It will come as no surprise to most that China is home to a plethora of the world’s most treasured natural and cultural heritage, and on August 1, 2010, two more Chinese historic and geographical monuments were added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List at the 34th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Brasilia. The new additions were Dengfeng “Center of Heaven and Earth” and “China Danxia,” pushing China’s total World Heritage site count to 40. This gives China the third largest total in the world, just behind Spain (42) and Italy (44).

A year ago, the July issue of China Pictorial devoted several pages to images of the Danxia landform in Taining, Fujian, one of the six areas collectively included on the heritage list for their stunning landscapes gracing the subtropical soil in southern China. While Danxia was honored for its exceptional natural beauty, “The Center of Heaven and Earth” was recognized for its profound cultural meaning. As one of China’s oldest historical architectural complexes, the site features many diverse styles with rich cultural significance. The collection of monuments vividly represents the ancient Chinese distinctive cosmic vision and aesthetic values, which have consistently influenced the development of Chinese culture for over 3,000 years.