Graphics: Central Asia's UNESCO-inscribed cultural and natural treasures

Once vital hubs on the ancient Silk Road, the five Central Asian countries Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan have given rise to rich civilizations and breathtaking natural landscapes. 

To date, the Central Asian region is home to 13 cultural properties, a site of "great cultural, historical and scientific importance that belongs to the statutorily-protected cultural heritage of a country," and five natural properties, "natural areas of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science, conservation or natural beauty," accounting for 18 properties inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. 

In the realm of transboundary properties, the "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor," inscribed in 2014 as a World Cultural Heritage site, spans China, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, connecting the historical threads of trade and cultural exchange across the ancient Eurasian continent.

The first China-Central Asia Summit was held in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, from May 18 to 19, 2023. The second summit will take place in Astana, Kazakhstan, from June 16 to 18, 2025.