UNESCO Names Huashan Rock Painting a World Heritage Site for 2016

The 40th Session of UNESCO World Heritage Committee was held in Istanbul between 10 and 20 July 2016. This year, 21 new heritage sites are added to the list, including the site of Mountain Huashan Rock Painting from China.

In the border regions of Guangxi, southwest China, the groups of rock paintings are found on the sheer cliffs and overhanging the surging rivers. As far back as 5BC during the Warring States Period, Luoyue People, the ancient ancestors of Zhuang ethnic minority, started painting on the limestone cliff, which extends 200km of the two shores of Zuojiang River and its tributary Mingjiang River, and involves the cities and counties of Pingxiang, Longzhou, Ningming, Chongzuo, Fusui, Jiangzhou, etc.

The Zuojiang Huashan rock art site covers an area of more than 6,621 hectares and is home to 1900 discrete countable images arranged in about 110 groups. The paintings have a brownish, red color and were said to be created by using a special pigment, a mixture of red ochre (hematite), animal glue and blood and oxalic acid - therefore they survive to today.

The over 2000-year-old rock paintings depict human figures, animals, implements like knives, swords, and musical instruments like bronze drums and bells. Human figures are typically between 60cm (24 in) and 150cm (4.9 ft) tall, but the highest one reaches 3.58 m (11.7 ft) in height. The ancient illustrations also give an insight into the social life, festival activities, rituals and ceremonies of the Luoyue people, and record the early history and culture of China’s southern nations.

The rock painting of Huashan Mountain is believed to be the biggest in the world. Meanwhile it shows ancient Luoyue people’s painting art, just as UNESCO committee describes, “Looking up at this rock painting in huge size, the descendants can not only know the actual and vivid social lives of the ancient Luoyue people, but also appreciate their spiritual advocacy and artistic conception.”

How to get there

The only way to see Huashan Mountain Rock Painting is by boat. Before that you need to get to Ningming (宁明) first, either by bus or by train from Nanning. Here are two Guangxi tour packages to take you to Huashan Mountain Rock Painting:

4-day Relaxing Guangxi tour to Detian Waterfall & Mingshi

9-day Guangxi Exploration

For waterfall buffs: 10 most beautiful waterfalls in China

It is a top 10 list, but there are more hidden waterfalls as beautiful as them yet to be found in China.

Nuorilang Waterfall in Sichuan: over 270m wide and 30m deep

The widest in China, Nuorilang Waterfall is favorably located in Jiuzhaigou Valley, embraced by numerous crystal lakes and pristine forests, creating a pure, serene world.

Detian Waterfall in Guangxi: 100m wide and 60m deep (on the China side)

The 2th largest transnational waterfall in the world, Detian has its wet season and most magnificent time between June and September, when the thundering effect of the water hitting the cliffs can be heard from afar.

Hukou Waterfall in Shanxi: 30m wide and 50m deep

A fine spectacle of the Yellow River, there is a mounting momentum in the ups and downs of the yellow waterfall.

Tsangpo Waterfalls in Tibet

2140 above sea level, part of Yarlung Tsangpo River, Tsangpo Fall I and Tsangpo Fall II is 600m apart and of 33 m width and 35 m width separately.

Huangguoshu Waterfall in Guizhou: 77.8m high and 101m wide

One of the world’s most spectacular waterfalls, and one of Guizhou’s must-visit attractions, this waterfall can be viewed from different angles, even from the water-curtain caves. It is a good idea to hiking around and explore the primitive Miao Villages. 

Lushan Waterfalls in jiangxi

On the hauntingly beautiful Lushan Mountain, there are dozens of waterfalls, among which, Sandie Spring Waterfall is the most appealing one.

Luoping Nice Dragon Waterfalls in Yunnan

The ten falls are located 22km northeast of Luoping Country, roaring like thunder in wet season and looking like silver chains in dry season. The brink of the biggest one spans a distance of 110m, and drops 56m.

Silver Chain Waterfall in Guizhou

Just 7km away from Huangguoshu Waterfall, Silver Chain is smaller and more elegant, and famed as the most beautiful falls in China.

Jingbo waterfall in Heilongjiang: 70m wide and 20m deep

Also called Diaoshuilou Waterfall, the fall has its most beautiful time when frozen or hidden in the mist and rainbow.

Changbaishan Waterfall in Jilin

The water of Heaven Lake (Tianchi Lake) runs through a ‘a natural gate’, and forms the uniquely shaped Changbaishan Waterfall.

The opening date of Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge is to be announced, but it won’t keep us waiting too long, and will be a big surprise to any of us to challenge the longest and highest glass-bottomed bridge in the world.

A world architecture wonder – what does it look like?

The terrifying bridge hangs above Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, with a length of 430 meters (1,410 feet), a width of 6 meters (20 feet), and a height of 300 meters (984 feet). It is made up of transparent glass and will be able to hold up to 800 people at once. There is a bungee jump platform at the bridge center, known as the world’s highest, set against the dramatic landscape of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.  

Is the bridge secure?

A BBC reporter hammered on the bridge, the three layers of glass were shattered, yet the damage was superficial and the bottom of bridge did not break or part.

It's even fine for 25 adults jumping simultaneously on the bridge, or being run over by a 15-ton bus for many times.

Location: inside Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Scenic Area, approximately 60km (40 mi) southwest of Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province

People who may be interested in it: outdoor activity lovers and intrepid travelers

3-day Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon tour to the glass-bottomed bridge:

http://www.easytourchina.com/tour-v514-3-day-zhangjiajie-grand-canyon-tour