The UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has designated 99 World Heritage Sites in five countries (also called "state parties") of East Asia: China, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea and Japan.

In this region, China is home to the most inscribed sites with number of 60. The first sites from the region (and only sites designated in the 1980s or before) were the Great Wall of China, Mount Tai, the Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian, Imperial Palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the Mogao Caves and the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, and all of them were in China. Each year, UNESCO's World Heritage Committee may inscribe new sites on the list, or delist sites that no longer meet the criteria. Selection is based on ten criteria: six for cultural heritage (i–vi) and four for natural heritage (vii–x). Some sites, designated "mixed sites," represent both cultural and natural heritage. In Eastern Asia, there are 74 cultural, 21 natural, and four mixed sites.

The World Heritage Committee may also specify that a site is endangered, citing "conditions which threaten the very characteristics for which a property was inscribed on the World Heritage List." In this region there are no sites currently listed as endangered, nor have any been listed previously. Possible danger listing has been considered by UNESCO in a number of other cases.

Although a number of sites in Taiwan have been proposed, interference from the People's Republic of China has prevented any site on the island from being listed.Taipei Times

Legend

Site; named after the World Heritage Committee's official designation Location; at city, regional, or provincial level and geocoordinates Criteria; as defined by the World Heritage Committee Area; in hectares and acres. If available, the size of the buffer zone has been noted as well. A value of zero implies that no data has been published by UNESCO Year; during which the site was inscribed to the World Heritage List Description; brief information about the site, including reasons for qualifying as an endangered site, if applicable

World Heritage Sites

Site Image Location Criteria Areaha (acre) Year Description Refs Amami-Ōshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote IslandNatural:(x) ; buffer zone 2021 Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains Cultural:(i)(ii)(vi) — 1994 Ancient Capitals of Asuka and FujiwaraCultural: (ii)(iii) ; buffer zone 2026 Ancient City of Ping Yao Cultural:(ii)(iii)(iv) — 1997 Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui – Xidi and Hongcun Cultural:(iii)(iv)(v) ; buffer zone 2000 Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City Cultural:(iii)(iv) ; buffer zone 2019 Badain Jaran Desert - Towers of Sand and LakesNatural:(vii)(viii); buffer zone 2024 Baekje Historic Areas Cultural:(ii)(iii) ; buffer zone 2015 Beijing Central Axis: A Building Ensemble Exhibiting the Ideal Order of the Chinese CapitalCultural:(iii)(iv); buffer zone 2024 Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area Cultural:(i)(ii)(iv)(vi) ; buffer zone 1993 Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom Cultural:(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v) ; buffer zone 2004 Changdeokgung Palace Complex Cultural:(ii)(iii)(iv) — 1997 Chengjiang Fossil Site Natural:(viii) ; buffer zone 2012 China Danxia Natural:(vii)(viii) ; buffer zone 2010 Classical Gardens of Suzhou Cultural:(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v) ; buffer zone 1997Significant modifications in 2026 Complex of Koguryo Tombs Cultural:(i)(ii)(iii)(iv) ; buffer zone 2004 Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces Cultural:(iii)(v) ; buffer zone 2013 Cultural Landscape of Old Tea Forests of the Jingmai Mountain in Pu’erCultural:(iii)(v); buffer zone 2023 Dazu Rock Carvings Cultural:(i)(ii)(iii) ; buffer zone 1999 Deer Stone Monuments and Related Bronze Age SitesCultural:(i)(iii); buffer zone 2023 Fanjingshan Natural:(x) ; buffer zone 2018 Fujian Tulou Cultural:(iii)(iv)(v) ; buffer zone 2008 Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration Cultural:(iii)(vi) ; buffer zone 2013 Gaya Tumuli Cultural:(iii) ; buffer zone 2023 Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats Natural:(x) ; buffer zone 2021Significant modifications in 2026 Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites Cultural:(iii) ; buffer zone 2000 Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its surrounding sacred landscapeCultural:(iv)(vi); buffer zone 2015 Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu Cultural:(ii)(iii)(vi) ; buffer zone 2000 Gyeongju Historic Areas Cultural:(ii)(iii) ; buffer zone 2000 Haeinsa Temple Janggyeong Panjeon, the Depositories for the Tripitaka Koreana Woodblocks Cultural:(iv)(vi) — 1995 Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region Cultural:(iii) ; buffer zone 2018 Himeji-jo Cultural:(i)(iv) ; buffer zone 1993 Hiraizumi – Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land Cultural:(ii)(vi) ; buffer zone 2011 Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) Cultural:(vi) ; buffer zone 1996 Historic Centre of Macao Cultural:(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi) ; buffer zone 2005 Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, Lhasa Cultural:(i)(iv)(vi) ; buffer zone 1994Extended in 2000 to include the Jokhang Temple and in 2001 to include the Norbulingka area. Accordingly the name of the site changed from Potala Palace at time of first inscription over Potala Palace and the Jokhang Temple Monastery in 2000 to the present name in 2001. Historic Monuments and Sites in Kaesong Cultural:(ii)(iii) ; buffer zone 2013 Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) Cultural:(ii)(iv) ; buffer zone 1994 Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara Cultural:(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi) ; buffer zone 1998 Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in “The Centre of Heaven and Earth” Cultural:(iii)(vi) ; buffer zone 2010 Historic Villages of Korea: Hahoe and Yangdong Cultural:(iii)(iv) ; buffer zone 2010 Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama Cultural:(iv)(v) ; buffer zone 1995 Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area Natural:(vii) 1992 Hubei ShennongjiaNatural:(ix)(x) ; buffer zone 2016 Hwaseong Fortress Cultural:(ii)(iii) — 1997 Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing and Shenyang Cultural:(i)(ii)(iii)(iv) ; buffer zone 1987Extended in 2004 to include the Mukden Palace and name change from Imperial Palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties to the present name. Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties Cultural:(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi) ; buffer zone 2000Extended in 2003 to include the Ming Dynasty Tombs, the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum and the tombs of Chang Yuchun, Qiu Cheng, Wu Liang, Wu Zhen, Xu Da and Li Wenzhong; and in 2004 to include the Liaoning Tombs (Yongling, Fuling and Zhaoling). Itsukushima Shinto Shrine Cultural:(i)(ii)(iv)(vi) ; buffer zone 1996 Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape Cultural:(ii)(iii)(v) ; buffer zone 2007Minor modification of boundaries in 2010. Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes Natural:(vii)(viii) ; buffer zone 2007 Jingdezhen Handicraft Porcelain Industry SitesCultural: (ii)(iii)(iv)(vi); buffer zone 2026 Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area Natural:(vii) 1992 Jōmon Prehistoric Sites in Northern JapanCultural:(iii)(v); buffer zone 2021 Jongmyo Shrine Cultural:(iv) 1995 Kaiping Diaolou and Villages Cultural:(ii)(iii)(iv) ; buffer zone 2007 Kulangsu, a Historic International SettlementCultural:(ii)(iv); buffer zone 2017 Landscapes of Dauria Natural:(ix), (x) ; buffer zone 2017 Longmen Grottoes Cultural:(i)(ii)(iii) ; buffer zone 2000 Lushan National Park Cultural:(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi) — 1996 Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor Cultural:(i)(iii)(iv)(vi) — 1987 Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea–Bohai Gulf of China (Phase I) Natural:(x) ; buffer zone 2019 Mogao Caves Cultural:(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi) — 1987 Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples, Chengde Cultural:(ii)(iv) — 1994 Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area Mixed:(iv)(vi)(x) 1996 Mount Huangshan Mixed:(ii)(vii)(x) 1990 Mount Kumgang – Diamond Mountain from the SeaMixed:(iii)(vii) ; buffer zone 2025 Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System Cultural:(ii)(iv)(vi) — 2000 Mount Sanqingshan National Park Natural:(vii) ; buffer zone 2008 Mount Taishan Mixed:(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii) 1987 Mount Wutai Cultural:(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi) ; buffer zone 2009 Mount Wuyi Mixed:(iii)(vi)(vii)(x) ; buffer zone 1999 Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group Cultural:(iii)(iv) ; buffer zone 2019 Namhansanseong Cultural:(ii)(iv) ; buffer zone 2014 Ogasawara Islands Natural:(ix) 2011 Old Town of Lijiang Cultural:(ii)(iv)(v) — 1997 Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape Cultural:(ii)(iii)(iv) ; buffer zone 2004 Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian Cultural:(iii)(vi) — 1987 Petroglyphic Complexes of the Mongolian Altai Cultural:(iii) ; buffer zone 2011 Petroglyphs along the Bangucheon Stream Cultural:(i)(iii) ; buffer zone 2025 Qinghai Hoh XilNatural:(vii)(x); buffer zone 2017 Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan ChinaCultural:(iv); buffer zone 2021 Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty Cultural:(iii)(iv)(vi) ; buffer zone 2009 Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata RegionCultural:(ii)(iii); buffer zone 2017 Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range Cultural:(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi) ; buffer zone 2004 Sado Island Gold MinesCultural:(iv); buffer zone 2024 Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea Cultural:(iii) ; buffer zone 2018 Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple Cultural:(i)(iv) — 1995 Seowon, Korean Neo-Confucian Academies Cultural:(iii) ; buffer zone 2019 Shirakami-Sanchi Natural:(ix) 1993 Shiretoko Natural:(ix)(x) 2005 Shrines and Temples of Nikko Cultural:(i)(iv)(vi) ; buffer zone 1999 Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries Natural:(x) ; buffer zone 2006 Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor Cultural:(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi) ; buffer zone 2014 Site of Xanadu Cultural:(ii) (iii) (iv) (vi) ; buffer zone 2012 Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal MiningCultural:(ii)(iv); buffer zone 2015 South China Karst Natural:(vii)(viii) ; buffer zone 2007 Summer Palace, an Imperial Garden in Beijing Cultural:(i)(ii)(iii) — 1998 Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu Cultural:(i)(iv)(vi) — 1994 Temple of Heaven: an Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing Cultural:(i)(ii)(iii) — 1998 The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement Cultural:(i)(ii)(vi) —2016 The Grand CanalCultural: (i)(iii)(iv)(vi)2014 The Great Wall Cultural:(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi) — 1987 Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas Natural:(vii)(viii)(ix)(x) — 2003Minor modification in 2010. Tomioka Silk Mill and Related SitesCultural:(ii)(iv); buffer zone 2014Tusi SitesCultural: (ii)(iii); buffer zone 2015Uvs Nuur Basin Natural:(ix)(x) ; buffer zone2003 West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou Cultural:(ii)(iii)(vi) ; buffer zone 2011 Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area Natural:(vii) 1992 Xinjiang Tianshan Natural:(vii)(ix) 2013 Xixia Imperial TombsCultural:(ii)(iii); buffer zone 2025 Yakushima Natural:(vii)(ix) 1993 Yin Xu Cultural:(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi) ; buffer zone 2006 Yungang Grottoes Cultural:(i)(ii)(iii)(iv) ; buffer zone 2001 Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural LandscapeCultural: (iii)(vi); buffer zone 2016

Performance of East Asia in UNESCO The performance of Southeast Asia is contrasted by the performance of South and East Asia. Eastern Asian countries are noted with 'EA'.

Notes

References