1442 CN - Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor (2014)

Brief Description

"This property is a 5,000 km section of the extensive Silk Roads network, stretching from Chang’an/Luoyang, the central capital of China in the Han and Tang dynasties, to the Zhetysu region of Central Asia. It took shape between the 2nd century BC and 1st century AD and remained in use until the 16th century, linking multiple civilizations and facilitating far-reaching exchanges of activities in trade, religious beliefs, scientific knowledge, technological innovation, cultural practices and the arts. The thirty-three components included in the routes network include capital cities and palace complexes of various empires and Khan kingdoms, trading settlements, Buddhist cave temples, ancient paths, posthouses, passes, beacon towers, sections of The Great Wall, fortifications, tombs and religious buildings."

Source UNESCO WH website http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1442

1. Central China - ancient imperial capitals in the Central and Guanzhong Plains of China.

• 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
• Longmen Grottoes (a preexisting World Heritage Site), Luoyang, Henan Province
• Hangu Pass, Lingbao, Henan Province
• Shihao section of Xiaohan Route, Xin'an County, 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^[12]
• 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, connecting China Proper and Xinjiang.

• Bingling Cave Temple Complex, Yongjing County, Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province
• Yumen Pass, Dunhuang, Gansu Province
• Xuanquanzhi Posthouse, Dunhuang, Gansu Province
• Mogao Caves (already inscribed on the World Heritage List), Dunhuang, Gansu Province
• Suoyang City Ruins, Anxi, Gansu Province

3. North and South of Tianshan Mountains in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China

• Qocho (Gaochang) City Ruins, Turpan, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region
• Yar City Site of Bashbaliq City (Jiaohe Ruins), Turpan, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region
• Beshbalik 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 Chuy Valley of Kyrgyzstan

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

Ancient City of Gaochang 高昌故城

Ancient City of Jiao River 交河故城

Kizil Grottoes 克孜尔千佛洞