A
East China's port city of Quanzhou was added to UNESCO World Heritage (遗产)List on July 25, 2021, bringing the total number of the country's UNESCO World Heritage sites to 56. The following are four of them, which fall into two categories一three cultural sites and one natural site.
* Classical Gardens of Suzhou
Classical Chinese garden design, which seeks to recreate natural scenery, is nowhere better shown than in the nine gardens in Suzhou. They are generally acknowledged to be masterpieces of the style. Dating from the 11th—19th century, the gardens reflect the importance of natural beauty in Chinese culture in their design.
* Hubei Shennongjia
This natural site protects the largest primary forests remaining in Central China and provides living space for many rare animals. It is one of three centers of biodiversity in China. The site is important in the history of botanical research and was the object of international plant collecting trips in the 19th and 20th centuries.Ancient City of Pingyao
Founded in the 14th century, Pingyao is a well-preserved example of a traditional Han Chinese city. It shows the changes of architectural styles and town planning in China over five centuries. Of special interest are the grand buildings associated with banking, for which Pingyao was the major centre for the whole of China in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
* Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui—Xidi and Hongcun
The two traditional villages of Xidi and Hongcun preserve the appearance of non-urban settlements of a type that largely disappeared or was transformed during the last century. Their street plan, their architecture and decoration, and the harmony of houses with water systems are unique surviving examples.
21. What is stressed in the design of Suzhou Gardens?
A. The tradition. B. The natural beauty.
C. The biodiversity. D. The Chinese history.
22. In what way is Hubei Shennongjia different from the other three?
A. It belongs to natural sites. B. It has the largest forest in China.
C. It attracts objective collectors. D. It owns a biodiversity research center. 23. Which place was the major financial center of China in the 19th century?
A. Quanzhou. B. Suzhou. C. Pingyao. D. Xidi.