Hainan seeks global nod for cultural, natural heritages

Hainan province is ramping up efforts to qualify its Hainan Tropical Rainforest and Traditional Settlements of the Li Ethnic Group for inclusion in the World Heritage List, with an emphasis on both protection and economic development.

Lyu Yan, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress and deputy head of Baoting Li and Miao autonomous county in Hainan, said the province must safeguard its natural environment while revitalizing its cultural heritage. "We need to protect our lush mountains while revitalizing our intangible cultural heritage," Lyu said. "Beyond protection, we must foster development by using our cultural heritage."

Located in the central and southern parts of the island province, the tropical rainforest centered around Wuzhishan is a sanctuary for endangered species and island-specific flora and fauna. It is also home to the Li people, who have cultivated a distinctive island tribal culture for thousands of years.