“Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China” examined online by the World Heritage Committee at its extended 44th Session.
“Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China” was inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List on Sunday (July 25) during the ongoing 44th Session of the World Heritage Committee, which is hosted in Fuzhou, Fujian province.
Historical neighborhood of Quanzhou
Quanzhou was one of the highly prosperous business centers in the world maritime trade network in the 10th to 14th centuries. As a window of dialogue between China and the world in the Song and Yuan dynasties, Quanzhou showcases China’s complete maritime trade system, advanced economic level, and diverse and inclusive culture. Quanzhou, also known as Zayton, was hailed as one of the world’s largest ports by Italian explorer Marco Polo.
The Extended 44th Session of the World Heritage Committee
Reportedly China’s only UNESCO World Cultural Heritage application at the 44th session, the project “Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China” features 22 representative historical sites and monuments across the coastal city. In a vast space extending from the harbor through the Jiangkou Plain to the hinterland mountainous area, it reflects Quanzhou’s highly integrated maritime trade system and diverse culture in Song and Yuan dynasties.
With the newly inscribed item, China now has 56 UNESCO World Heritage sites.
