(ECNS) -- The Ancient Roads to Shu (Sichuan Province) have been inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage tentative list and incorporated into the nomination scope of the World Natural and Cultural Heritage, the West China Metropolis Daily said, citing an official from the provincial Housing and Construction Department.
The Shu Roads, a system of 2,000-year-old paths joining Sichuan Province and Shaanxi Province, are well known for hardships and dangers, as there are rugged mountains, forests, wild rivers and natural wilderness.
Ancient Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai once wrote that "The Roads to Shu are hard, harder than climbing to heaven."
The core areas proposed cover more than 3,700 square kilometers, including 22 counties in six cities, with an area of more than 2,000 square kilometers in Guangyuan city.
This year is the 30th anniversary of China's accession to UNESCO. China has 48 items of world natural heritages and cultural heritages so far, coming second in the world.
If the declaration is successful, Sichuan will become the sole owner of two mixed heritage items.
