FILE: China - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of Bianzhong of Marquis Yi of Zeng
2. Various of Steles of Shaolin Temple
3. Visitors at museum
4. Various of Trilingual Inscription
5. Tourist at scenic spot

FILE: Paris, France - April 18, 2017 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
6. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) building

FILE: Paris, France - Nov 9, 2021 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
7. Various of UNESCO sign

FILE: Paris, France - May 6, 2024 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
8. Building of UNESCO headquarters
9. Sculpture before UNESCO headquarters building

Three documentary heritage collections submitted by China have been inscribed in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization announced on Thursday.

Among the 74 newly added entries, China contributed two solo submissions -- the Bianzhong of Marquis Yi of Zeng and the Steles of Shaolin Temple -- as well as a joint submission with Sri Lanka: the Trilingual Inscription.

According to UNESCO, the Bianzhong of Marquis Yi of Zeng is a remarkable set of ancient bronze bells unearthed in 1978 from the Tombs of Marquis Yi in Suizhou City, central China's Hubei Province. These bells not only offer insights into early Chinese musical traditions but also contain inscriptions considered the earliest surviving archaeological records illustrating mathematical relationships in music.

The Steles of Shaolin Temple (566-1990) comprise 499 surviving steles of the iconic temple, presenting a relatively complete and coherent sequence of historical documents in the form of stone inscriptions dating back to 1424.

The third entry, the Trilingual Inscription jointly submitted by China and Sri Lanka, is a stone tablet dated February 15, 1409. The inscription features texts in Chinese, Persian, and Tamil. Installed by Chinese Admiral Zheng He during one of his voyages, it praises Buddha, Vishnu, and Allah. UNESCO describes it as the only known trilingual text that combines these three languages and represents three distinct civilizations.

With this addition, a total of 18 Chinese documentary heritage items have been inscribed in the Memory of the World Register.

The Memory of the World Register, World Heritage, and Intangible Cultural Heritage are UNESCO’s three flagship heritage programs.