Growing reputation for Shaanxi's world cultural heritage status

Since its inclusion on the world cultural heritage list, the section of the Silk Road in Shaanxi province has attracted growth in both tourism and protection, said the province's cultural heritage authority.

On June 22 last year the Silk Road: Chang'an – Tianshan Galley Road Network, applied for jointly between China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan for world cultural heritage status, was approved at the 38th World Heritage Conference of UNESCO in Doha, Qatar, and Shaanxi's seven ancient buildings and ruins were officially listed.

The seven are Weiyang Palace ruins of Han Chang'a city built in the Western Han Dynasty (202BC–AD 220); Daming Palace ruins of Tang Chang'a city built in the Tang Dynasty (AD 618–907); Dayan Pagoda, Xiaoyan Pagoda, Xingjiao Temple Pagoda and Binxian county Great Buddha Caves built in the Tang Dynasty as well as Zhangqian Tomb built in the Western Han Dynasty.

Zhou Kuiying, deputy director of Shaanxi provincial administration of cultural heritage, said the seven are the most important cultural heritage sites on the ancient Silk Road.

The attractions have constantly improved infrastructural work such as heritage protection, environmental remediation, monitoring and management and further enhancement of the level of cultural heritage protection and management.

The tourism industry has boomed since the world heritage success and visitors to the seven ancient attractions have shown a great increase.

Official information shows that in the past year tourists were up by more than 30 percent and people visiting the Zhangqian Tomb increased from 50,000 to 102,000, a 110 percent increase.