UNESCO adds Sanqing Mountain to heritage list

By Chen Qian  |   2008-7-8  |     ONLINE EDITION

SANQING Mountain in Jiangxi Province has been added to UNESCO's World Heritage list, China Youth Daily reported today.

The mountain was added yesterday at the 32nd Session of the World Heritage Committee in Quebec, Canada.

It is the province's first natural site and the country's seventh to make the list, the report said.

The committee gave high marks to Sanqing Mountain for its landscape and climate. The granite stone pillars, mountain peaks and plant biodiversity all met the requirements, it said.

Sanqing Mountain was regarded as a sacred place for Taoists during the Tang Dynasty. It is applying to become another breeding base for giant pandas since the May 12 earthquake damaged the Wolong Panda Reserve in Sichuan Province, the report said.

The area is famous for its jagged rocks, strangely-shaped pine trees, clouds and mist.

The 32nd session of the World Heritage Committee opened on July 3 and concludes on Thursday.