Hainan items included in tentative list of world heritage

According to the official website of the UNESCO World Heritage Center on April 20, the Hainan Tropical Rainforest and Traditional Settlements of Li Ethnic Group have been included in the Tentative List of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The nominated property of the Hainan Tropical Rainforest and the Traditional Settlements of Li Ethnic Group are located in the central and southern parts of Hainan Island, which is sanctuary for many globally endangered species and endemic species, as well as the major place where the Li ethnic group has lived for generations and established a harmonious relationship between humans and nature, adapted to the special local natural conditions.

Li traditional villages in the nominated property have rich historical and cultural value. Their physical cultural remains, such as village layout, traditional architecture, as well as intangible cultural items like farming culture, traditional customs, dialect system, clothing system, and textile technology, fully reflect the cultural characteristics of the Li ethnic group.

The site selection, spatial layout, house building style, and technology of the traditional villages of the Li ethnic group demonstrate the wisdom of the Li people in respecting nature and making good use of it. They also reflect the values and social outlook of the ancestors of the Li ethnic group, as well as embody the symbiotic relationship between humans and nature.