At the 41st session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Poland on July 7, Hoh Xil was inscribed as a new world natural heritage site, making it the largest natural heritage site in China, with an area of 45,000 square kilometers.

Hoh Xil, which means "beautiful girl" in Mongolian, is located in the northeastern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the world's largest and highest plateau. With an average elevation of 4,000 meters above sea level, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau contains the headwaters of most of the major river systems in the region, including China's Yellow River and Yangtze River. A paradise for wildlife, Hoh Xil is home to more than 230 wild animal species including endangered creatures such as the Tibetan antelope and the wild ass.

The site's application for world heritage status, which was launched at the end of 2014, took two and a half years to gain approval. The successful listing of Hoh Xil as a world natural heritage site shows China's commitment to better protecting the area.

(Photos by Xinhua)

Copyedited by Chris Surtees 

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