Decision 44 COM 7B.19

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

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/7B.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 42 COM 7B.1, adopted at its 42nd session (Manama, 2018),
3. Takes note with appreciation of the efforts made by the State Party to accomplish the lift-up project of Yuzhen Palace, and requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies, upon completion of the project, a final report of the lift-up project, including the process of the lift-up of the palace itself, the reintegration of the archaeological remains and the relationship of the palace to the surrounding landscape;
4. Appreciates the development of the Management Plan and the implementation of the Visitor Management Plan for the property, and also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, for review by the Advisory Bodies, a full version of the Management Plan and details of the basis used to determine the visitor carrying capacity of the property and its individual components, along with guidelines for the protection from negative impacts on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value arising from tourism;
5. Acknowledges the submission of a boundary clarification request for the property in April 2021, which is currently under review by the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, and shall be examined at a subsequent session of the Committee, and further requests the State Party to continue engaging with the World Heritage Centre to clarify pending issues concerning the component parts and the buffer zones of the property, in line with previous decisions;
6. Requests furthermore the State Party to ensure, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, that the revised buffer zone for the property incorporates the entirety of the Wudang Mountains National Scenic Area, so as to protect the entire property and its wider setting, and to review the application and implementation of the Master Plan for the Wudang Mountains Scenic Area to ensure that it protects the landscape that binds together the component parts of the property;
7. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2022 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 46th session.