23-07-2025
8 Asian destinations added to the Unesco World Heritage List
Once degraded by tin mining, Forest Research Institute Park (FRIM) near Kuala Lumpur now hosts rehabilitated rainforest, scientific labs and public trails. It stands as Unesco‑recognised evidence of ecological restoration as heritage. 3. Mount Kumgang, Diamond Mountain from the Sea, North Korea
A mixed cultural‑natural entry, Mount Kumgang combines soaring granite peaks with historic Buddhist hermitages and living traditions dating to the fifth century. Its designation emphasises intangible spiritual value within a dramatic landscape. 4. Petroglyphs along the Bangucheon Stream, South Korea
Rock engravings from circa 5,000 BCE to the 9th century CE by Ulsan's prehistoric communities were inscribed under the Unesco criteria for pre‑history. The pictorial whales, human shapes and abstract symbols reveal a multi‑millennial visual tradition. 5. Cultural Heritage Sites of Ancient Khuttal, Tajikistan
The Ancient Khuttal sites span 11 locations across Tajikistan's Khatlon region. These include the palace of Qalai Hulbuk, the Buddhist site of Ajina‑Teppa with its reclining Buddha, caravanserais, mausolea and fortified towns like Kafyr‑Kala. Once a key hub on the Silk Road from the 7th to 16th century, Khuttal reflects centuries of cultural exchange through its architecture, planning and religious diversity. 6. Xixia Imperial Tombs, China
Above China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the Unesco World Heritage List on July 11 during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. (Photo: Yuan Hongyan / VCG / Getty Images)
Nestled in the Helan Mountain foothills in Ningxia, an autonomous region in northwestern China, these necropolises were built by the Tangut rulers of the Xixia Dynasty (1038—1227 CE). The site includes nine imperial mausolea, 271 attendant tombs and flood‑control works, illustrating buried dynastic ritual and Silk Road cultural fusion. 7. Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son, Kiep Bac Complex, Vietnam
Encompassing 20 sites across forests and rivers, this complex is the birthplace of Trúc Lâm Zen Buddhism, rooted in 13th‑century Tran Dynasty devotion. Temples, shrines and hilltop pagodas remain active pilgrimage destinations, merging spiritual and historical significance recognised by Unesco. 8. Maratha Military Landscapes, India
Twelve forts across Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, including Raigad, Vijayadurg and Gingee, have been inscribed as Unesco cultural heritage. Dating from the 17th to 19th centuries, they reflect Maratha military planning and architectural innovation, now India's 44th Unesco listing.
Each addition reflects Unesco's evolving definition of heritage. The Cambodian memorials confront recent atrocities head-on within Unesco's frameworks, usually reserved for ancient sites. The Indian forts reframe military infrastructure as cultural storytelling. Meanwhile, Korea's petroglyphs, China's mausolea and Vietnam's Zen landscape underscore intangible cultural continuity tied to place. Unesco appears intent on expanding its remit beyond classical beauty into lived history and landscapes shaped by belief or resistance.
