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UNESCO accolade for China's West Lake
By Chen Yiqin |
June 25, 2011, Saturday
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Print Edition
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THE West Lake in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province, was named a World Heritage Cultural Landscape by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization yesterday.
Wudalianchi National Park in Heilongjiang Province withdrew its application for a natural heritage listing before the voting process in Paris.
The West Lake features six natural and cultural elements over a 4,235-hectare area.
The six elements refer to natural settings and artificial landscapes such as the Su and Bai causeways and three man-made islands, where 10 famous scenic spots are found, including "Curved Yard and Lotus Pool in Summer," "Moon over the Peaceful Lake in Autumn" and "Leifeng Pagoda in Sunset."
The West Lake has influenced garden design in China, Japan and Korea over the past centuries.
This year's list also includes two Japanese sites - the Ogasawara Islands as natural heritage and Hiraizumi as cultural heritage. The latter is in the region damaged by the earthquake and tsunami on March 11. Hiraizumi's cultural heritage includes temples, gardens and archeological sites.
The Ogasawara Islands, 1,000 kilometers south of the country's main archipelago, are home to the endangered Bonin Flying Fox and 195 endangered bird species.
"In a world of change, World Heritage is a reminder of all that unites humanity," said Irina Bokova, director general of UNESCO, in Paris.
"It is a reminder also of the ties between culture, nature and societies," Bokova said.
Wudalianchi National Park in Heilongjiang Province withdrew its application for a natural heritage listing before the voting process in Paris.
The West Lake features six natural and cultural elements over a 4,235-hectare area.
The six elements refer to natural settings and artificial landscapes such as the Su and Bai causeways and three man-made islands, where 10 famous scenic spots are found, including "Curved Yard and Lotus Pool in Summer," "Moon over the Peaceful Lake in Autumn" and "Leifeng Pagoda in Sunset."
The West Lake has influenced garden design in China, Japan and Korea over the past centuries.
This year's list also includes two Japanese sites - the Ogasawara Islands as natural heritage and Hiraizumi as cultural heritage. The latter is in the region damaged by the earthquake and tsunami on March 11. Hiraizumi's cultural heritage includes temples, gardens and archeological sites.
The Ogasawara Islands, 1,000 kilometers south of the country's main archipelago, are home to the endangered Bonin Flying Fox and 195 endangered bird species.
"In a world of change, World Heritage is a reminder of all that unites humanity," said Irina Bokova, director general of UNESCO, in Paris.
"It is a reminder also of the ties between culture, nature and societies," Bokova said.
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