Decision 40 COM 7B.30

Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains (China) (C 705)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 38 COM 7B.9, adopted at its 38th session (Doha, 2014),
3. Takes note of the ongoing work and remaining design issues for the Yuzhen Palace uplift project, as well as the ongoing work on the mangement plan and other management issues;
4. Requests the State Party to adopt the second proposal for the final shape of the platform, infilling the small channels to form a more natrual shoreline;
5. Endorses the proposal to reinstall the archaeological remains at the new grade level as outlined in the State Party report, but also requests the State Party to ensure that interpretation and presentation of these remains and the entire Yezhen Palace complex should occur in a way that allows visitors to understand the changes that the propety has undergone as part of the uplift project;
6. Notes that the State Party has submitted a draft of the Protection and Management Plan for the Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains, and further requests the State Party to finalize this plan, with a focus on promotion of living heritage, and a strengthened cultural landscape approach, and submit it to the World Heritage Centre, for review by the Advisory Bodies;
7. Requests furthermore the State Party to institute a strong, long-term programme of monitoring of visitor management, including not only the number of visitors, but also any impacts that visitors may be having, particularly on the more sensitive areas of the property;
8. Regretting that the State Party has not yet responded to the December 2013 letter of the World Heritage Centre seeking clarification on the components of the property and its buffer zone, urges the State Party to address this matter with representatives of the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, in order to reach a final agreement which, if necessary, should be presented for examination by the World Heritage Committee;
9. Requests moreover the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2017, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 42nd session in 2018.