UNESCO has officially added the Terraced Salt-Gardens of the Yunnan Highlands in China to the World Heritage List. These unique cultural landscapes, which date back over 1,200 years, represent a sophisticated system of high-altitude salt production using natural brine springs and wooden evaporation ponds built into steep mountain slopes.
The site was recognized for its exceptional testimony to human ingenuity in harsh environments. The local communities have maintained the wooden infrastructure and traditional brine-harvesting techniques for generations, creating a vibrant socio-economic system that harmonizes with the regional hydrology and biodiversity. The designation includes protective zones for the surrounding forests that provide the timber for the maintenance of the salt pans.
Heritage experts noted that the site is also a critical repository of intangible cultural heritage, including folk songs and rituals associated with the 'Salt Spirits.' This inscription is expected to bolster sustainable tourism in the region while providing international funding for the preservation of the aging wooden canal networks.