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Mount Huangshan

Mount Huangshan

Huangshan, known as 'the loveliest mountain of China', was acclaimed through art and literature during a good part of Chinese history (e.g. the Shanshui 'mountain and water' style of the mid-16th century). Today it holds the same fascination for visitors, poets, painters and photographers who come on pilgrimage to the site, which is renowned for its magnificent scenery made up of many granite peaks and rocks emerging out of a sea of clouds.

Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

Mont Huangshan

Célébrée durant une bonne partie de l'histoire chinoise dans l'art et la littérature (par exemple dans le style shanshui « montagne et eau », milieu du XVIe siècle), Huangshan, la plus belle montagne de Chine, exerce toujours la même fascination sur les visiteurs, les poètes, les peintres et les photographes d'aujourd'hui venus en pèlerinage dans ce lieu enchanteur, connu pour son paysage grandiose composé de nombreux rochers et pics granitiques émergeant d'une mer de nuages.

Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

جبل هوانغشان

يُحتفى بجبل هوانغشان أجمل جبال الصين على مرّ التاريخ في الفنون والأدب (مثلاً في تحفة "جبل وماء" من النسق الشانشوي أواسط القرن السادس عشر)، وهو لا يزال ينُشده الزوّار والأدباء والرسّامون والمصوّرون المتوافدون في رحلةِ استجمام إلى هذا المكان الآسر المعروف بمناظره الرائعة المكوّنة من العديد من الصخور والقمم من مادة الغرانيت المطلة عبر بحرٍ من الغيوم.

source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

黄山

黄山被誉为“震旦国中第一奇山”。在中国历史上的鼎盛时期,通过文学和艺术的形式(例如16世纪中叶的“山”、“水”风格)受到广泛的赞誉。今天,黄山以其壮丽的景色——生长在花岗岩石上的奇松和浮现在云海中的怪石而著称,对于从四面八方来到这个风景胜地的游客、诗人、画家和摄影家而言,黄山具有永恒的魅力。

source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

Гора Хуаншань

Образ горы Хуаншань, известной как «любимая гора китайцев», часто использовался в литературе и искусстве (к примеру, в середине XVI в. сложился стиль «шаньшуй» – «горы и воды»). В наше время гора также привлекает посетителей, поэтов, художников и фотографов, которые наслаждаются видом живописных гранитных пиков, утопающих в море облаков.

source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

Monte Huangshan

Huangshan, la mí¡s bella montaña de China, ha sido celebrada por artistas y literatos durante gran parte de la historia del paí­s (por ejemplo, en el estilo "montaña y agua" del Shanshui, a mediados del siglo XVI). Su grandioso paisaje de rocas y picos graní­ticos que emergen de un mar de nubes sigue ejerciendo hoy el mismo poder de fascinación sobre los numerosos viajeros, poetas, pintores y fotógrafos que acuden en peregrinación a visitarla.

source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

黄山
安 省にある高くそびえる72の峰々。豊かな自然とその景観に育まれた文化がみごとに融合し、複合遺産として登録されている。黄山には1000種を越える植物、貴重な動物が生息しており、霧につつまれることが多い峰々は詩に詠まれ、水墨画や山水画に描かれた。

source: NFUAJ

Huangshan berg

Huangshan – ‘mooiste berg van China’ – werd voor een groot deel van de Chinese geschiedenis geprezen in de kunst en literatuur (bijvoorbeeld in de Shanshui ‘berg en water’-schilderkunst van het midden van de 16e eeuw). Dezelfde fascinatie geldt vandaag de dag nog steeds voor bezoekers, dichters, schilders en fotografen die op bedevaart komen naar dit gebied. Esthetisch vormt het gebied een uniek schouwspel, met zowel hoge bergen, bossen, meren, trapsgewijze meertjes en watervallen. De grote variatie in kleuren is ook opmerkelijk; veel meren hebben helder blauw, turkoois of groen water, en in de herfst tonen de bladeren een scala aan warme kleuren.

Source: unesco.nl

Outstanding Universal Value

Brief synthesis

Mount Huangshan, often described as the “loveliest mountain of China”, has played an important role in the history of art and literature in China since the Tang Dynasty around the 8th century, when a legend dated from the year 747 described the mountain as the place of discovery of the long-sought elixir of immortality.  This legend gave Mount Huangshan its name and assured its place in Chinese history.  Mount Huangshan became a magnet for hermits, poets and landscape artists, fascinated by its dramatic mountainous landscape consisting of numerous granitic peaks, many over 1,000 m high, emerging through a perpetual  sea of clouds.  During the Ming Dynasty from around the 16th century, this landscape and its numerous grotesquely-shaped rocks and ancient, gnarled trees inspired the influential Shanshui (“Mountain and Water”) school of landscape painting, providing a fundamental representation of the oriental landscape in the world’s imagination and art.

The property, located in the humid subtropical monsoon climate zone of China’s Anhui Province and covering an area of 16,060 ha with a buffer zone of 49,000 ha, is also of outstanding importance for its botanical richness and for the conservation of a number of locally or nationally endemic plant species, some of which are threatened with extinction.

Criterion (ii): The cultural value of Mount Huangshan’s scenic landscape first entered the Chinese imagination in the Tang Dynasty and has been held in high esteem ever since.  The mountain was named Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) by imperial order in the year 747 and from that time on attracted many visitors, including hermits, poets and painters, all of whom eulogized the mountain’s inspirational scenery through painting and poetry, creating a rich body of art and literature of global significance. During the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), 64 temples were constructed on the mountain. In 1606, the monk Pumen came to Huangshan and built the Fahai Meditation Temple.  By the Ming Dynasty (around the16th century), depictions of Mount Huangshan had become a favourite theme of Chinese landscape painters, establishing the influential Shanshui (“Mountain and Water”) school of landscape painting. Showcasing the interaction of man and nature in this highly scenic setting has inspired generations of Chinese artists and writers.

Criterion (vii): Mount Huangshan is renowned for its magnificent natural scenery which includes massive granitic boulders and ancient pine trees which are often further enhanced by cloud and mist effects.  This dramatic landscape includes formations of natural stone pillars, grotesquely-shaped rocks, waterfalls, caves, lakes and hot springs, formed by its complex geological history.  The property features numerous imposing peaks, 77 of which exceed an altitude of 1,000 m, with the highest, the famous Lianhua Peak (Lotus Flower Peak), reaching up to 1,864 m.

Criterion (x): Mount Huangshan provides the habitat for a number of locally or nationally endemic plant species, several of which are globally threatened. Its outstandingly rich flora contains one-third of China's bryophytes (mosses and liverworts) and over half of its pteridophytes (ferns).  Species endemic to Huangshan include 13 species of pteridophytes and 6 species of higher plants, with many other species endemic to the region or to China. This exceptional flora is complemented by an important vertebrate fauna of over 300 species, including 48 mammal species, 170 birds, 38 reptiles, 20 amphibians and 24 fish. A total of 13 species are under state protection, including the Clouded Leopard Neofelis nebulosa (VU) and the Oriental Stork Ciconia boyciana (EN).

Integrity

All the elements that embody the values of Mount Huangshan are present within the boundaries of the inscribed property and its designated buffer zone.  It is a highly scenic natural area showing good evidence of glaciation, and composed of numerous imposing peaks, grotesquely-shaped rocks, waterfalls, caves, lakes, and hot springs, all of which are well-protected.  The ancient temples (of which there are the remains of more than 20), the rock inscriptions and the pathways to them and to scenic viewpoints are also intact and well-maintained.  Some 1,600 people live within the area, most of whom are staff and their dependants. A policy is in force to reduce these numbers as well as the accompanying buildings as opportunities arise.

Authenticity

The imposing scenery of Mount Huangshan has inspired some of the most outstanding creations of Chinese painting and poetry, as well as of temple architecture.  A legend from the Tang Dynasty dated from the year 747 describes the mountain as the place of discovery of the long-sought elixir of immortality.  This gave to Mount Huangshan its name and assured its place in Chinese history.  Mount Huangshan became a magnet for hermits, poets and landscape artists, fascinated by the landscape of mountains emerging from a sea of clouds.  During the Ming Dynasty (from around the16th century) this landscape inspired the Shanshui (“Mountain and Water”) school of painting, whose masters included the artists Jian Jiang, Zha Shibiao, Mei Oing, Xugu, and Xue Zhuang.  The most famous of all was Shi Tao whose essay “Comments on the paintings of the monk Bitter Pumpkin” is one of the most renowned works of Chinese literature.  It is from these works of art and literature that the authenticity of Mount Huangshan can best be understood; the place of inspiration for some of the world’s greatest cultural achievements.

Management and protection requirements

Mount Huangshan World Heritage property is a National Park protected under the laws of China.  These include:  the Law on the Protection of Cultural Relics (1982), the Forestry Law (1982), the Law on the Management of Scenic and Historic Interest Areas (1985), and the Law on the Protection of Wildlife (1988).  Protection, conservation and management of the property have been strengthened by the establishment of the Management Committee of Huangshan National Park directly under the authority of Huangshan Municipality. A special fund has been set up to assure adequate financial resources are available to monitor and manage the property to the highest international standards.

A Master Plan for the property is currently under implementation. Objectives of this plan are to balance conservation of the property with tourism promotion, to ensure the safeguarding of the scenic area within a framework of sustainable development for the local community, and to raise conservation management standards by “digitizing, systematizing, refining, and humanizing” the property’s management regime, in order to preserve effectively the artistic, cultural and environmental heritage value of Mount Huangshan.

The pressure of visitors is the most obvious factor affecting the property. Mount Huangshan is one of the most popular scenic landscapes in China, with annual visitation at 2.74 million and increasing at 8.96% per annum. Visitor numbers need to be stabilised. Other threats to the property include pine wood nematode pests; storm damage to trees, landslides, and dams; negligent acts by tourists (i.e. smoking, littering); and water shortages which increase fire hazards. 

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