The World Heritage Committee yesterday added an extension of South China Karst, a natural World Heritage Site since 2007, to the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

The Huanjiang karst zone in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee yesterday added an extension of South China Karst, a natural World Heritage Site since 2007, to its World Heritage List.[Photo / Xinhua]

The extension, with a total area of 1,186 square kilometers, includes the Jinfoshan cluster in Chongqing City, the Shibing cluster in Guizhou Province, and the Guilin and Huanjiang clusters in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, all in southwest China.

Experts believe the addition of South China Karst (Phase II) makes the listing more complete. The two parts group the world’s most unique karst physiognomy, which evolved from plateau to plains.

Karst topography is a distinctive landscape formed from the dissolution of layers of soluble bedrock, such as limestone, dolomite and gypsum.

It is characterized by underground systems with sinkholes, dolines and caves. It can also result in a variety of large- and small-limestone pavements, poljes, karst valleys, clints, flutes and vertical shafts on the exposed surface.

The World Heritage Committee, which was convening its 38th annual session in Doha, Qatar, added China’s 2,400-year-old Grand Canal and a section of the ancient trade route of Silk Road to the World Heritage List on Sunday.

The Silk Road served as a corridor for trade and cultural exchanges between Asia and Europe dating back to 2,000 years ago.

The 1,794km Grand Canal, which runs from Beijing to Hangzhou in east China’s Zhejiang Province, is the world’s longest artificial waterway.

With the three new inscriptions, China is now home to 47 listed sites, ranking it second only to Italy, which has 50.

Li Rusheng, deputy head of the Chinese delegation to the convention, lauded the new inscription, saying the approval is conducive to helping the world deepen its understanding about China’s unique natural resources and strengthening people’s consciousness of protecting natural resources, especially special heritage resources.

The 38th session of the World Heritage Committee opened on June 15 and ends tomorrow.

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