What the Heck is a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
The history of UNESCO is a pretty interesting and inspiring one. In 1954, the Egyptian government decided to build a dam that would have effectively destroyed the Abu Simbel Temples
After this success, the World Heritage Committee was created to identify, recognize, and protect these types of sites. In 1977, they designated the first list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and have added more every year. There are currently 1157 (Jun, 2023) UNESCO World Heritage Sites with 900 cultural, 218 natural, and 39 mixed sites.
Which Have I Visited?
This is the complete list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites that I have visited in chronological order. Some sites have links to an evaluation article I have written about them (as I like to rank them), while others just have a link to UNESCO’s information on that site. It is my goal to see and evaluate as many of these as possible in my lifetime.
As of July 6th, 2022, I have visited 89/1157 sites or 7.69%.
2001 (2)
1) Historic Center of Mexico City and Xochimilco (November, 2001 // Mexico)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
2) Pre-Hispanic City of Teotihuacan (November,2001 // Mexico)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
2005 (1)
3) Grand Canyon National Park (December, 2005 // USA)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
2007 (1)
4) Redwoods National and State Parks (September, 2007 // USA)ahoe
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
2008 (1)
5) Central University City Campus of the Univesidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM) (August, 2009 // Mexico)
[UNESCO’s Article]*3
2009 (7)
6) Independence Hall (June, 2009 // USA)
[UNESCO’s Article]*1
7) Statue of Liberty (June, 2009 // USA)
[UNESCO’s Article]*2
8) Yellowstone National Park (July, 2009 // USA)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
9) Historic Center of Zacatecas (August, 2009 // Mexico)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
10) Silk Roads: The Routes Network of Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor (December, 2009 // China)
[UNESCO’s Article]*4
11) Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor [The Terracotta Army] (December, 2009 // China)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
12) Old Town of Lijiang (December, 2009 // China)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
2010 (12)
13) The Great Wall (February, 2010 // China)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
14) Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing and Shenyang (February, 2010 // China)
15) Angkor (July, 2010 // Cambodia)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
16) Hwaseong Fortress (August, 2010 // South Korea)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
17) Gyeongju Historic Areas (September, 2010 // South Korea)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
18) Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple (September, 2010 // South Korea)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
19) Historic Villages of Korea: Hahoe and Yangdong (September, 2010 // South Korea)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
20) Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila (December, 2010 // Mexico)
[UNESCO’s article]*5
21) Hospicio Cabañas, Guadalajara (December, 2010 // Mexico)
22) Historic Town of Guanajuato and Adjacent Mines (December, 2010 // Mexico)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
23) Protective town of San Miguel and the Sanctuary of Jesús Nazareno de Atotonilco (December, 2010 // Mexico)
24) Camino Real de Tierra Adentro (December, 2010 // Mexico)
[UNESCO’s Article]*6
2011 (6)
25) Pre-Hispanic City of Chichen Itza (January, 2011 // Mexico)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
26) Sian Ka’an (January, 2011 // Mexico)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
27) Changdeokgung Palace Complex (March, 2011 // South Korea)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
28) Jongmyo Shrine (March, 2011 // South Korea)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
29) Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes (July, 2011 // South Korea)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
30) Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty (October, 2011 // South Korea)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
2012 (15)
31) Haeinsa Temple Janggyeong Panjeon, the Depositories of the Tripitaka Koreana Woodblocks (June, 2012 // South Korea)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
32) Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites (June, 2012 // South Korea)
[My Evaluation Article] [UNESCO’s Article]
33) Archaeological Area of Agrigento [Valle Dei Templi] (July, 2012 // Italy)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
34) Archaeological Areas of Pompei, Herculaneum, and Torre Annunziata (August, 2012 // Italy)
35) Historic Center of Naples (August, 2012)
36) Historic Center of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura (August, 2012 // Italy and Vatican City)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
37) Vatican City (August, 2012 // Vatican City)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
38) Historic Centre of Florence (August, 2012 // Italy)
39) Piazza del Duomo, Pisa (August, 2012 // Italy)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
40) Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Italy Maria delle Grazie with “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci (August, 2012 // Italy)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
41) Venice and its Lagoon (August, 2012 // Italy)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
42) Seventeenth Century canal ring area of Amsterdam inside the Singelgracht (August, 2012 // Netherlands)
43) Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji, and Otsu Cities) (September, 2012 // Japan)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
44) Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara (September, 2012 // Japan)
45) Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-Ji Area (September, 2012 // Japan)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
2013 (13)
46) Historic Center of Macau (January, 2013 // Macau Self-Governing Province, China)
47) Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu (February, 2013 // Japan)
48) Baekje Historical Areas (March, 2013 // South Korea)
[UNESCO’s Article]*7
49) Sansa, Buddhist mountain Monasteries in Korea (March, 2013 // South Korea)
[UNESCO’s Article]*9
50) Namhansanseong (April, 2013 // South Korea)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]*8
51) Everglades National Park (June, 2013 // USA)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
52) Historic Center of Lima (June, 2013 // Peru)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
53) Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu (June, 2013 // Peru)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
54) City of Cuzco (June, 2013 // Peru)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
55) Lines and Geoglyphs of Nasca and Pampas de Jumana (June, 2013 // Peru)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
56) Komodo National Park (July, 2013 // Indonesia)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
57) Cultural Landscape of Bali Province: The Subak System as a Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy (August, 2013 // Indonesia)
58) Getbol, Korean Tidal Flat (September, 2013 // South Korea)
[UNESCO’s Article]*10
2014 (12)
59) Fujisan, Sacred Place and Source of Artistic Inspiration (February, 2014 // Japan)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
60) Chaco Culture (March, 2014 // USA)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
61) Mesa Verde National Park (March, 2014 // USA)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
62) Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range (June, 2014 // Japan)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
63) Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex (July, 2014 // Thailand)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
64) Historic City of Ayutthaya (July, 2014 // Thailand)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
65) Temple of Preah Vihear (August, 2014 // Cambodia)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
66) Bagan (August, 2014 // Myanmar)
[UNESCO’s Article]*11
67) Pyu Ancient Cities (August, 2014 // Myanmar)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
68) Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca (September, 2014 // Malaysia)
69) Sydney Opera House (September, 2014 // Australia)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
70) Australian Convict Sites (September, 2014 // Australia)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
2015 (3)
71) Tongariro National Park (April, 2015 // New Zealand)
72) Te Wahipounamu (April, 2015 // New Zealand)
73) Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens (July, 2015 // Australia)
2016 (2)
74) Kinabalu Park (July, 2016 // Malaysia)
75) Gunung Mulu National Park (July, 2016 // Malaysia)
[My Evaluation Article] and [UNESCO’s Article]
2017 (1)
76) Yosemite National Park (August, 2017 // USA)
2018 (3)
77) Himeji-jo (August, 2017 // Japan)
78) The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement (August, 2018 // Japan)
79) Shrines and Temples of Nikko (August, 2018 // Japan)
2019 (1)
80) Seowon, Korean Neo-Confucian Academies (July, 2019 // South Korea)
2020 (3)
81) Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River (January, 2020 // The Philippines)
82) Baroque Churches of the Philippines (January, 2020 // The Philippines)
83) Historic City of Vigan (January, 2020 // The Philippines)
[My Evaluation Article] [UNESCO’s Article]
2021 (1)
84) Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Northern part of Okinawa Island and Iriomote Island (February, 2014 // Japan) *12
2022 (0)
2023 (6)
85) Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region (March, 2023 // Japan)
86) Itsukushima Shinto Shrine (March, 2023 // Japan)
87) Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) (March, 2023 // Japan)
88) Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining (March, 2023 // Japan)
89) Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region (March, 2023 // Japan)
What are all those the Asterisks About?
*1 I viewed independence hall mostly from the outside. While there was plenty to see, I only viewed the Liberty Bell through a glass window since there was a two hour wait to go inside. I regret the decision, but am sure I will return in the next few years.
*2 The day I wanted to see the Statue of Liberty, it rained. I was going to push the group I was with to go anyways, but I settled for looking at it from a distance. While I did technically see it with my own eyes, I don’t think I absorbed the essence of it, so I will wait until I return to New York.
*3 While I have been to UNAM, from looking at the pictures online, I seem to have missed the part of the university that justified its entry was a WHS. Given that I have been to Mexico City numerous times, I am pretty confident that I will return and will wait until I return before I make an evaluation on this.
*4 Visited in 2009. This site became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014.
*5 I visited the city of tequila and many of the Agave plantations along the way. However, I feel that to make a proper judgement, I should also see the tequila factories, which I didn’t get a chance to see. I was born not far from Tequila, Mexico, so I am sure I will return real soon and will make my evaluation then.
*6 Visited in 2010. It also became a site in 2010, but hadn’t realized I visited until recently.
*7 Visited in 2013. This site because a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015.
*8 Visited in 2013. This site became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014.
*9 Visited in 2013. This site became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2018.
*10 Visited in 2013. This site became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021.
*11 Visited in 2014. This site became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019.
*12 visited in 2013. This site became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021. From this point forth, I won’t go back retroactively and fix the entire list. It just caused too many issues. They will be added as a new entry on the year they became UNESCO sites.