Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
State Party	China
Type	Natural
Criteria	vii, viii, ix, x
Reference	1083
Region**	Asia-Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription	2003  (27th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. ** Region as classified by UNESCO.

The Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Yunnan province, China. It lies within the watershed areas of the upper reaches of the Yangtze (Jinsha), Mekong (Lancang) and Salween (Nujiang) rivers, in the Yunnanese section of the Hengduan Mountains.

[edit] Overview

Meili Snow Mountain

The protected areas extend over 15 core areas, totalling 939,441.4 ha, and buffer areas, totalling 758,977.8 ha across a region of 180 km by 310 km. Here, for a distance of over 300 km, three of Asia's great rivers run roughly parallel to one another though separated by high mountain ranges with peaks over 6,000 meters. After this area of near confluence, the rivers greatly diverge: the Nujiang empties out at Moulmein, Burma, in to the Indian Ocean, the Mekong south of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in to the South China Sea and the Yangtse flows in to the East China Sea at Shanghai. Selected nature reserves and places of scenic beauty in this unique region were collectively awarded World Heritage Site status in 2003 for their very rich biodiversity and outstanding topographical diversity.

In its description, UNESCO mentions: "(It) may be the most biologically diverse temperate region on earth" and "An exceptional range of topographical features - from gorges to karst to glaciated peaks -- is associated with the site being at a 'collision point' of tectonic plates".

Due to its topography and geographical location, the Three Parallel Rivers region contains many climate types. Average annual precipitation ranges from 4,600mm in the Dulongjian area in the west of Gongshan county to 300mm in the upper valleys of the Yangtse river. The protected areas are home to around 6,000 species of plants, many of which are endemic to the region. The fauna found in the areas includes 173 species of mammals, of which 81 are endemic, and 417 species of birds, of which 22 are endemic.

Although this region has been acknowledged as a natural World Heritage Site, its demographic make-up also is highly interesting as it contains many of the twenty-five minorities found in Yunnan province including the Derung, the smallest of all of China's minority groups. Some of the other minorities found in this region are the Tibetan people, the Nu people, Lisu, Bai, Pumi and Naxi. Many of these minorities still use traditional costumes as their normal daily attire.

In the same region as the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas lies the Old Town of Lijiang, which is also a world heritage site in its own right.

[edit] Protected areas

The upper reaches of the Yangtze River bearing north, having just emerged from the Tiger Leaping Gorge

The site consists of 15 protected areas (in eight geographic clusters):

• The three separate sections of the Gaoligongshan Nature Reserve
• Haba Xueshan Nature Reserve (Tiger Leaping Gorge)
• Bita Lake Nature Reserve, part of Pudacuo National Park in Shangri-La County
• Yunling Nature Reserve
• Gongshan Scenic Area
• Yueliangshan Scenic Area (also known as Stone Moon mountain) in Fugong County
• Pianma Scenic Area in Lushui County
• Baima-Meili Snow Mountain Reserve, with the highest peak of the protected areas at 6,740 meters
• Julong Lake Scenic Area in Deqin County
• Laowoshan Scenic Area in Fugong County
• Hongshan Scenic Area, part of Pudacuo National Park in Shangri-La County
• Qianhushan Scenic Area
• Laojunshan Scenic Area in Lanping Bai and Pumi Autonomous County

[edit] Flora and fauna

According to UNESCO "The area covered by the World Heritage site is claimed to be the most biodiverse and least disturbed temperate ecosystems in the world".
The protected areas are for a large part covered with both coniferous and broadleaf forests. More than 200 varieties of Rhododendron and more than 100 species of Gentians and Primulas are found in the areas.

Some of the mammals which inhabit these regions are the endemic Black Snub-nosed Monkey, the Indian Leopard, Snow Leopard, and Clouded Leopard; the Gaoligong Pika, Gongshan muntjac, Chinese Shrew Mole, and Capped Langur; the Stump-tailed Macaque, Asiatic Wild Dog, Black Musk Deer, and Takin; the Smooth-coated Otter, Asian Black Bear and Red Panda.

Rare bird species in the areas include Chestnut-throated Partridge, the Lady Amherst's pheasant, White-eared Pheasant, Yunnan Nuthatch, and Giant Nuthatch; the White-speckled Laughingthrush, Ferruginous Duck, Severtzov's Grouse, and Brown-winged Parrotbill; the Ward's Trogon, Black-necked Crane, White Eared Pheasant, and Verreaux's Monal-Partridge.

[edit] See also

• List of World Heritage Sites in Asia and Australasia

[edit] Sources

• http://www.worldheritagesite.org/sites/parallelriversyunnan.html
• http://www.eoearth.org/article/Three_Parallel_Rivers_of_Yunnan_Protected_Areas,_China
• http://www.unep-wcmc.org/sites/wh/pdf/THREE%20RIVERS%20YUNNAN.pdf

Coordinates: 27°20′N 99°25′E / 27.333°N 99.417°E / 27.333; 99.417

v • d • e World Heritage Sites in China Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains · Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom · Classical Gardens of Suzhou · Dazu Rock Carvings · Fujian Tulou · Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace and Jokhang, including the Norbulingka · The Great Wall · Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area · Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing and Shenyang · Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties · Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area · Kaiping Diaolou and Villages · Old Town of Lijiang · Longmen Grottoes · Lushan National Park · Historic Centre of Macau · Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor · Mogao Caves · Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area · Mount Huang · Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System · Mount Sanqing · Mount Tai (Taishan) · Mount Wutai · Mount Wuyi · Chengde Mountain Resort and its outlying temples including the Putuo Zongcheng Temple and the Puning Temple · Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian · Ancient City of Ping Yao · Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries · South China Karst · Summer Palace, an Imperial Garden in Beijing  · Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and Kong Family Mansion, Qufu · Temple of Heaven: an Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing · Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas · Ancient villages in Southern Anhui - Xidi and Hongcun · Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area · Yin Xu · Yungang Grottoes