The 38th Session of the World Heritage Committee is being held in Doha, Qatar. China, together with Kyrghizstan and Kazakhstan, submitted the the application for adding part of the millennium-old trade route (Silk Road) to the UNESCO list. And the application was approved by the World Heritage Committee. So far, there are 47 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in China.
Silk Road was an important corridor for trade and cultural exchanges from the second century BC to the sixteenth century AD.
In April, 2014, the International Council on Monuments and Sites stated “it is an important milestone for three couSelect Filesntries’ effort to apply for recognizing Silk Road as a world heritage site, the fruit of 7-year-long joint efforts to investige and research and will lay a foundation for future such applications”
About 5000 kilometers long, the applied Silk Road includes 33 historical sites along the route, 22 in China, 8 in Kazakhstan and 3 in Kyrgyzstan, ranging from palaces and pagodas in cities to ruins in remote inaccessible deserts.
“The purpose of including the Silk Road onto the World Heritage list is to let people remember it and protect it. The silk road is a road for exchanges. It is a road of friendship. It promoted the cultural development of mankind,” said Chinese Academy of Social Sciences archaeologist Liu Qingzhu.
22 sites in China includes:
Henan Province：Luoyang Han Wei Dynasty Ancient City, Site of Dingding Gate from the Sui and Tang dynasties, Ancient Hangu Pass in Xin’an County, Xiao Han Stone Ancient Path
Shaanxi Province: Weiyang Palace, Zhang Qian Tomb, Daming Palace of Tand Dynasty, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Pagoda in Xingjiao Temple, the Grottoes of the Giant Buddha Temple.
Gansu Province: Yumenguan Pass, Maijishan Grottoes, Bingling Temple Grottoes, Suoyang Ruins, Home Site Xuanquan
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region: Gaochang Ancient City, Jiaohe Ancient City, Kizil Ga Ha Bongsudae, Kizil Caves, Subax Buddhist Temple and Beiting Ancient City Ruins
So If you are interested in ancient Silk Road history, you should not miss the above historical sites for your Silk Road travel in China. It takes you about 2 to 3 weeks for finish the whole journey.