Since joining the International Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage 31 years ago, China has had 48 locations named as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. That number is second only to Italy's 51, with 34 of the Chinese venues designated as cultural, 10 as natural, and four as mixed. As we wait for the approval of two new UNESCO Heritage sites in China, let's take a look at those that have already made the list.

On November 6th, 1972, the 17th Session of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization adopted the Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage. Four years later, UNESCO established the World Heritage Committee, which is an inter-governmental cooperative body. This panel is responsible for adding Cultural and Natural Treasures of Outstanding Universal Value to the World Heritage List.

China ratified the Convention as a contracting party in 1985. One year later, the country began to identify and nominate locations in its territory to be considered for inclusion on the World Heritage List — and on October 29th, 1999 — China became a member state of the World Heritage Committee. The number of spots around the nation on the current list is 48, which ranks second overall, behind the 51 in Italy. These venues comprise some of China's most essential tourism resources, including the Great Wall, Mogao Caves, and the Imperial Palaces of the Ming & Qing Dynasties in Beijing & Shenyang, all of which were among the first selections included in the list.

Here is a full list of China's 48 world heritage sites.