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 汉魏洛阳城遗址
• Dingding Gate, Luoyang City of the Sui and Tang Dynasty, Luoyang, Henan Province  隋唐洛阳城定鼎门遗址
• Longmen Grottoes (a preexisting World Heritage Site), Luoyang, Henan Province
• Hangu Pass, Lingbao, Henan Province 新安汉函谷关遗址
• Shihao section of Xiaohan Route, Xin'an County, Henan Province 崤函古道石壕段遗址
• Weiyang Palace, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 汉长安城未央宫遗址
• Daming Palace, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 唐长安城大明宫遗址
• Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 大雁塔
• Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 小雁塔
• Xingjiao Temple, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 兴教寺塔
• Bin County Cave Temple, Bin County, Shaanxi Province 彬县大佛寺石窟
• Tomb of Zhang Qian, Chenggu County, Shaanxi Province 张骞墓
• Maijishan Cave Temple Complex, Tianshui, Gansu Province 麦积山石窟

2. Hexi Corridor in Gansu Province, connecting China Proper and Xinjiang.

• Bingling Cave Temple Complex, Yongjing County, Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province 炳灵寺石窟
• Yumen Pass, Dunhuang, Gansu Province 玉门关遗址
• Xuanquanzhi Posthouse, Dunhuang, Gansu Province 悬泉置遗址
• Mogao Caves (already inscribed on the World Heritage List), Dunhuang, Gansu Province
• Suoyang City Ruins, Anxi, Gansu Province 锁阳城遗址

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

• Qocho (Gaochang) City Ruins, Turpan, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region 高昌故城
• Yar City Site of Bashbaliq City (Jiaohe Ruins), Turpan, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region 交河故城
• Beshbalik City Ruins, Jimsar County, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region 北庭故城遗址
• Kizil Gaha Beacon Tower, Kuqa, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region 克孜尔尕哈烽燧
• Kizil Caves, Kuqa, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region 克孜尔千佛洞
• Subash Buddhist Temple Ruins, Kuqa, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region 苏巴什佛寺遗址 

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 

隋唐洛阳城定鼎门遗址

Daming Palace, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 唐长安城大明宫遗址

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 大雁塔

Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 小雁塔

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