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 
         
Indonesia 

   6. Sangiran Early Man Site
   7. Borobudur Temple Compounds

Thailand 

   8. Historic City of Ayutthaya

China

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

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

Macau

22.  Historic Centre of Macao

India

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


 Japan

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

North Korea 

30. Historic Monuments and Sites in Kaesong

South Korea 

31. Changdeokgung Palace Complex

Myanmar

32. Bagan

Singapore

33. Singapore Botanic Gardens

Israel

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

Europe

Estonia

36. Historic Centre (Old Town) of Tallinn

France

37. Strasbourg – Grande île

 Russia 

38. Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow
39. Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments

Italy 

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

Spain 

42. Vizcaya Bridge

Holy See 

43. Vatican City

Africa

Morocco

44. Medina of Marrakesh
45. Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou

North America

Mexico

46. Historic Centre of Mexico City and Xochimilco
47. Pre-Hispanic City of Chichen-Itza

South America

Peru

48. City of Cuzco
49. Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu