Natural Heritage Value of Xinjiang Tianshan and Global Comparative Analysis

Xinjiang Tianshan is a serial natural property that has been nominated for World Heritage status. This paper presents a systematically comprehensive and comparative analysis of the heritage resources of Xinjiang Tianshan according to the World Heritage criteria. Its biological, ecological and aesthetic values, which are of global importance, are documented. It is concluded that Xinjiang Tianshan meets the world heritage criteria (vii) and (ix). Xinjiang Tianshan is compared with other mountain world heritage sites, mountains in Central Asia, the Tianshan Mountains outside China, and with the protected areas of the Tianshan Mountains on the Tentative List for World Heritage Sites, so as to provide objective data for the world heritage application.