The decision to list the city – also known as Zayton – in southeastern China’s Fujian province, was made at the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee, which kicked off in Fuzhou, about 180km from Quanzhou on July 16. The gathering was postponed last year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“[The sites] not only record the prosperity of Quanzhou in the past, but also confirms a unique trade system created by the joint efforts of the central governments, local and overseas communities, which led to prosperous oceanic trade and cultural exchanges during that period,” the city government said on its WeChat social media account.
China in recent years has promoted both the maritime and continental Silk Roads as part of its Belt and Road Initiative, saying its efforts to revive the ancient trade routes will bring new wealth and development opportunities to participating countries. It was the second time the city applied for world heritage status – its application to have “Ancient Quanzhou” listed was deferred when the committee met in Bahrain in 2018.
Other Unesco heritage sites in China include the Mogao Caves – also known as the Thousand Buddha Grottoes – in northwest Gansu province, the Great Wall, and the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor in Xian, Shaanxi province, home of the world-famous terracotta warriors.