Intangible culture with Related Tags
Dough Man (Beijing Dough Man)
Dough figurines, also known as "dough sculptures" and "glutinous rice figurines", are a traditional sculpture art made mainly of edible flour and glutinous rice flour. They are popular all over the country and are deeply loved by the people. Dough figurines are mostly based on animals and characters from myths and legends, historical stories, and local operas. The basic forms are divided into "lottery-style" and "case-style". The former are mostly food and toys for entertaining children, with simple shapes and vivid forms; the latter are elegant decorative artworks with exquisite workmanship and delicate shapes. Additives must also be mixed into the raw materials to prevent cracking, insects, and mildew. Dough figurine production generally uses pinching, rubbing, kneading, and lifting to shape the general shape, and then uses bamboo knives to skillfully point, cut, carve, and scratch to depict local details such as hands and feet, head and face, and expressions. Finally, hair accessories, dresses, and related plug-ins are added to complete the work. The art of dough figurines mainly relies on the improvisation of wandering artists who walk the streets. They have mastered the skillful shaping techniques, and are familiar with the process procedures such as themes, shapes, and color matching. In an instant, they can turn dough into an artistic image with a spirit. The art of dough figurines inherited and developed among the people embodies the aesthetic feelings and life ideals of the general public, and provides important physical materials for the study of Chinese folk history, customs and art. Beijing dough figurines are a kind of folk dough figurine art unique to Beijing. This art was created by Lang Shaoan (1909-1992). He once followed the "dough figurine king" Zhao Kuoming to learn the art, and later formed his own dough figurine art style. The art of dough figurines covers a wide range of themes, focusing on the expression of real life, and vividly reflects the situations of the 360 trades and various old Beijing folk customs. In his long-term artistic practice, Lang Shaoan has mastered the unique skills of "sharp eyes and quick hands" and "clear vision and steady grasp". His works are simple in technique, accurate in modeling, realistic in form, and refined in decoration, making them unique in Beijing dough figurine art. In 1957, Lang Shaoan's daughter Lang Zhili began to learn dough sculpture from her father. In the more than 50 years since she started her art career, she has inherited her father's skills and made innovations, further developing the dough sculpture art of Beijing Dough Man Lang. At the same time, she also paid attention to summarizing her father's artistic experience and compiled and published the book "My Dough Sculpting Art Career Lang Shaoan". In recent years, Lang Zhili has established the "Dough Man Lang Art Studio" and is committed to the inheritance, research and development of Beijing dough sculpture art. The dough sculpture works of Beijing Dough Man Lang not only have strong artistic appreciation and collection value, but also provide important references for the study of old Beijing folk customs and folk handicrafts.
Liulangzhuang Five Tiger Sticks
Liulangzhuang Wuhu Stick, a traditional martial arts in Haidian District, Beijing, was originally named Zhongxiao Tongzi Stick. It is said to have been established during the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty and is well-known for its exquisite martial arts. Liulangzhuang Village, Haidian Township, is located at the foot of Yuquan Mountain in the northwest of Beijing, close to the southeast corner of Kunming Lake. The village has Zhang Zhidong Garden, Ronglu Garden, Zhenwu Temple, and tea sheds (built by pilgrims who went to the Bixia Yuanjun Temple Fair in Miaofeng Mountain in the past). There is also a precious historical and cultural heritage that originated in Liulangzhuang Village, Liulangzhuang Wuhu Tongzi Stick Association (founded during the reign of Emperor Guangxu, and even half of the imperial carriage was awarded by Empress Dowager Cixi). Liulangzhuang Wuhu Tongzi Stick is based on the folk legend "Zhao Kuangyin fights the five tigers of the Dong family". On the basis of the original red-faced Zhao Kuangyin, black-faced Zheng Ziming, clean-faced Chai Wang, and the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth roots, two more roles, horse boy and cart puller, were added. The cast has been enriched, the difficulty of the performance has been increased, and the viewing experience has been improved. The weapons in the martial arts arena include the stick at the height of the eyebrows, the stick with a short tip, the long stick, the short stick, etc., as well as the unique rattan shield and the two crutches. During the performance, the martial arts actors are skilled, cooperate well, and fight fiercely. It is said that there are as many as 72 main routines, and more than 50 sets are preserved. When the martial arts are performed, the literary arena cooperates. Before 1948, the Liulangzhuang Five Tiger Boys Stick Club went to the Fengtai Yaowang Temple to offer incense and perform on the 28th day of the fourth lunar month every year. After liberation, they participated in the Beijing Art Festival, the Miaofengshan Temple Fair, and the parades and performances of enterprises and institutions.
The Legend of Cao Xueqin
The Cao Xueqin (Xishan) legend is a folk legend that is mainly spread in the area of Beijing's Xiangshan, Shou'an Mountain, and Jinshan, which is known as the "Little Xishan". It is based on Cao Xueqin and "Dream of the Red Chamber". It belongs to the category of "character legend". The Cao Xueqin (Xishan) legend is a collective oral creation of the people in the Xiangshan area and has been circulated for more than 200 years. The content involves Cao Xueqin's life experience, temperament, outstanding talent, as well as the prototypes of the characters in "Dream of the Red Chamber" and the creative environment. It expresses people's love for Cao Xueqin and "Dream of the Red Chamber" and reflects the influence of the writer and his works on society from one aspect. After Cao Xueqin's death, as time went by, the legend about him was further strengthened. Gradually, the local customs, mountains and rivers, historical stories and character allusions were also attached to the legend and attributed to Cao Xueqin, making Cao Xueqin, in addition to being a great writer, also have some colors of a "witty character" who is chivalrous and righteous. The legend has been constantly processed and refined in the process of oral transmission, and its color has become stronger and stronger, reflecting the people's ideological understanding, moral concepts, life attitudes, aesthetic tastes, and evaluations of various objective things in the Xishan area of Beijing, and has the characteristics of reflecting the breadth and depth of social life. The Cao Xueqin (Xishan) legend is a precious cultural heritage handed down through the collective inheritance of the people, but it is currently in an endangered state due to population mobility, the passing of the elderly, and the diversification of entertainment methods.
Drum dance (cymbals and drums)
Chinese drum dance is known for its rich drum music, passionate emotions and profound cultural heritage. It is spread all over the country and has an impact on the world. In the Book of Changes, there is a saying that "dance with drums to the fullest", which not only vividly reflects the long history of Chinese drum dance, but also summarizes its main functions. From the original "hitting stones and clapping stones, all beasts lead the dance" to the later popularization of the north and south of the Yangtze River, Chinese drum dance has always been in the same vein and has continued. Chinese drum dance has various forms and is widely distributed. The dance postures are different and the types vary greatly. Among them, the more typical forms are waist drum dance, lame drum dance, flower drum (lantern) dance, wooden drum dance, long drum dance, flat drum dance, bronze drum dance, dragon drum dance, fan drum dance, yellow mud drum dance, elephant foot drum dance, monkey drum dance, flower whip drum dance, bamboo drum dance, bell drum dance, sheepskin drum dance and many other forms. The flower cymbal drum is also known as the "flower cymbals of the children of the Leiyin Shenghui", commonly known as the "flower cymbal drum", which is popular in Houniufang Village, Xiaotangshan Town, Changping District, Beijing. Flower cymbals and drums originated during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. It is a folk children's dance variety with highly unified drums and cymbals dance. In flower cymbals and drums, drums, cymbals and dances are the same, and the sound, emotion and appearance are highly unified. The drum is used for both conducting and accompaniment; the cymbals are used for accompaniment and as dance props. In the performance, the drums carry the cymbals, and the cymbals chase the drum beats. The music rhythm is mainly three beats and changes. It is bright, lively, natural and agile. The dance is permeated with the rhythm of knee trembling, and the movements are smooth and one-shot, showing the characteristics of innocent and lively children. Flower cymbals and drums have flexible and diverse performance forms, rich dance vocabulary, and can be choreographed into a variety of performance routines; the performance lineup is very flexible, ranging from two people to thousands of people; the performance order is not eclectic, the time can be long or short, and the venue is not fixed. It can be performed on flat ground, on stage, or while marching. No matter how it changes, each performance routine can be closely connected to achieve natural flow, complete unity. Huagong Dagu is an indispensable and distinctive branch of folk drum art. It has research value in folk drum art and folk culture, and can provide a basis for the innovation of national art. Huagong Dagu has been passed down in Beijing for a long time. In the first year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty (1875), the five generations of leaders after the second association were Hao Wenliang, Gao Yi, Hao Chunfang, Hao Chunlin, Gao Ruchang and Hao Weidong. In recent years, due to the lack of organized skill scores, the advanced age of the leaders and old artists, the inheritance of Huagong Dagu in Houniufang Village is in crisis and needs to be rescued urgently.
Sky Bridge Banner
pennant is a type of flag, with different sizes. The main trunk of a Zhongfan is a thick bamboo pole about 9 meters long, with a 0.5-meter-wide and 5.5-meter-long strip of silk hanging on the top of the pole. The flag is embroidered with auspicious patterns and blessing words, so it is also called a flag. Playing Zhongfan and dancing Zhongfan are traditional Chinese folk acrobatic projects, and the Zhongfan performance in Beijing Tianqiao is the most famous. Playing Zhongfan originated from the army of the Jin Dynasty. The pennant has a magnificent shape and clear title, and is often used in ceremonial activities. The flag bearer can show his bravery and wisdom when playing with the pennant, so the Zhongfan was a must-have item for the Qing Dynasty's worship of Buddha, celebrations and other parades. Each group in the parade has its own flag, and they compete to practice the high-level skills of playing with the pennant, gradually forming a distinctive acrobatic program. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, the Zhongfan Association was under the jurisdiction of the Xianghuang Banner Zuoling, one of the eight inner associations, and was crowned by the emperor and flourished. In the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China, the children of the Eight Banners went to the Tianqiao market to perform to make a living. Among them, the Zhongfan and wrestling performed by Shen San (Shen Yousan), Bao San (Bao Shanlin), Zhang Gouzi (Zhang Wenshan) and others were the most popular and popular items in the street performances. In the 1950s, the Tianqiao Zhongfan performance was led by Mr. Bao Shanlin. The third-generation descendants Chen Jinquan, Ma Guibao, Fu Shunlu, Xu Mao and others practiced Zhongfan in the Tianqiao wrestling field, attracting a large number of professional and amateur masters from all over the country to come and exchange skills. When performing Zhongfan, the artists held the pole upright in their hands and performed many tricks. Each performance style has a vivid name. Throwing the pole up and catching it with the forehead is called Overlord Lifting the Tripod, supporting the ground with one leg and holding the bamboo pole with one hand is called Golden Rooster Standing on One Leg, in addition, there are also styles such as Dragon Raising its Head, Tiger Sticking its Tail, Fenghou Hanging its Seal, Su Qin Carrying a Sword, Taigong Fishing, and Holding a Pillar. On the top of the exquisite Zhongfan pole, there is one or even several layers of round decorations composed of colored glaze, brocade, bells, small flags, and tassels, called Yingluo Baogai. When dancing, it is not only colorful, but also makes pleasant sounds. Due to historical reasons, the once prosperous Tianqiao market was cancelled in the 1960s and 1970s, various cultural performances were banned, and the Baosan wrestling field was also abolished. After the reform and opening up, the Xuanwu District Cultural Committee carried out a series of cultural activities to explore, sort out, and protect Tianqiao folk customs with the purpose of promoting Xuannan culture. Under the guidance and support of the District Cultural Committee, Mr. Fu Shunlu's son Fu Wengang established the "Beijing Fu's Tianqiao Baosan Folk Culture and Art Troupe", which enabled a group of Tianqiao unique skills to be passed on. However, at present, flag dancing has gradually become non-professional, and there is a shortage of professional artists. In addition, the environment and performance forms of Tianqiao acrobatics have changed. The skill of playing Zhongfan is still in an endangered state and needs further protection.
Inner painting (Beijing inner painting snuff bottle)
The inner-painted snuff bottle is a unique national handicraft that emerged after snuff was introduced into China. Its production techniques are mainly spread in Beijing, Hebei, Shandong, and Shantou, forming the "Beijing School", "Hebei School", "Lu School" and "Guangdong School" and other schools. After the snuff bottles flowed into Beijing, they were used by royal relatives, princes, ministers and bannermen with status. In addition to the imperial workshops, snuff bottles were also produced in large quantities by the people. From about 1890 to 1945, the production and development of inner-painted snuff bottles reached its peak, and Zhou Leyuan, Ding Erzhong, Ma Shaoxuan, and Ye Zhongsan, known as the "Four Great Inner-painting Masters", appeared. These folk artists created the first Beijing inner-painted snuff bottles. In 1954, Ye Zhongsan's descendants Ye Xi (Xiaofeng) and Ye Qi were hired to the Beijing Institute of Arts and Crafts to begin training Ye Shuying to learn art. In 1958, they accepted Wang Xisan (Wang Ruicheng) as their apprentice, and later accepted Liu Shouben and other apprentices. Around 1970, the Ye brothers passed away one after another. Their disciple Wang Xisan founded the "Hebei School of Inner Painting" in Hengshui City, Hebei Province, and Liu Shouben became the leader of the modern "Beijing School of Inner Painting". Beijing Inner Painting Snuff Bottles have been passed down for four generations. Beijing Inner Painting Snuff Bottles are a historical witness to the development of my country's tobacco industry during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. As a special craft variety, it not only includes traditional folk crafts such as carving, inlaying, and filigree, but also brings together a variety of Chinese and Western painting techniques, becoming a microcosm of the development of handicrafts at that time. The painting content of Beijing Inner Painting Snuff Bottles mostly expresses my country's history and culture, and is of great appreciation and research value. At present, due to the low profit and long learning period of inner painting, most practitioners have changed their careers, and there has been a phenomenon that old people are unwilling to do it and newcomers are unwilling to learn. Beijing Inner Painting Snuff Bottles are in an endangered situation, and rescue and protection work is imminent.
Traditional spinning, dyeing, weaving and embroidery skills of the Li ethnic group
The traditional spinning, dyeing, weaving and embroidery skills of the Li ethnic group are a kind of textile skills created by the women of the Li ethnic group in Hainan Province, China. It combines spinning, dyeing, weaving and embroidery, and uses materials such as cotton thread, linen thread and other fibers to make clothes and other daily necessities. Li women learn textile skills such as tie-dyed warp cloth, double-sided embroidery and single-sided jacquard weaving from their mothers since childhood. Mothers pass on skills through oral transmission. Li women design textile patterns based solely on their rich imagination and understanding of traditional styles. In the absence of written language, these patterns have become records of the history, cultural legends, religious rituals, taboos, beliefs, traditions and folk customs of the Li ethnic group. These patterns also distinguish the five major dialects of Hainan Island. Li brocade is an indispensable part of important social and cultural occasions of the Li ethnic group, such as some religious ceremonies and various festivals, especially weddings. On these important days, Li women will design clothes for themselves. As a carrier of Li culture, the traditional textile skills of Li brocade are an indispensable part of the cultural heritage of the Li ethnic group. However, in recent decades, the number of women who have mastered weaving and embroidery skills has decreased dramatically, and the traditional weaving skills of Li brocade are on the verge of extinction and are in urgent need of protection.
Chinese sericulture and silk weaving techniques
Sericulture and silk weaving are great inventions of China and cultural symbols of the Chinese nation. This heritage includes the production skills of the entire process of mulberry planting, silkworm breeding, silk reeling, dyeing and silk weaving, the various ingenious and sophisticated tools and looms used in the process, and the colorful silk products such as damask, gauze, brocade and kesi produced thereby, as well as the related folk activities derived from this process. For more than 5,000 years, it has made a significant contribution to Chinese history and has had a profound impact on human civilization through the Silk Road. This traditional production handicraft and folk activities are still popular in the Taihu Basin in northern Zhejiang and southern Jiangsu (including cities such as Hangzhou, Jiaxing, Huzhou and Suzhou) and Chengdu, Sichuan, and are an inseparable part of China's cultural heritage.
Chinese movable type printing
China's wood movable type printing is one of the oldest printing technologies in the world. This technology is preserved in Rui'an, Zhejiang, where it is still used to compile and print genealogies. Men are trained to complete the carving of Chinese characters, and then print after the process of carving, picking up characters, and arranging characters. This requires a wealth of historical knowledge and ancient Chinese grammar. Women are responsible for paper cutting and binding until the family tree is printed. The movable type pages can be used repeatedly after being disassembled. In spring, summer, autumn and winter, craftsmen carry sets of wooden movable type and printing tools and walk in local communities, from one ancestral hall to another. They print the genealogy by hand. After the printing of the genealogy is completed, there is a special ceremony, and the printing craftsmen put it away and lock it in a box for preservation. Wood movable type printing is passed down entirely through family inheritance. However, the intensive training required for this technology, the low income it generates, the popularization of contemporary computer printing technology, and the decreasing interest in printing family trees have all led to a rapid decline in the number of craftsmen who master this technology. Currently, there are only 11 masters over 50 years old who have mastered the full set of techniques. If it is not protected, this traditional industry skill will soon disappear.
The ritual and practice of sending off the king's boat for sustainable connection between people and the ocean
Sending off the King's Boat is a ritual widely spread in the coastal areas of southern Fujian, China and Malacca, Malaysia, to ward off disasters and pray for peace. It has both common and local characteristics. In southern Fujian, it is mostly held every three or four years when the northeast monsoon starts in autumn; in Malacca, it is mostly held on auspicious days in the dry season of the leap year of the lunar calendar. The ritual activities last for several days or even months. This heritage project is rooted in the folk custom of the coastal community to worship the "King of Patrolling on Behalf of Heaven" (abbreviated as "King") together. Local people believe that the King is appointed by heaven to patrol various places on earth regularly, save the sick and the needy, and prevent disasters; while the souls of the victims of the sea (respectfully called "good brothers") wander around and have nowhere to go. Therefore, people regularly hold ceremonies to welcome and send off the King, inviting the King to patrol the four borders of the community and take away the "good brothers". At that time, people will welcome the King to the palace temple or ancestral hall at the seaside and beach, and offer sacrifices to the King; set up lantern poles to summon the "good brothers" and save the "good brothers". When sending off the king, people invite him to board the carefully prepared king boat (wooden or paper boat model), and the people lead the way with various art formations, surrounding the king to inspect the four borders of the community, and invite "good brothers" to board the king boat along the way, and go out to sea with the king to continue the mission of patrolling on behalf of the heaven, helping the people and ensuring peace in all directions. Therefore, the project is called "doing good deeds" by the local community. This heritage project embodies the sustainable connection between people and the ocean, and is regarded as a common heritage by the relevant communities in China and Malaysia. It has long played a role in consolidating community connections and enhancing social cohesion, witnessing the cultural dialogue along the "Maritime Silk Road", and embodying cultural creativity in line with sustainable development.
Heritage with Related Tags
Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi
The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi is located in the town of Yasi, in present-day Turkestan, and was built during the Timurid period, between 1389 and 1405 AD. In this partially unfinished building, Persian master builders experimented with the architecture that would later be built in Samarkand, the capital of the Timurid Empire. Today, it is one of the largest and best-preserved buildings from the Timurid period.
The works of Jože Plečnik in Ljubljana – Human Centred Urban Design
Jorge Plečnik’s work in Ljubljana during World War I and World War II is a prime example of humanistic urban design, as the city’s image changed after the breakup of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, as Ljubljana went from a provincial city to the symbolic capital of the Slovenian people. Architect Jorge Plečnik contributed to this transformation with his personal, deeply humanistic urban vision, based on an architectural dialogue with the old city while responding to the needs of an emerging modern society in the 20th century. The legacy includes a series of public spaces (squares, parks, streets, promenades, bridges) and public institutions (National Library, churches, markets, funerary complexes) that are cleverly integrated into the pre-existing urban, natural and cultural context and contribute to the city’s new image. This highly contextualized and humanistic approach to urban planning, as well as Plečnik’s unique architectural style, stood out from other dominant modernist principles of the time. It is an exceptional example of creating public spaces, buildings and green areas as envisioned by a single architect, within a limited time, in a limited space in an existing city and using relatively limited resources.
Kairouan
Kairouan was founded in 670 and flourished under the Aghlabid dynasty in the 9th century. Although the political capital was moved to Tunisia in the 12th century, Kairouan remains the main holy city of the Maghreb. Its rich architectural heritage includes the Great Mosque, with its marble and porphyry columns, and the 9th-century Three-Doored Mosque.
Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid region
Lake Ohrid is a stunning natural wonder that provides a refuge for a wide range of local freshwater plants and animals dating back to the Tertiary period. The town of Ohrid, situated on the lakeshore, is one of the oldest human settlements in Europe. Built mainly between the 7th and 19th centuries, the town is home to the oldest Slavic monastery (St Pantelejmon) and over 800 Byzantine-style icons dating from the 11th to the late 14th century. In the shallow waters near the lakeshore, three sites attest to the presence of prehistoric pile dwellings, while the small forest peninsula is home to the remains of an early Christian church founded in the mid-6th century.
Kathmandu Valley
The cultural heritage of Kathmandu Valley consists of seven groups of monuments and buildings that showcase all the historical and artistic achievements for which Kathmandu Valley is famous. These seven groups of monuments and buildings include Hanuman Dhoka Palace (Kathmandu), Patan Palace and Bhaktapur Palace, Swayambhu and Badanath Stupa and Pashupatinath and Changu Narayan Hindu Temples.
Kenozero Lake District Historical Witness
Located in the Kenozero National Park in northwestern Russia, this heritage site showcases the cultural landscape that has been formed since the 12th century after the local Slavs gradually colonized the area. There are many traditional rural houses and vernacular wooden buildings, reflecting the collaborative management of agriculture and nature that has resulted from the integration of Finno-Ugric forest aboriginal culture and traditional Slavic field culture. Religious buildings such as wooden churches are important social, cultural and landscape landmarks in the region, and were originally equipped with painted ceilings called "Heaven". The spatial composition of these buildings, combined with other religious relics and symbolic signs, highlights the spiritual connection between residents and the environment.
Ḥimā Cultural Area
The Hima cultural area is located in the arid mountains of southwestern Saudi Arabia, on one of the ancient caravan routes of the Arabian Peninsula, and contains a rich collection of rock art depicting hunting, animals, plants and lifestyles over 7,000 years of cultural continuity. Throughout the ages, until the end of the 20th century, travelers and armies camped at the site left behind a large number of rock inscriptions and petroglyphs, most of which are well preserved. The inscriptions are written in different scripts, including Musnad, Aramaic-Nabataean, South Arabian, Taimudic, Greek and Arabic. The property and its buffer zone also contain a rich collection of unexcavated archaeological resources, including cairns, stone structures, tombs, scattered stone tools and ancient wells. The site is the oldest known toll station on an important ancient desert caravan route, and the Bi'r Ḥimā well here is at least 3,000 years old and still produces fresh water.
Asmara: A Modernist African City
Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, is located at an altitude of over 2,000 meters. It developed as a military outpost of the Italian colonial regime from the 1890s. After 1935, Asmara underwent a large-scale construction, applying the Italian rationalist style of the time to government buildings, residential and commercial buildings, churches, mosques, synagogues, cinemas, hotels, etc. The site covers urban areas that were planned at different stages between 1893 and 1941, as well as unplanned local communities such as Arbate Asmera and Abbashawel. It is an outstanding example of early modernist urbanization in the early 20th century and its application in an African context.
Dacian Fortresses of the Orastie Mountains
Built during the period of Dacian rule in the 1st century BC and 1st century AD, these fortresses demonstrate a remarkable fusion of military and religious architectural techniques and concepts from the Classical world and the late Iron Age in Europe. These six fortifications were the core of the Dacian kingdom, which was conquered by the Romans in the early 2nd century AD; their extensive and well-preserved remains stand in a spectacular natural setting, presenting a vivid picture of a dynamic and innovative civilization.
Harar Jugol, the Fortified Historic Town
The historic city of Harar is located in the east of the country, on a plateau with deep canyons and surrounded by desert and savannah. The walls of this Muslim holy city were built between the 13th and 16th centuries. The fourth holiest city in Islam, Harar is home to 82 mosques (three of which were built in the 10th century) and 102 shrines, but it is the townhouses with their unique interior designs that are the most striking part of Harar's cultural heritage. The influence of African and Islamic traditions on the town's building types and urban layout has given it a unique character and distinctiveness.
Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain
total of 17 Paleolithic Decorated Caves have been inscribed as an extension of the Altamira Caves, inscribed in 1985. The property will now be inscribed as the Altamira Caves and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain. The property represents the culmination of Paleolithic cave art, which developed throughout Europe, from the Ural Mountains to the Iberian Peninsula, from 35,000 BC to 11,000 BC. The caves are exceptionally well preserved due to their deep depths, which are protected from external climatic influences. The caves are listed as masterpieces of creative genius and the earliest artistic masterpieces of humanity. They are also listed as outstanding testimonies of a cultural tradition and outstanding examples of an important stage in human history.
The Persian Qanat
In the arid regions of Iran, the ancient qanats system supports agriculture and permanent settlements. The system uses alluvial aquifers at the top of valleys to direct water by gravity into underground tunnels, often several kilometers long. The 11 qanats representing the system include rest areas for workers, reservoirs, and water mills. Traditional communal management systems still exist to share and distribute water resources equitably and sustainably. The qanats provide a remarkable testimony to cultural traditions and civilizations in desert regions with arid climates.
Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila
The site, covering 34,658 hectares between the foothills of the Tequila volcano and the deep valley of the Rio Grande, is part of a vast blue agave landscape that has been shaped by the culture of this plant, which has been used to produce tequila since the 16th century and to make fermented beverages and cloth for at least 2,000 years. The landscape contains a number of operating distilleries, reflecting the growth of international tequila consumption in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, agave culture is considered part of the national identity. The area includes a vibrant blue agave field and the urban settlements of Tequila, Arenal and Amatitán, which include large distilleries where the agave "pineapple" was fermented and distilled. The site is also a testimony to the Tequila culture, which shaped the Tequila region between 200 and 900 AD, especially through the construction of agricultural terraces, housing, temples, ceremonial mounds and ball courts.
Yunju Temple
Yunju Temple is located at the southwest foot of Baidai Mountain (also known as Shijing Mountain) in Fangshan District, more than 70 kilometers southwest of Beijing, 70 kilometers from the city center. It covers an area of more than 70,000 square meters. Yunju Temple, Shijing Mountain Sutra Cave, and Tang and Liao Pagoda Group constitute a treasure house of Chinese Buddhist cultural characteristics. It is famous for the rare treasure of Chinese cultural heritage, the stone-carved Buddhist Tripitaka - "Fangshan Stone Sutra". Yunju Temple is a place where Buddhist scriptures are gathered. The temple treasures stone scriptures, paper scriptures, and woodblock scriptures, which are known as the "three wonders". The "Stone-carved Buddhist Tripitaka" was first engraved during the Sui Daye period (605), and the monk Jingwan and others engraved the scriptures on stone to protect the Dharma. The sutra engraving business has gone through six dynasties, namely the Sui, Tang, Liao, Jin, Yuan, and Ming, and lasted for 1,039 years, engraving 1,122 Buddhist scriptures, 3,572 volumes, and 14,278 pieces. Such a large-scale engraving and such a long history are indeed rare feats in the history of world culture. They are comparable to the Great Wall and the Grand Canal of Beijing-Hangzhou in the civilized world, and are rare and precious cultural heritages in the world. They are known as "Dunhuang of Beijing" and "the best in the world". "Fangshan Stone Sutra" is a Buddhist classic that has lasted for thousands of years since the Sui and Tang Dynasties. It not only contains extremely rich historical materials in Buddhist studies, political history, social economy, culture and art, but also has important cultural and artistic value in calligraphy art. Yunju Temple not only houses the three wonders of Buddhism and the thousand-year-old pagoda, but also treasures the Buddha's relics that have attracted worldwide attention. Relics (a Buddhist term) means corpse or body bones. According to legend, it is a bead-like object formed after the cremation of Sakyamuni's body. On November 27, 1981, two red flesh relics were excavated in Leiyin Cave. These are the only relics in the world that are treasured in caves instead of being enshrined in pagodas. They are called "Three Treasures of China" together with the Buddha's tooth in Badachu, Beijing, China and the Buddha's finger in Famen Temple, Xi'an, Shaanxi. They add a touch of auspiciousness to the thousand-year-old temple. Today, Yunju Temple has become a famous Buddhist temple and a famous religious venue at home and abroad, enjoying the reputation of "the Great Temple in the North". Yunju Temple has a unique quiet geographical environment, unique and charming beautiful scenery, and contains rich Buddhist cultural characteristics. It is a place to store scriptures and treasures, and a place to pray for blessings and usher in auspiciousness.
Dacia, the frontier of the Roman Empire
<p>From 500 BC, the Roman Empire began to gradually expand its territory into Europe and North Africa. By the 2nd century AD, the total length of the border reached about 7,500 kilometers. The Romanian section, the Dacia border, was in normal operation from 106 to 271 AD. The heritage site consists of 277 parts and is the longest and most complex land border of a former Roman province in Europe. It crosses different landforms and connects legionary forts, auxiliary forts, earthen walls, watchtowers, temporary camps, and secular buildings into a network. Dacia is the only province of ancient Rome located entirely on the north bank of the Danube. Its borders not only protected the hinterland from "barbarians" but also controlled access to valuable resources such as gold and salt. </p>
Aasivissuit – Nipisat. Inuit Hunting Ground between Ice and Sea
Located within the Arctic Circle in central West Greenland, the property contains the remains of 4,200 years of human history. It is a cultural landscape that bears witness to the hunting of land and sea animals, seasonal migrations and a rich and well-preserved tangible and intangible cultural heritage of its creators related to climate, navigation and medicine. Features of the property include large winter houses and evidence of reindeer hunting, as well as archaeological sites of ancient Inuit and Inuit culture. The cultural landscape includes seven main sites, from Nipisat in the west to Asiwesut near the ice sheet in the east. It bears witness to the resilience of the human culture of the region and its tradition of seasonal migration.
Major Mining Sites of Wallonia
The four sites of the site form a strip 170 km long and 3-15 km wide across Belgium from east to west and are the best preserved 19th and 20th century coal mining sites in the country. It features examples of early utopian architecture from the European Industrial Age, a highly integrated industrial and urban complex, notably the Grand-Horneau coal mine and workers' city designed by Bruno Renard in the first half of the 19th century. Bois-du-Luc includes many buildings built between 1838 and 1909, as well as one of the oldest coal mines in Europe, dating back to the late 17th century. While there are hundreds of coal mines in Wallonia, most have lost their infrastructure, while the four components of the site have retained a high degree of integrity.
Al-Ahsa Oasis, an Evolving Cultural Landscape
The Al-Ahsa Oasis, located in the eastern Arabian Peninsula, is a continuous heritage of gardens, canals, springs, wells and drainage lakes, as well as historic buildings, urban structures and archaeological sites. They represent traces of continuous human settlement in the Gulf region from the Neolithic period to the present day, as evidenced by the remnants of historic fortresses, mosques, wells, canals and other water management systems. With 2.5 million date palms, it is the largest oasis in the world. Al-Ahsa is also a unique geo-cultural landscape and an outstanding example of human interaction with the environment.
The Persian Garden
The site includes nine gardens in different provinces. They reflect the diversity of Persian garden design, which has evolved and adapted to different climatic conditions while retaining principles dating back to the time of Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BC. Persian gardens are always divided into four areas, with water playing an important role in both irrigation and decoration, and their design symbolizes the Garden of Eden and the four elements of Zoroastrianism: sky, earth, water and plants. The gardens date from different periods since the 6th century BC and feature buildings, pavilions and walls, as well as complex irrigation systems. They influenced the art of garden design as far away as India and Spain.
Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem
This listed site, 10 km south of Jerusalem, has been identified by Christian tradition since the 2nd century AD as the birthplace of Jesus. A church was first built on the site in 339 AD, and after a fire in the 6th century AD, it was replaced by a building that retains the original building's exquisite floor mosaics. The site also includes Latin, Greek Orthodox, Franciscan and Armenian monasteries and churches, as well as bell towers, terraced gardens and pilgrimage routes.
Frontiers of the Roman Empire – The Danube Limes (Western Segment)
It covers almost 600 km of the entire Danubian frontier of the Roman Empire. The site is part of the vast Roman frontier that encircles the Mediterranean Sea. The Danubian Frontier (Western Section) reflects the specificity of this part of the Roman frontier through the selection of sites representing key elements, from roads, legionary forts and their associated settlements to small forts and temporary camps, and the relationship of these structures to the local topography.
The Porticoes of Bologna
The collection includes twelve components, including groups of porticoes and their surrounding buildings, located in the city of Bologna, built from the 12th century to the present day. These groups of porticoes are considered the most representative of the porticoes in the city, with a total length of 62 km. Some porticoes are built of wood, others of stone or brick, and others of reinforced concrete, covering roads, squares, paths and sidewalks, located on one or both sides of the street. The portico buildings in the collection do not form a structural continuum with the other buildings and therefore do not belong to complete covered walkways or passages. The porticoes were considered to be sheltered walkways and the main place of commercial activities. In the 20th century, the use of concrete allowed the traditional arched arcades to be replaced by new architectural possibilities and a new architectural language of porticoes emerged, such as the Barca area. The selected porticoes reflect different typologies, urban and social functions and time periods. Defined as private property for public use, the portico has become an expression and element of Bologna's urban identity.
Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu
This group of sites and monuments represents five hundred years of Ryukyu history (12th-17th centuries). The ruins of the castles, located on the site of the towering tower, are evidence of the social structure of much of that period, while the sacred sites are silent testimony to the rare survival of an ancient religious form in modern times. During that period, the extensive economic and cultural exchanges of the Ryukyu Islands gave rise to a unique culture.
Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea
Sansa are Buddhist mountain temples found throughout the southern provinces of the Korean peninsula. The site consists of seven temples built between the 7th and 9th centuries AD, and their spatial layout presents a common characteristic unique to Korea - a "madang" (open courtyard) flanked by four buildings (a Buddhist hall, a pavilion, a lecture hall and a dormitory). They contain a large number of unique buildings, objects, documents and shrines. These mountain temples are sacred places and remain centers of faith and daily religious activities to this day.
Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration
Known worldwide as Mount Fuji, the beauty of this solitary, often snow-capped stratovolcano, towering above the sea and lakes surrounded by villages and trees, has long been a goal for pilgrims and an inspiration to artists and poets. The listed properties include 25 sites that reflect the essence of Mount Fuji's sacred and artistic landscapes. In the 12th century, Mount Fuji became a training center for ascetic Buddhism, which included elements of Shintoism. In the upper 1,500 meters of the 3,776-meter peak, pilgrimage routes and crater shrines have been listed, and sites around the base of the mountain include the Sengen Shrine, ninja lodging houses, and natural volcanic features such as lava tree molds, lakes, springs and waterfalls, which are considered sacred. Representations of Mount Fuji in Japanese art date back to the 11th century, but 19th-century woodblock prints of landscapes, including those of sandy beaches and pine forests, made Mount Fuji an internationally recognized Japanese icon and had a profound influence on the development of Western art.
The wooden pillared mosques of medieval Anatolia
The collection consists of five mosques in Anatolia, built between the late 13th and mid-14th centuries AD, in different provinces of present-day Turkey. Their structural system is distinctive: brick and stone exterior walls are combined with rows of wooden interior pillars that support wooden ceilings and roofs. These mosques are known for the skilled wood carving and craftsmanship used in the construction of their structures, architectural fittings and interiors.
Persian Caravanserai
Caravanserai are roadside stations that provide shelter, food and water for caravans, pilgrims and other travelers. Their distribution routes and locations depend on water sources, geographical conditions, safety and other factors. The 56 caravanserai that make up the heritage are only a small part of the many caravanserai on ancient Iranian roads, but they are the most influential and valuable representatives. These caravanserai are distributed over thousands of kilometers and built over many centuries. They show diverse characteristics in terms of architectural style, adaptation to climatic conditions, and building materials. Together, they present the evolution and network of Iranian caravanserai in different historical periods.
Ogasawara Islands
The property includes more than 30 islands, divided into three groups, covering an area of 7,939 hectares. The islands have a variety of landscapes and are home to a wide range of animals, including the critically endangered bat Ogasawara flying fox and 195 endangered bird species. 441 native plant species have been recorded on the islands, and their waters support a wide range of fish, cetaceans and corals. The ecosystem of the Ogasawara Islands reflects a range of evolutionary processes, with plant species from Southeast and Northwest Asia, as well as many endemic species.
Kazan Federal University Astronomical Observatory
The heritage site consists of two parts: one is located in the historical center of Kazan, and the other is located in the forest area in the western suburbs of the city. The Kazan City Observatory was built in 1837 on the campus of Kazan Federal University. It has a semicircular outer wall and three domed towers, where astronomical instruments are placed. The Engelhardt Observatory in the suburbs includes a sky observation building and a residential building, all located in a park. The observatory has preserved complete astronomical instruments and now mainly serves an educational function.
The Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales
The Slate Landscape of North West Wales demonstrates the transformation of the traditional rural environment of the Snowdon Mountains and Valleys by industrial slate quarrying and mining. Stretching from the top of the hill to the coast, this land presented both opportunities and constraints. Large-scale industrialisation processes undertaken by landowners and capital investors exploited these opportunities and constraints and reshaped the agricultural landscape into an industrial centre for slate production during the Industrial Revolution (1780-1914). The property consists of six sections, each of which includes surviving quarries and mines, archaeological sites associated with industrial processing of slate, historic settlements (both living and remains), historic gardens and grand country houses, ports, docks and quays, and railway and road systems, which demonstrate the functions and social connections of the surviving slate industrial landscape. The site is of international importance not only for the export of slate, but also for the export of skilled workers from the 1780s to the early 20th century. It has played a leading role in the industry, setting a model for other slate quarries around the world, and providing an important and outstanding example of the exchange of materials, technology and human values.
Erfurt's Medieval Jewish Heritage
The heritage site is located in the medieval old town of Erfurt, the capital of the Free State of Thuringia, and consists of three ancient buildings: the old synagogue, the baptistery, and the stone house. They show the life of the Jewish community in Central Europe in the Middle Ages (from the end of the 11th century to the middle of the 14th century AD) and its coexistence with the majority Christian community.