Ming Tombs in Frame as World Heritage Site

A huge reconstruction program is now under way at Beijing's famous Ming Tombs in hope that the city's application to UNESCO for them to be listed as a World Heritage Site will be successful.

Located 50km north-west of the capital, the tombs were built between AD1409 and 1644 as the final resting place for 13 of the Ming Dynasty's 16 emperors. Their empresses and concubines are also buried here.

Built across 120 square kilometers, the tombs are the world's largest and best-preserved concentration of royal graveyards --together a basic prerequisite for nomination as a World Heritage Site. Moreover, the Ming Tombs are also considered to be of great architectural importance because of their very high level of design and construction. While on the one hand their design follows precedents of the time, they were also innovative enough to greatly influence the designers and builders who followed.

Two months ago, an initial report sent to UNESCO on behalf of the State Bureau of Cultural Relics was approved. United Nations officials will inspect the site in October this year. If all goes well, the Ming Tombs will become the sixth site in Beijing to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site--probably in June next year.

"I'm very confident that our application will succeed," said Dong Ruilong, deputy director of Changping District and also of the application team. "The historical significance and architectural quality of the tombs meet the criteria of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Now we should concentrate on conservation of the seven most damaged imperial tombs, the first being the Deling Tomb, and the general preservation of the whole area."

According to Dong, the district has demolished 32 shops and restaurants to preserve the Ming Tombs' area's uniqueness. Between now and 2008, more businesses and local villagers will move away as their premises are demolished. Luxury hotels and resorts in the area will disappear over the next 10-20 years.

China's 28 World Heritage Sites

The Great Wall, Beijing

The Forbidden City, Beijing

Shanxi Terracotta Warriors, Shanxi Province

Mogao Caves, Dunhuang, Gansu Province

Peking Man Site, Zhoukoudian, Beijing

Mount Taishan, Shandong Province

Mount Huangshan, Anhui Province

Wulingyuan National Reserve, Hunan Province

Jiuzhaigou National Reserve, Sichuan Province

Huanglong National Reserve, Sichuan Province

The Potola Palace, Tibet Autonomous Region

Chengde Summer Resorts and outlying temples, Hebei Province

Confucius Temple, Confucius' Home and Confucius Forest, Shandong Province

Wudangshan Ancient Constructions, Hubei Province

Lushan Scenic Area, Jiangxi Province

Emeishan-Leshan Scenic Area, Sichuan Province

Lijiang Ancient City, Yunnan Province

Pingyao Ancient City, Shanxi Province

Suzhou Classical Gardens, Jiangsu Province

Summer Palace, Beijing

Temple of Heaven, Beijing

Stone Sculptures, Dazu, Chongqing

Wuyishan Mountain, Fujian Province

Qingchengshan and Dujiang Dams, Sichuan Province

Luoyang Longmen Grottos, Henan Province

Ming and Qing emperors' tombs in Mingxianling; and Eastern and Western Qing tombs. All in Hebei Province

Ancient Villages in Xidi and Hongcun, Anhui Province

Yungang Grottos, Shanxi Province