World Heritage Sites

by Regin Reyno

According to Wikipedia, A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area which has been officially recognized by the United Nations, specifically by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Sites are selected on the basis of having cultural, historical, scientific or some other form of significance, and they are legally protected by international treaties. UNESCO regards these sites as being important to the collective interests of humanity.

One of my travel goals is to visit these sites. They've been chosen with strict criteria, so once a site is included in the list, you can be assured of its historical, cultural, and natural significance-thus making your travel more educational and fulfilling. 

As of the moment, these are the UNESCO World Heritage Sites I have visited. 

Asia

Cambodia

1. Angkor

Philippines

   2. Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park        
   3. Historic Town of Vigan          
   4. Baroque Churches of the Philippines
      a.) Paoay Church
      b.) San Agustin Church 
              
   5. Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras     
      a.) Batad Rice Terraces 

 6. Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary
         
Indonesia 

   7. Sangiran Early Man Site
   8. Borobudur Temple Compounds

Thailand 

   9. Historic City of Ayutthaya

China

  10.  Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties 
 11. The Great Wall
 12. Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing and Shenyang (Forbidden City)
13.  Temple of Heaven: an Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing
14.  Summer Palace, an Imperial Garden in Beijing
15. Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area 
16. Mount Taishan
17. Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in “The Centre of Heaven and Earth” (Shaolin Temple)
18. Longmen Grottoes
19. Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor (Terracotta Warriors)
20. Yungang Grottoes
21. Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu   
      a.) Temple of Confucius
      b.) Kong Family Mansion
      d.) Cemetery of Confucius 

22.  Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples, Chengde
        a.) Mountain Summer Resort
       b.) Puning Temple
       c.) Putuozongsheng Temple 

Macau

23.  Historic Centre of Macao

India

24. Hill Forts of Rajasthan
25. Fatehpur Sikri
26. Taj Mahal
27. Agra Fort
28. The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur  


 Japan

29. Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) (Kiyomizu-dera)
30. Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu

31. Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration

North Korea 

32. Historic Monuments and Sites in Kaesong

South Korea 

33. Changdeokgung Palace Complex

Myanmar

34. Bagan

Singapore

35. Singapore Botanic Gardens

Israel

36.  Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls
37. White City of Tel-Aviv – the Modern Movement

Vietnam

38. Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long - Hanoi
39. My Son Sanctuary
40. Hoi An Ancient Town
41. Complex of Hué Monuments
      a.) Imperial City of Hué
      b.) Tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh

Europe

Estonia

42. Historic Centre (Old Town) of Tallinn

France

43. Strasbourg – Grande île

 Russia 

44. Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow
45. Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments

Italy 

46. Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura
47. Historic Centre of Naples

Spain 

48. Vizcaya Bridge

Holy See 

49. Vatican City

Africa

Morocco

50. Medina of Marrakesh
51. Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou

North America

Mexico

52. Historic Centre of Mexico City and Xochimilco
53. Pre-Hispanic City of Chichen-Itza

South America

Peru

54. City of Cuzco
55. Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu