Ye Olde Burying Ground is the oldest burial ground in the town of Lexington, MA. The earliest graves here mark back to the 1690s. This cemetery boasts graves of many prominent early Lexington settlers as well as the bodies of soldiers from both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. Famously, the first causality of the British army is also buried here in an unmarked grave.
Yellowstone National Park is an American national park located in the western United States, largely in the northwest corner of Wyoming and extending into Montana and Idaho. It was established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872. Yellowstone was the first national park in the U.S. and is also widely held to be the first national park in the world. The park is known for its wildlife and its many geothermal features, especially the Old Faithful geyser, one of its most popular. While it represents many types of biomes, the subalpine forest is the most abundant. It is part of the South Central Rockies forests ecoregion. While Native Americans have lived in the Yellowstone region for at least 11,000 years, aside from visits by mountain men during the early-to-mid-19th century, organized exploration did not begin until the late 1860s. Management and control of the park originally fell under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of the Interior, the first Secretary of the Interior to supervise the park being Columbus Delano. However, the U.S. Army was eventually commissioned to oversee management of Yellowstone for a 30-year period between 1886 and 1916. In 1917, administration of the park was transferred to the National Park Service, which had been created the previous year. Hundreds of structures have been built and are protected for their architectural and historical significance, and researchers have examined more than a thousand archaeological sites. Yellowstone National Park spans an area of 3,468.4 sq mi (8,983 km2), comprising lakes, canyons, rivers, and mountain ranges. Yellowstone Lake is one of the largest high-elevation lakes in North America and is centered over the Yellowstone Caldera, the largest supervolcano on the continent. The caldera is considered a dormant volcano. It has erupted with tremendous force several times in the last two million years. Well over half of the world's geysers and hydrothermal features are in Yellowstone, fueled by this ongoing volcanism. Lava flows and rocks from volcanic eruptions cover most of the land area of Yellowstone. The park is the centerpiece of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the largest remaining nearly-intact ecosystem in the Earth's northern temperate zone. In 1978, Yellowstone was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Yellowstone National Park is a nearly 3,500-sq.-mile wilderness recreation area atop a volcanic hot spot. Mostly in Wyoming, the park spreads into parts of Montana and Idaho too. Yellowstone features dramatic canyons, alpine rivers, lush forests, hot springs and gushing geysers, including its most famous, Old Faithful. It's also home to hundreds of animal species, including bears, wolves, bison, elk and antelope.
Yellowstone National Park, established as the first national park in the world in 1872, remains a vital representation of natural preservation. The park’s boundaries span the states of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho and has become an emblem of environmental conservation. Yellowstone National Park supports several United Nations Standard Development Goals (SDGs), including #3, #13, and #15. It contributes to #3 Good Health and Wellbeing as it promotes positive mental and physical health by providing a public and accessible space in nature for ecotourism. It’s importance to #13 Climate Action is highlighted by natural and physical attributes which allow for the observation and study of both short-term and long-term effects of climate change. Finally, it supports #15 Life on Land with its dedication to its designation as protected land, supporting the maintenance of rich biodiversity and conservation.
Culture,Immovable Culture Heritage,Tourism
Yinxu (modern IPA: [ín.ɕý]; Chinese: 殷墟; lit. 'Ruins of Yin') is the site of one of the ancient and major historical capitals of China. It is the source of the archeological discovery of oracle bones and oracle bone script, which resulted in the identification of the earliest known Chinese writing. The archeological remnants (or ruins) known as Yinxu represent the ancient city of Yin, the last capital of China's Shang dynasty which existed through eight generations for 255 years, and through the reign of 12 kings. Yinxu was discovered, or rediscovered, in 1899. It is now one of China's oldest and largest archeological sites, and was selected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006. Yinxu is located in northernmost Henan province near the modern city of Anyang, and near the Hebei and Shanxi province borders. Public access to the site is permitted.
Yingge dance is one of the Han dance forms. It is popular in the Chaoshan area of Guangdong Province and Zhangzhou of Fujian Province. It is a folk square dance that combines southern martial arts, drama and other local arts. It is also popular in Hong Kong, China and Thailand. The British song and dance is affectionately called "Chinese War Dance" or "Chinese Street Dance" by fans around the world. By teaching and performing Yingge dance in schools and communities, it not only teaches dance skills, but also conveys knowledge about local history and culture, which helps to foster a sense of cultural identity and values of respect for diversity in the younger generation. This approach to education directly contributes to SDG 4.7 goal of promoting the values of sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality and cultural diversity through education.
Yingge Dance mesmerized the audience in Chaoshan
Video shows the performance of Yingge Dance.
The Yinshan Mountain, located in the western part of Inner Mongolia, was the hub of Chinese northern nomadic culture in history. Not only has it witnessed the rise and fall of different ancient nomadic groups, but it reserved the trace of their living with their petroglyphs created through 10 historical stages. Among 50,000 paintings which have been found so far, the earliest one can be dated back to 10,000 years ago. The long history and rich content made it a valuable source for historical study. However, due to vandalism, natural erosion and a lack of continued protection, a lot of paintings are in peril.
The Yinshan Mountain, located in the western part of Inner Mongolia, was the hub of Chinese northern nomadic culture in history. Not only has it witnessed the rise and fall of different ancient nomadic groups, but it reserved the trace of their living with their petroglyphs created through 10 historical stages. Among 50,000 paintings which have been found so far, the earliest one can be dated back to 10,000 years ago. The long history and rich content made it a valuable source for historical study. However, due to vandalism, natural erosion and a lack of continued protection, a lot of paintings are in peril. The preservation of Yinshan Rock Carving started in the 1980s and it was selected as one of the national heritage sites in 2006. However, most protection measures are still very traditional and not effective. So far, the government has been preserving the physical paintings by setting up monuments, CCTV and fences. Digital measures include taking pictures, videos and using GIS technologies to identify locations. These efforts enabled the government to understand the number, distribution, size and popular themes of paintings, but the digital preservation with advanced technologies has not yet been carried out.
Yixian Ancient Street during Lantern Festival
The ancient streets of Yixian County, located in Anhui Province, China, come alive every year with a vibrant Lantern Festival that illuminates the historic Huizhou-style buildings. During the festival, hundreds of handmade lanterns—crafted in traditional forms and materials—are displayed along narrow stone-paved streets, transforming the town into a glowing corridor of cultural expression. These lanterns carry deep symbolic meaning, representing prosperity, reunion, and ancestral respect, while embodying the artistic craftsmanship passed down through generations. The festival fuses tangible and intangible heritage: the fixed architectural setting of Yixian’s grey-walled, tile-roofed buildings and the living cultural practice of lantern-making, storytelling, and communal celebration. Digital heritage tools—such as nighttime 360° mapping, oral history recordings, and augmented reality projections—can capture the multi-sensory experience of this event and ensure its transmission to younger audiences. This project supports SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, as it promotes local identity, heritage-based tourism, and the preservation of community traditions.
Yixian Lantern Festival Cultural Landscape
Located in the heart of Yixian County in Anhui Province, the historic ancient street is a living embodiment of traditional Huizhou culture. Especially captivating at night, the street transforms into a glowing corridor of lanterns—delicate, pink-hued lights that hang rhythmically from traditional Anhui-style grey-tiled buildings. These lanterns are more than decorative; they symbolize peace, reunion, and the continuity of local traditions. The street layout, architectural style, and community life remain largely preserved, reflecting centuries of Hui merchant culture and Confucian values. Digital documentation through photography, virtual night tours, and 3D mapping can preserve the night-time ambiance of this street for future generations. The project contributes to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities by promoting cultural identity, safeguarding living heritage, and encouraging responsible tourism.
The ancient streets of Yixian County, located in Anhui Province, China.
Yu Garden is located in the northeast of the Old Town Hall of Shanghai, bordering Fuyou Road in the north, Anren Street in the east and Shanghai Old Town God Temple in the southwest. It was built in the Jiajing Period of the Ming Dynasty and was a private garden in the Ming Dynasty.In the Ming Dynasty Wanli period covers an area of more than 30 acres.Yuyuan Garden was opened to the public in 1961 and was listed as a key cultural relic under national protection by China's State Council in 1982.There are more than 40 ancient buildings in the garden, such as the ear hall, the iron lion, the fast building, the moon building, the jade Linglong building, the jade water gallery, the listening tao pavilion, the Hanbi building, the inner garden observation hall, the ancient stage, as well as the rockery and the pond.Sansui Hall is located at the front gate of Yuyuan Garden.
The Yuetan Park is located in the west of South Lishi Road and south of North Yuetan Street in Xicheng District, Beijing. It was built in 1530 for the Ming and Qing dynasties to worship the God of Night (Moon) and the heavenly deities on the autumnal equinox. The ancient buildings such as the Bell Tower, the Heavenly Gate and the Divine Treasury are well preserved. It is a protected cultural heritage unit in Beijing. The Temple of the Moon was established as the Temple of the Moon Park in 1955.
Yungang Grottoes is located at the southern foot of Wuzhou Mountain, about 16 kilometers west of Datong City, Shanxi Province, China. With a history of 1,500 years, Yungang Grottoes is the first Buddhist art treasure house carved by a nation and a dynasty into an imperial style after Buddhism art was spread to China. It is a historical monument of the integration of Chinese and Western cultures in the 5th century. The Yungang Grottoes were inscribed on the World Cultural Heritage List by the United Nations in 2001. The Yungang Grottoes were built between the 2nd year of Xing 'an (453) and the 19th year of Taihe (495) of the Northern Wei Dynasty, and were the first large-scale grottoes in China to be excavated under the leadership of an imperial dignitary. The grottoes are excavated from the mountain. There are more than 1,100 Buddhas and more than 51,000 Buddhas, the largest of which is 17 meters high and the smallest of which is only 2 centimeters high. It represents the great achievements of Buddhist art in China during the 5th and 6th centuries. It was the first peak of the development history of Chinese Buddhist art.
The Yungang Grottoes (Chinese: 云冈石窟; pinyin: Yúngāng shíkū), formerly the Wuzhoushan Grottoes (Chinese: 武州山 / 武周山; pinyin: Wǔzhōushān), are ancient Chinese Buddhist temple grottoes near the city of Datong, then called Pingcheng, in the province of Shanxi. They are excellent examples of rock-cut architecture and one of the three most famous ancient Buddhist sculptural sites of China. The others are Longmen and Mogao. The site is located about 16 km west of the city of Datong, in the valley of the Shi Li river at the base of the Wuzhou Shan mountains. They are an outstanding example of the Chinese stone carvings from the 5th and 6th centuries. There are 53 major caves, along with 51,000 niches housing the same number of Buddha statues. Additionally, there are around 1,100 minor caves. A Ming dynasty-era fort is still located on top of the cliff housing the Yungang Grottoes.
A photo of Buddha statues at the Yungang Grottoes, Datong, Shanxi, China. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 by xiquinhosilva.
Yungang Grottoes is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located near Datong, Shanxi Province, China. The site contains 252 caves and over 51,000 stone Buddhist statues, created during the Northern Wei dynasty starting from around 460 AD. These grottoes reflect the spread of Buddhism into China and the fusion of traditional Chinese and foreign artistic styles. They are significant examples of early Buddhist cave art and show advanced stone carving techniques of the time. The official website of the Yungang Grottoes offers a 720-degree virtual panoramic tour of important caves with audio and text explanations. Visitors can also view high-resolution images of the carvings online. These digital tools help people explore and understand the site remotely. This heritage site contributes to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by protecting and promoting cultural heritage. It also supports SDG 13 (Climate Action) by reducing the environmental impact of tourism through virtual access.