A World Heritage Site, the Old City of Cairo consists of five distinct Old City districts at the centre of this sprawling modern metropolis. Founded in the 10th century, the Old City of Cairo is one of the oldest Islamic cities in the world and has become the centre of the Islamic world. The Old City is home to a number of classified monuments (some 800 in total) spanning 1,300 years from the 7th century onwards. These monuments include ancient mosques, madrasas, hammams and fountains, the massive walls and the huge citadel with its mosques and palaces. The central area of the World Heritage Site covers 312 hectares and comprises the bustling heart of the old city, from the Citadel and the Ibn Tulun Mosque in the south to the outskirts of Al-Azhar in the north, dominated by the huge Al-Azhar Mosque and the Khan al-Khalili Market, which is made up of shops and alleys.
Wadi Al-Hitan, the whale valley in the western desert of Egypt, contains priceless fossilised remains of the earliest, and now extinct, suborder of whales, the Archaeoceti. These fossils represent one of evolution's most important stories: the whale's emergence as an ocean-going mammal from a previous life as a land-based animal. This is the most important place in the world to demonstrate this stage of evolution. It provides a vivid picture of the shape and life of whales during this transitional phase. The number, concentration and quality of fossils here is unique, as is its accessibility and location in an attractive and protected landscape. The fossils in Al-Hitan show the youngest archaeocetes, which are in the final stages of losing their hind limbs. Other fossil material in the area makes it possible to reconstruct the environmental and ecological conditions of the time.
The Valley of the Kings, located on the west bank of the Nile near Luxor, Egypt, is an important archaeological site. It served as the burial ground for pharaohs and powerful nobles of the Egyptian New Kingdom from the 16th to the 11th century BCE. The site is world-renowned for its architectural and artistic achievements, showcasing the height of ancientEgyptian funerary culture.
Iron Flower Show (Da Tie Hua) is a traditional Chinese folk firework performance that started in the Northern Song dynasty, flourished during the Ming and Qing dynasties, and has a history of over a thousand years. Today, it's mainly popular in Hebei and Henan. During the performance, with drums beating, the molten iron is heated to 1600°C-1700°C. Performers throw the scalding iron into the sky, and another person hits the iron with a wooden board before it falls, creating a spectacular scene of fiery blooms in the air.
Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area (UNESCO/NHK)
This video, which introduces the rich natural landscapes and diverse ecosystems of the Jiuzhaigou Valley, has been specially edited and adapted by UNESCO for the NHK World Heritage 100 Series.
Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area
The Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area, located in Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province, China, is a World Biosphere Reserve known for its exceptional natural beauty and rich ecosystem. It is home to broad-leaf temperate forests, mountainous regions, and ancient glacial remnants, providing critical habitats for many endangered species, such as giant pandas, golden monkeys, and antelopes. As a settlement for the Tibetan and Qiang ethnic groups, Jiuzhaigou also features a unique cultural heritage, which contributes to its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Jiuzhaigou attracts millions of tourists every year. Despite the economic benefits of tourism, this popularity stresses the local ecological environment. In response, the local authorities have implemented a GIS-based Integrated Monitoring System to manage natural resource data efficiently, and a Smart Tourism Platform that adjusts eco-buses routes based on the tourist capacity, thus easing the impact during busy seasons. These measures have played a positive role in achieving SDG 12. B and SDG 15.1/4/5/9, promoting sustainable tourism and environmental conservation.
The Taj Mahal is located in the Agra District in Uttar Pradesh, India. It was first built in 1632 and took 16 years to complete. Painters, calligraphers, sculptors and many imperial craftsmen participated in its construction.