore, human remains of more than 20,000 years old have also been found in caves in this area.

Greater Blue Mountains Area

country. Australia

year of inscription. 2000

criteria. Natural

The Greater Blue Mountains Area WHS is located in the state of New South Wales. Comprising of eight protected areas, its natural landscape of sandstone plateaux, escarpments, and gorges is dominated by temperate eucalypt forests. One of the largest and most intact tracts of Australian bushland, it is well-known for its wide diversity of eucalypts and other rare flora, including relict species like the Wollemi pine. 

Sydney Opera House

country. Australia
year of inscription. 2007

criteria. Cultural

The Sydney Opera House is located in the state of New South Wales. Designed by Danish architect, Jørn Utzon, and completed in 1973, its complex form represents the creativity and innovation in 20th century CE architectural design as well as engineering and building achievements.

Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes

country. South Korea
year of inscription. 2007 (modification: 2018)

criteria. Natural

The Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes UNESCO WHS is located in a few sites on the island province of Jeju, South Korea. It is composed of landforms on the island resulting from volcanic activity. The WHS is composed of three main sites. The first is Geomunoreum, where lava tube system of caves can be seen. Five lava tubes are listed, with the largest at Manjanggul Cave. The next is the Seongsan Ilchulbong Tuff Cone, which is one of 360 parasitic cones on Jeju; except that this one was created on the seafloor and hence, rises dramatically out of the sea. Originally a separate island, an isthmus of sand and gravel deposits has now connected it to the main Jeju Island. The last is Mount Halla, Korea’s tallest mountain, dotted with waterfalls and multi-shaped rock formations, with a lake-filled crater.

Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas

country. China

year of inscription. 2003 (modification: 2010)

criteria. Natural

The Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas WHS is composed of protected areas within the boundaries of the Three Parallel Rivers National Park in Yunnan province. The site covers the upper reaches of three great Asian rivers: the Yangtze (Jinsha), Mekong, and Salween. Here, the three rivers run almost parallel, from north to south, through a part of the Hengduan Mountains. Within the WHS are a large variety of landscapes (e.g., river gorges, forests, snow-clad mountains, glaciers, alpine karst, reddish sandstone landforms (Danxia), lakes, and meadows) as well as one the richest biodiversity in temperate regions.

The Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas consists of fifteen protected areas in eight geographic clusters. These areas comprise of:

• Baima-Meili Xue Shan Reserve
• Bita Lake Nature Reserve, part of Pudacuo National Park
• Three separate sections of the Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve
• Gongshan Scenic Area
• Haba Xueshan Nature Reserve, with the Tiger Leaping Gorge
• Hongshan Scenic Area, part of Pudacuo National Park
• Julong Lake Scenic Area
• Laojunshan Scenic Area
• Laowoshan Scenic Area
• Pianma Scenic Area
• Qianhushan Scenic Area
• Yueliangshan Scenic Area
• Yunling Nature Reserve

Archaeological Sites of Mycenae and Tiryns

country. Greece
year of inscription. 1999

criteria. Cultural

The Mycenaean civilisation dominated the eastern Mediterranean between the 16th and 11th centuries BCE. It was pivotal in the development of classical Greek culture and closely linked to the epics of Home: the Iliad and the Odyssey. Mycenae and Tiryns, which are about 20km apart, were important centres of this civilisation. Excavation works at Mycenae and Tiryns were undertaken by Greek and other European archaeologists in the mid-19th century.

Archaeological Site of Aigai (modern name Vergina)

country. Greece

year of inscription. 1996

criteria. Cultural

The city of Aigai (or, Aegae) was the first capital, from 808 – 399 BCE, of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon. Macedon, which began in the 9th century BCE lasted until the 1st century BCE, would under the leadership of its king, Alexander the Great (356 – 323 BCE, reigned: 336 – 323 BCE), grow to become the definitive and most extensive Hellenistic Greek state.

Since the late 19th century, excavation works have begun in the area and remains of a palace was discovered. Archaeological research continued intermittently through to the 20th century, where more parts of the palace was re-discovered. In 1977, the tombs of Macedon royalty were discovered, including what was the burial place of King Philip II (382 – 336 BCE), the father of Alexander the Great. Following that, more royal tombs have also been discovered and excavated. Today, the site houses a museum, which showcases the rich array of artefacts excavated as well as being built over four burial mounds (including that of Philip II) and a small temple.

Paleochristian and Byzantine Monuments of Thessalonika

where. Greece
what. WHS visited (September 2016)

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Meteora

where. Greece
what. WHS visited (September 2016)

[Samsung Galaxy Note 5, 08 September 2016]

Archaeological Site of Delphi

country. Greece
year of inscription. 1987

criteria. Cultural

Since recorded history, Delphi had been a site of worship. In the 7th century BCE, it gained prominence and importance as a shrine and oracle. It became the seat of Pythia, also known as the Oracle of Delphi, the high priestess of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. Ancient Greeks also considered Delphi to be the centre of the world, marked by a stone monument called the omphalos, the navel of the world. Over time, most of the primary Greek city-states had stone monuments erected at the site.

In the 4th century CE, under the Roman Empire, the site was shut down due to Christian Roman persecution of paganism, and Delphi was gradually abandoned and forgotten. Some 1000 years later, the area came Ottoman Turkish rule and investigation into its history began; by then, a village had settled there. In 1436, an Italian explorer, Ciriaco de’Pizzicolli of Ancona (today’s Italy) visited and described the site, albeit, not always accurately. From the late 18th century, other Western explorers visited the site, described it, and carried out excavation works.

Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor

countries. China, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan
year of inscription. 2014

criteria. Cultural

This multinational WHS is a 5,000km section of the extensive Silk Roads network, a 35,000km web of trading routes linking East, Central, South, and West Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. This section consists of the part that linked Chang’an (modern-day Luoyang, Henan, China) in central ancient China, across the Tianshan mountains, and to the Zhetysu region of Central Asia. It was developed between the 2nd century BCE and 1st century CE, remaining in use until the 16th century. Alongside trade, religious beliefs, cultural practices, scientific and technological knowledge, and the arts were also exchanged between civilisations along the Silk Roads. The thirty-three component sites in this WHS include capital cities and palace complexes, trading settlements, Buddhist cave temples and other places of worship, ancient paths, posthouses, passes and beacon towers, sections of the Great Wall and other fortifications, as well as tombs.

In 2010, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan agreed to make a joint application for WHS status for their parts of the Silk Roads. This follows an earlier WHS tentative listing of Silk Roads sites made by China in 2008, which included sites on both the overland and maritime Silk Roads. Individually, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan also variously submitted Silk Roads sites to the WHS tentative list. In 2011, UNESCO proposed that the various sections of the Silk Roads be submitted for listing separately. Consequently, in 2014, the Chang’an-Tianshan section of China, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan was listed as a multinational WHS.

The thirty-three sites are categorized into four regions:

1. Central China: sites in ancient Chinese imperial capitals

• Luoyang City of the Eastern Han to Northern Wei Dynasty, Luoyang, Henan Province
• Dingding Gate, Luoyang City of the Sui and Tang Dynasty, Luoyang, Henan Province
• Hangu Pass, Xin'an County, Henan Province
• Shihao section of Xiaohan Route, Sanmenxia, Henan Province
• Weiyang Palace, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province
• Daming Palace, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province
• Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province
• Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province
• Xingjiao Temple, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province
• Bin County Cave Temple, Bin County, Shaanxi Province
• Tomb of Zhang Qian, Chenggu County, Shaanxi Province
• Maijishan Cave Temple Complex, Tianshui, Gansu Province

2. Hexi Corridor in Gansu Province, China

• Bingling Temple Grottoes, Yongjing County, Gansu Province
• Yumen Pass, Dunhuang, Gansu Province
• Xuanquanzhi Posthouse, Dunhuang, Gansu Province
• Suoyang City Ruins, Guazhou, Gansu Province

3. North and south of Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China

• Qocho (Gaochang) City Ruins, Turpan, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region
• Jiaohe Ruins, Turpan, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region
• Beshbalik (Beiting) City Ruins, Jimsar County, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region
• Kizil Gaha Beacon Tower, Kuqa, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region
• Kizil Caves, Kuqa, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region
• Subash Buddhist Temple Ruins, Kuqa, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region

4. Zhetysu Region of the Ili and Talas Valleys of Kazakhstan and the Chüy Valley of Kyrgyzstan

• Site of Kayalyk, Almaty Region, Kazakhstan
• Karamergen, Almaty Region, Kazakhstan
• Talgar, Almaty Region, Kazakhstan
• Aktobe, Jambyl Region, Kazakhstan
• Kulan, Jambyl Region, Kazakhstan
• Akyrtas, Jambyl Region, Kazakhstan
• Ornek, Jambyl Region, Kazakhstan
• Kostobe, Jambyl Region, Kazakhstan
• City of Suyab (Site of Ak-Beshim), Chüy Region, Kyrgyzstan
• City of Balasagun (Site of Burana), Chüy Region, Kyrgyzstan
• City of Nevaket (Site of Krasnaya Rechka), Chüy Region, Kyrgyzstan

Included in this WHS are the Mogao Caves at Dunhuang, Gansu Province, China and Longmen Grottoes, Luoyang, Henan Province, China, which are listed UNESCO WHS individually.

Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing and Shenyang

country. China

year of inscription. 1987 (extension: 2004)

criteria. Cultural

The Forbidden City in Beijing was been the palace of the emperors - and seat of power - of the Ming and Qing Dynasties of China for more than 500 years (1416 - 1911). The complex and the artefacts housed therein are an important showcase of Chinese civilisation in that era. It was inscribed as a UNESCO WHS in 1987 as Imperial Palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. 

The Imperial Palace of the Qing Dynasty (also known as Houjin or Shenglin Palace) in Shenyang, Liaoning province, was the royal residence of Qing emperors before the capital was moved to Beijing. It was built between 1625 - 26 and 1783. Besides telling of the history of the Qing Dynasty, it is also the holding site of Manchu cultural traditions. In 2004, it was added to the aforementioned site, and its name changed to reflect on the addition.

Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area

where. China
what. stamps (China, 1998)

Historic Centre of Macao

where. China
what. stamps (China, 1997)

San Marino Historic Centre and Mount Titano

where. San Marino
what. stamp (China, 1996)

Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area

where. China
what. stamps (China, 1994)

Longmen Grottoes

where. China
what. stamps (1993)

Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area

where. China
what. stamp (China, 2013)

Dazu Rock Carvings

where. China
what. stamp (China, 1988)

Longmen Grottoes

where. China
what. stamp (China, 1988)

Yungang Grottoes

country. China
year of inscription. 2001

criteria. Cultural

The Yungang Grottoes are located in the province of Shanxi. The site houses 252 caves of about 51,000 Buddhist statues, dating back to the 5th and 6th century CE, during the Northern Wei Dynasty. The cave art here is reflective of both South and Central Asian influences as well as distinct Chinese characteristics.

Sagarmatha National Park

where. Nepal
what. stamp (China, 1981)

Summer Palace, an Imperial Garden in Beijing

country. China

year of inscription. 1998

criteria. Cultural

This WHS is located in the municipality of Beijing. The complex was first built as a royal site in 1750 CE. After it was almost completely destroyed in an 1860 CE war, it was rebuilt on its original foundations in 1886 CE, and renamed the Summer Palace. It has since become celebrated for being a masterpiece of Chinese landscape design. Incorporating Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill as the natural framework, administrative halls, palaces, temples, pavilions, and bridges, many linked by roofed corridors, are set amidst a landscape of lakes and hills. It has had a profound influence on Oriental landscaping art. 

South China Karst

where. China
what. stamps (China, 1981)

Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties

country. China

year of inscription. 2000 (extensions: 2003, 2004)

criteria. Cultural

This WHS has fourteen component sites in the municipality of Beijing and the provinces of Jiangsu, Hebei, Hubei, and Liaoning. Each component site is a royal mausoleum complex from the Ming (1368CE – 1644CE) or Qing (1644CE – 1911CE) Dynasty. Built between 1368CE and 1915CE, the construct of the tombs take into account feng shui (Chinese geomancy) principles and Chinese social hierarchical rules while featuring Ming and Qing architectural arts. Sacred ways, lined with stone monuments and sculptures, form the path to the tombs, allowing for ceremonies to be carried out as well as forming a symbolic passage for the dead. 

The WHS was first listed in 2000, featuring three mausoleum complexes from both the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In 2003, another eight sites from both dynasties were added. A year later, the WHS further expanded with the addition of three more Qing burial complexes.

Temple of Heaven: an Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing

country. China

year of inscription. 1998

criteria. Cultural

The Temple of Heaven WHS is located in the municipality of Beijing. Founded in the first half of the 15th century CE, it is a complex of buildings set in gardens, dominated by old pine woods. Set in a north-south axial format, the layout and assemblage seek to symbolise the relationship between heaven and earth as well as that between the divine and humans, as defined by Chinese cosmology. Central to the mediating of these relationships was the Chinese emperor. It was here that emperors of the Ming (1368CE – 1644CE) and Qing (1644CE – 1911CE) Dynasties would come to perform ceremonies that offer sacrifices and prayers for bountiful harvests. Due south of the Forbidden City – the imperial residence – the site was first used for this purpose in 1420CE, given its current name after some repurposing and reconstruction in 1534CE, and rebuilt to its current form in 1749CE.