The Xixia Imperial Tombs Photo: VCG

The 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee opened on Monday at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France, with 30 proposed sites up for review for inscription on the World Heritage List, including China's Xixia Imperial Tombs in Northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, as well as two proposals for significant boundary modifications of already inscribed sites.

The 30 nominated sites for 2024 include 24 cultural heritage sites, five natural heritage sites and one mixed cultural and natural heritage site. The Xixia Imperial Tombs have been submitted as a cultural heritage site and represent China's sole nomination for this year's session.

The official designation of the Xixia Imperial Tombs as China's only candidate for the 2025 World Cultural Heritage nomination occurred long before, back in March 2024. According to the conservation planning document released on the official website of Department of Culture and Tourism of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on May 2024, the property of the Xixia Imperial Tombs cover a total of 444.68 square kilometers.

So why are the Xixia Imperial Tombs particularly significant among the many imperial mausoleums in -China? 

Renowned as the "Oriental Pyramids," the Xixia Imperial Tombs are located in the eastern foothills of the middle section of the -Helan Mountains. As a royal mausoleum complex of the Xixia, or Tangut Dynasty (1038-1227) - a significant historical regime founded by the Tangut people - the tombs constitute China's largest and best-preserved imperial burial site in terms of above ground remains.

The core site includes nine imperial mausoleums, 271 accompanying tombs and a 5.03-hectare northern architectural site. More than 7,100 architectural fragments and exquisite cultural relics have been unearthed there, placing its scale on par with other renowned Chinese imperial burial sites such as the Song Tombs in Gongxian county, Central China's Henan Province, and the Ming Tombs in Beijing.

Chen Tongbin, a member of the Chinese Society of Cultural Relics participating in the UNESCO World Heritage application, told the Global Times that the value of the Xixia Imperial Tombs lies in providing a unique testimony to the Xixia Dynasty, as well as the story of the Tangut people, which has been long obscured by time and conquest but now has emerged as a testament to the multicultural roots of Chinese civilization.

Historical records indicate that during the Xixia Dynasty, various ethnic groups, including the Tangut, Han, Uygur and Tibetan, coexisted. Their diverse livelihoods, religious practices and cultural customs enriched the Western Xia's heritage, shaping its distinctive and multifaceted cultural identity.

Wang Changfeng, an archaeologist who has worked at the site for 28 years, told the Global Times that the main architectural systems and forms of the Xixia Imperial Tombs were undoubtedly influenced by the traditional culture of the Central Plains. 

Specifically, they were influenced by the imperial tomb systems of the Central Plains starting with the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties. For example, the tombs face south, the buildings highlight a central axis, and the layout is as symmetrical as possible on both sides. The tomb complex includes features such as gate towers, spirit ways and stone statues, all of which are cultural elements of the Central Plains tomb system.

Despite their enduring presence for nearly a millennium, the tombs have not been immune to natural degradation and human impact. The vast and scattered distribution of the sites, coupled with nearby farms and households, has posed challenges for conservation. 

As part of the nomination process, Ningxia has launched environmental remediation in the heritage zone. Plans include relocating the museum, building a heritage park, and opening more imperial tombs to the public, allowing visitors to gain a deeper understanding of the short yet remarkable Xixia Dynasty.

These efforts align closely with this year's broader UNESCO agenda. In her opening remarks, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay highlighted the growing threats to heritage sites posed by extreme weather events such as floods, underscoring that addressing climate change remains a critical challenge for global heritage protection.

The 11-day session will not only review new nominations but also assess the state of conservation of sites under threat from climate change, armed conflict and natural disasters. Delegates will explore ways to strengthen international cooperation and enhance heritage management practices.

Bulgaria holds the chairmanship of this year's session. Bulgarian Culture Minister Marian Bachev noted at the opening ceremony the demanding nature of heritage protection work and emphasized the vital role of young people in preserving cultural memory, leveraging education and digital technology. He also stressed that while artificial intelligence can serve as a tool, it cannot replace the dedication and expertise of those committed to safeguarding the world's heritage.

A preparatory meeting was held on Sunday, while the session is scheduled to conclude on July 16. The evaluation results for the Xixia Imperial Tombs will be announced on Friday.