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Hangzhou West Lake Cultural Landscape Inscribed on World Cultural Heritage List in China
The 35th session of the World Heritage Committee just brought the most exciting news to Chinese people especially Hangzhou citizens on June 24 in Paris: West Lake inscribed on the World Heritage list successfully.This is the ninth consecutive year that Chinese sites have added to the World Heritage List.
As an extraordinary model of cultural landscape, the West Lake is composed of natural scene , the layout of two dikes and three islands, the ten sights of West Lake, history and special plants. Background on Chinese philosophy, aesthetics and garden arts, the West Lake is the most classical work of Chinese landscape aesthetics which reflects a scene full of poetic and artistic conception.
Surrounded by mountains on three sides, the West Lake is divided into five territorial zones by causeways and dikes, all with individual legends. After centuries of enhancement, this area is dynamic with bridges, pavilions, terraces, pagodas, grottoes and temples.
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Reviewing the way of the West Lake to the World Heritage list, Zhang Jianting, vice-mayor of Hangzhou, broke into tears. The application work starts in 1999 and today the dream came true. Hangzhou municipal government and citizens have made great effort together. And through continuous renovations, the West Lake is becoming more and more beautiful. The protection control regulation of cultural landscape in the West Lake is on the agenda of legislation in Hangzhou this year. For all the effort, “the 41st World Heritage site in China" is the best return for someone who supports her, who appreciates her as a unique combination of nature and artifice.
When tourists heard this news, they are worried that West Lake's new prestige may mean higher charges for entry into this beautiful paradise.But Wang Guoping, head of the West Lake's world heritage application team, told Xinhua that the city government would continue to stick to its guiding principles. The park will still be open to the public without any charge, ticket prices of scenic spots will not rise, and no real estate projects will be allowed in the designated area.
