The cultural landscapes of the West Lake in Hangzhou, the Yuan Dynasty Capital Site and the Silk Road were all included in the key project of the World Heritage application, said Shan Jixiang, CPPCC member and director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, on March 9.

Shan said that China now has a total of 40 world heritage sites, including 28 world cultural heritage sites, four world cultural and natural heritage sites and eight world natural heritage sites.

Over the next few years, the World Heritage application work will focus on three projects, namely the Hangzhou West Lake Cultural Landscape, the Yuan Dynasty Capital Site and the transnational application of the Silk Road.

Meanwhile, the protection and World Heritage application for the Grand Canal is also in full swing. The World Heritage application process table has been discharged. Related departments will launch the World Heritage application work of the Hangzhou West Lake Cultural Landscape project in an orderly fashion, guide the preparation work for the World Heritage application of the Yuan Dynasty Capital Site, promote the application work of the Silk Road and hold relevant international conferences regarding the World Heritage application of the Silk Road.