China's recorded history began in the 21st century B.C., with the establishment of the first Chinese dynasty, the Xia Dynasty. In 221 B.C., Shi Huang Di (246-210 B.C.), the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty, put an end to the division of the country by the nobles in the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.) and founded the Qin Dynasty, the first centralized, autocratic feudal empire in China.

From the Qin Dynasty to the founding of the Republic of China in 1912, China saw the feudal dynasties of the Han (206 B.C.-220 A.D.), the Three Kingdoms (220-280), the Jin (265-420), the Northern and Southern (420-581), the Sui (581-618), the Tang (618-907), the Five Dynasties (907-960), the Song (960-1279), the Yuan (1271-1368), the Ming (1368-1644), and the Qing (1644-1911).

As the Chinese civilization developed, beautiful scenic spots and historical sites were created, many of which still exist in this ancient land. They include magnificent ancient architectural complexes and a great number of historical relics, forming an important basis for the study of China's ancient culture and history.

China has a territory of 9.6 million square kilometers, located in the eastern part of Asia on the western shore of the Pacific. It has diverse and beautiful natural and geographical conditions, landscapes with the varied features of north, east, south, and west, and mountains and rivers rich in fauna and flora. Such excellent geographical conditions have produced many natural scenic spots.

The rich and precious cultural and natural heritages left by China's long history benefit both the Chinese nation and the rest of the world.

Today, however, these cultural and natural heritages are threatened by the increasing damages caused by their own ancientness and degeneration and by the changes of social and economic conditions. China and the other nations in the world are trying to find ways to protect these heritages.

In 1985, China acceded to the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritages, also known as the World Heritage Convention. From 1987 through to 1998, 21 sites in China entered the World Heritage List.

Of the 21 world heritage sites in China, 15 are cultural sites: the Great Wall; the Imperial Palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties; the Mogao Caves; the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor with the Terracotta Warriors; the Peking Man Site; the Mountain Resort and Outlying Temples; the Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion; the Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains; the Potala Palace; the Lushan National Park; the Old City of Pingyao; the Classical Gardens in Suzhou; the Old City of Lijiang; the Summer Palace; and the Temple of Heaven.

Three of the world heritage sites in China are natural sites: the Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, the Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area, and the Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area. There are also three mixed cultural and natural sites: Mount Taishan, Mount Huangshan, and Mount Emei and the Leshan Giant Buddha.

In 1998, the Ministry of Construction, the State Bureau of Cultural Relics, and the Chinese National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), examined and ratified China's World Heritage Plaque in order to strengthen the conservation of China's world heritage sites and observe the relevant stipulations of the World Heritage Convention. A copy of the plaque is to be put up at each heritage site.

The main part of the plaque is a design drawn with blue lines. The design includes a square in the center symbolizing human creativity and a circle symbolizing nature. Around the design is an inscription, ''World Heritage'' in Chinese, English, and French, and below the design is the logo of UNESCO.

In order to acquaint people with China's world heritage sites, Pictorial China will introduce the sites one by one in a series of brochures.

1.Mount Taishan, listed as a world cultural and natural site in 1987.

2.The Great Wall, listed as a world cultural site in 1987.

3.The Imperial Palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, listed as a world cultural site in 1987.

4.The Mogao Caves, listed as a world cultural site in 1987.

5.The Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor and the Terracotta Warriors, listed as a world cultural site in 1987.

6.The Peking Man Site, listed as a world cultural site in 1987.

7.Mount Huangshan, listed as a world cultural and natural site in 1990.

8.The Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area, listed as a world natural site in 1992.

9.The Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area, listed as a world natural site in 1992.

10.The Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, listed as a world natural site in 1992.

11.The Mountain Resort and Outlying Temples, listed as a world cultural site in 1994.

12.The Potala Palace, listed as a world cultural site in 1994.

13.The Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion, listed as a world cultural site in 1994.

14.The Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains, listed as a world cultural site in 1994.

15.The Lushan National Park, listed as a world cultural site in 1996.

16.Mount Emei and the Leshan Giant Buddha, listed as a world cultural and natural site in 1996.

17.The Old City of Pingyao, listed as a world cultural site in 1997.

18.The Classical Gardens in Suzhou, listed as a world cultural site in 1997.

19.The Old City of Lijiang, listed as a world cultural site in 1997.

20.The Summer Palace, listed as a world cultural site in 1998.

21.The Temple of Heaven, listed as a world cultural site in 1998. Pictorial China (297)

(China Pictorial January 3, 2003)