The UNESCO recognised park is also home to at least four globally threatened and endangered species: the black rhinoceros, elephant, wild dog and cheetah.

At an elevation of 2400 metres in southwest Yunnan province, the historic townscape’s meandering maze of narrow laneways and timber houses with slanted tiled roofs, has unique and well-preserved architecture from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The surrounding mountains, rivers and trees are also well-preserved with an ancient ingenious water-supply system still in function today.

This massive collection of icebergs sits at the point where the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, the fastest moving in the world, calves into the sea.This awe-inspiring phenomenon has been studied for more than 250 years to help develop an understanding of climate change.

Along with its spectacular natural attractions – narrow gorges, natural arches, soaring cliffs – Wadi Rum possesses archaeological remains, some 25,000 rock carvings and 20,000 inscriptions to indicate 12,000 years of human occupation and the evolution of pastoral, agricultural and urban activity.

Around 1.5 million people were premeditatedly starved, tortured and murdered here between 1942 and 1944, and as such the site is a symbol and evidence of the inhumane cruelty towards fellow human beings. The site retains a high level of authenticity in its fortified walls, barracks, gas chambers and crematoria, and possesses many personal items of the victims.