That year, the Ministry of Culture invited Professor Yukio Nishimura, Vice President of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), Shinto Sugio, Vice President of ICOMOS Japan, and Australian architect Bruce R. Pettman, among other experts, to Taiwan to survey these potential sites.
After convening 10 sessions of the “World Heritage Promotion Committee,” 18 official Taiwanese World Heritage potential sites were finalized in late 2013. These include the Matsu Battlefield Culture, Kin
Video Introduction to Taiwan's Potential World Heritage Sites
1. Matsu Battlefield Culture(Click here for more information)
Located in Lienchiang County, Matsu features a globally unique wartime cultural landscape. Starting in 1968, to meet combat mission needs, the Matsu region—on Beigan, Nangan, Siqi, and Dongyin—islands—saw laborers manually carving out “Beihai Tunnel,” “Antung Tunnel,” and “Wusha Tunnel” in solid granite under round-the-clock construction. These tunnel docks were created for landing crafts, forming a distinctive military seascape.
The islands are dotted with slogans such as “Counterattack the Mainland” and “Long Live President Chiang,” along with various underground chambers, tunnels, gun emplacements, kitchens, and toilets. These Cold War-era battlefield cultural landscapes reflect the unique historical context of the time. Together with lighthouses, folk temples, and stone steles, they meet the criteria of the World Heritage List under criteria ii and iv.
Moreover, Matsu’s unique wartime culture serves an educational purpose, transitioning from a “negative heritage” (conflict, war) to a “positive heritage” (reconciliation, peace), aligning with criterion iii of the World Heritage List.
2. Kinmen Battlefield Culture(Click here for more information)
The Kinmen Battlefield Culture is situated in Kinmen County. Since the early 4th century, prominent clans from mainland China migrated to the region. Over time, garrisons from the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing dynasties, and the Nationalist government were stationed there. Kinmen’s culture, economy, politics, and migration history are deeply intertwined. The migrants left behind a rich cultural legacy, including traditional Minnan-style architecture, uniquely imposing military structures described as “impregnable,” religious beliefs, and local customs related to weddings, funerals, and festivals. These cultural assets meet criteria ii and iv of the World Heritage List.
Similarly, Kinmen’s unique wartime culture also has educational significance, marking a shift from “negative heritage” to “positive heritage,” in line with criterion iii.
The traditional settlements and residential layouts of Kinmen reflect the spirit of patriarchal ethics. Even when influenced by foreign cultures and building Western-style “foreign residences,” their internal spatial arrangements remained governed by these ethical codes. Today, these traditional villages are in a fragile state due to modernization, meeting criterion v of the World Heritage List.
3. Tamsui Hongmao Castle and Its Surrounding Historic Buildings(Click here for more information)
Tamsui, located in New Taipei City, was originally inhabited by the Ketagalan indigenous people. After Han Chinese settlement and the opening of its port for trade, it became the gateway for Western culture entering Taiwan. Western religion, architecture, medicine, and education all spread across the island from Tamsui.
The Tamsui historic district features a unique architectural layout: riverside areas were used for commerce and transport; administrative and defensive facilities were built on elevated ground; while educational and religious institutions were located on the hilltops at the back, shaping a distinct settlement style that meets criterion ii of the World Heritage List.
Notably, the clear spatial separation between European and local residents reflects a tangible memory of different lifestyles and social norms of the past, aligning with criterion vi.
4. Datun Volcano Group(Click here for more information)
The Datun Volcano Group, located in Taipei and New Taipei City, features landforms shaped by intense volcanic activity and orogenic movements. With ancient strata dating back 25 million years, volcanic terrains, and post-volcanic geological formations, it bears witness to crustal shifts and geological evolution, meeting criterion viii. The area experiences distinct seasons and is considered a microcosm of Taiwan’s landscapes and ecology. It includes volcanoes, hot springs, grasslands, forests, boreal vegetation species descending to lower altitudes, glacial relict plants, and a variety of rare flora and fauna, making it ecologically significant and meeting criterion ix.
The lush vegetation and diverse terrain foster abundant wildlife, including 34 mammal species, 123 bird species, 23 amphibian species, 53 reptile species, and over 191 butterfly species. There are also more than 1,600 plant species, all of high research and conservation value, meeting criterion x.
5. Losheng Sanatorium(Click here for more information)
Situated in New Taipei City, Losheng Sanatorium retains architectural characteristics from the Japanese colonial period and the Nationalist government era. As a medical facility and quarantine site, it vividly presents the development of leprosy treatment and public health history, as well as reflecting the early struggles of patients’ human rights, meeting criterion ii.
Due to societal changes and economic development, the surrounding environment and natural scenery have gradually shifted, and the living quarters within the sanatorium have transformed—from traditional to modern, from “closed and isolated” to “open and resistant.” The function of the site has evolved from forced confinement to providing both care for leprosy patients and community healthcare. It represents a key example of “immutable and irreversible” interactions with the environment and adaptation to social change, meeting criterion v.
6. Shueinand Jinguang Mining Sites(Click here for more information)
The gold and copper mining heritage sites in the Shuijinjiu area of New Taipei City boast a complete history of gold and copper extraction that can rival any other mining town in the world, attracting research interest from scholars in economics, history, geology, botany, and more. The area’s cultural resources—including settlement landscapes, historical spaces, and folk festivals (such as the Crown Prince Guesthouse, Japanese-style residences, the Golden Shrine, and the Kuanji Temple); natural landscapes—featuring terrain and water scenery; and mining landscapes—comprising mining areas, pit entrances, mining transport routes, and smelting facilities—vividly document the history of Taiwan’s mining development, meeting the criteria ii for World Heritage inscription.
In recent years, following the cessation of mining activities, the spatial texture of settlement life has gradually deteriorated. Facing rapid social and economic development, the Jinguashi settlement is in a vulnerable state, meeting the criteria v for World Heritage inscription.
7. Taoyuan Tableland Ponds(Click here to see more)
The unique value of the Taoyuan Tableland ponds lies in their creation through excavation and embankment to store water, with interconnected waterways forming the center of agricultural settlements. This transformed the originally barren and arid region into a land of fish and rice. However, in recent years, due to population growth and industrial development, many ponds have lost their irrigation function and have been filled in or reduced in size, replaced by schools, residential communities, government buildings, and an airport. Currently, nearly 3,000 ponds remain, representing a unique land-use method of water management on the Taoyuan Tableland. These thousands of scattered artificial lakes have become landscapes closely intertwined with residents’ lives, meeting the criteria v for World Heritage inscription.
8. Qilan Mountain Hinoki Forest(Click here to see more)
Spanning four counties and cities, the Qilan Mountain Hinoki Forest features high peaks, deep valleys, and abundant fog and rain, creating an isolated and enclosed ecological environment. This has allowed rare gymnosperms coexisting with the hinoki forest belt—such as yew, Taiwan red cypress, Formosan cedar, and Taiwan torreya—to evolve in long-term isolation, forming endemic species unique to Taiwan. These are considered “living fossil trees” and hold significant importance in ecological evolution, meeting the criteria viii for World Heritage inscription.
The warm, humid, and rainy climate of the Qilan Mountain region results in highly diverse plant communities. In terms of species diversity, the area is home to a vast array of plant species, including many endangered and precious species such as the Formosan black bear, Formosan serow, and Formosan muntjac. This makes it a paradise for Taiwan’s rare wildlife, holding great research and conservation value, meeting the criteria x for World Heritage inscription.
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9. Taiwan Railways Old Mountain Line(Click here to see more)
The Taiwan Railways Old Mountain Line spans Taichung City and Miaoli County. Completed in 1908, it was built at a time when bridge construction technology was not yet advanced. By utilizing narrower riverbeds and firmer foundations upstream, engineers tackled the challenging tasks of winding mountain routes and river crossings, achieving remarkable engineering feats. These include the steepest gradient, sharpest curve, longest steel truss bridge, and longest tunnel cluster in Taiwanese railway history. It meets the criteria i for World Heritage inscription.
To the east of the Old Mountain Line lies the Guandao Mountain Range, and to the west, the Huoyan Mountain Range. The hills on both sides create uniquely winding and steep terrain, along with simple settlement cultures, historic sites, and richly forested natural landscapes along the line. The Old Mountain Line holds an irreplaceable position in both the development of Taiwan’s railway civilization and its cultural and historical value. It meets the criteria ii for World Heritage inscription.
10. Taroko National Park(Click here to see more)
The Taroko Gorge witnesses the oldest geological era in Taiwan. Due to the ongoing collision between the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate, the crust continues to rise. Coupled with the relentless erosion and cutting by the Liwu River, majestic cliffs, river terraces, expansive alluvial fans, and gorges have formed, meeting the criteria vii for World Heritage inscription.
The marble canyon of Taroko, the world’s largest marble gorge with a depth exceeding 1,000 meters, contributes to the grand and majestic landscape of the area. Its biodiversity and uniqueness meet the criteria ix for World Heritage inscription. The region also features significant variations in altitude, resulting in complex climate zones and diverse vegetation. Furthermore, the undisturbed native vegetation and forests support a rich and interdependent variety of animal species, meeting the criteria x for World Heritage inscription.
11. Alishan Forest Railway(Click here to see more)
The Alishan Forest Railway, originally laid out for forest development, climbs from below 100 meters to over 2,000 meters in altitude. It combines the features of a forest railway, a mountain railway, and a high-altitude railway. The establishment of the railway not only spurred the forestry industry but also transformed the urban landscape along the route, creating many remarkable sights, including no fewer than 10 designated cultural landscapes, historic sites, and historical buildings.
Beyond meeting various universal values and heritage inscription criteria, the Alishan hinoki mist forest is a globally precious forest resource. Within the Alishan Forest Railway area, in addition to valuable protected zones, the railway connects subtropical broadleaf forests, warm temperate broadleaf forests, and cool temperate mixed coniferous and broadleaf forests (i.e., the hinoki forests), forming an exceptionally diverse and unique ecological habitat. Considering all these universal values and inscription criteria, the Alishan Forest Railway can be regarded as a cultural asset of mixed heritage value.
12. Yushan National Park(Click here to see more)
Yushan National Park is a typical alpine national park, characterized by towering mountains, deep valleys, and complex terrain and geology, nurturing diverse forest ecosystems. Yushan is not only the highest peak on Taiwan Island but also the tallest in Northeast Asia, meeting the criteria vii for World Heritage inscription.
Influenced by tectonic movements, Yushan National Park features fragile rock layers prone to landslides, creating numerous dramatic geological landscapes. Combined with special climatic conditions causing erosion, the park boasts spectacular waterfall formations, meeting the criteria ix for World Heritage inscription.
The park’s rich forest composition and significant elevation variations provide an ideal habitat for wildlife, supporting a rich and interdependent diversity of animal species, meeting the criteria x for World Heritage inscription.
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13. Wushantou Reservoir and Jianshan Weir(Click here to see more)
The Wushantou Reservoir and Jianshan Weir were completed in 1930. At a time when hydraulic technology was not yet advanced, the dam was constructed using an innovative semi-hydraulic fill method (Semi-Hydraulic Fill Method), which minimized sediment accumulation and reduced environmental impact to almost zero — a rare feat in the history of civil engineering worldwide. Its three-year rotational irrigation system increased the number of farmers who could access irrigation water by threefold, making it a monumental achievement in hydraulic engineering. It meets Criterion (i) of the World Heritage criteria.
The Wushantou Reservoir and Jianshan Weir showcase the hydraulic engineering planning and techniques of Yamauchi Kashichi from the 1920s. Coupled with the scenic beauty of the Coral Lake at Wushantou Reservoir and related hydraulic infrastructure, these sites represent invaluable cultural landscapes of their era, meeting Criterion (iv) for World Heritage inscription.
14. Beinan Site and Mount Dulan(Click here to see more)
The stone coffin sarcophagi, jade artifacts, and large-scale settlement remains unearthed at the Beinan Site and Mount Dulan are unparalleled in Taiwan and rare even on a global scale. From an academic perspective, the Beinan Site, as a representation of prehistoric culture, not only shares connections with certain prehistoric cultures along Taiwan’s west coast but also relates to the cultures of existing Austronesian peoples, forming a vital link in the overall development of Taiwan’s prehistoric cultures. It meets Criterion (iii) for World Heritage inscription.
The site’s overall value is extremely broad, encompassing not only tangible architectural remains, excavated artifacts, and specimens, but also intangible cultural heritage, all of which hold immense collective value and significance. This qualifies it under Criterion (vi) for World Heritage inscription.
15. Penghu Basalt Nature Reserve(Click here to see more)
The basalt formations in Penghu were formed when volcanic lava flowed from beneath the earth and subsequently cooled. Erosion by seawater has created stunning natural landscapes such as sea cliffs, sea caves, sea stacks, and sea grooves, meeting Criterion (vii) for World Heritage inscription.
The geological age of this area represents one of the most active periods of volcanic activity in the Taiwan Strait. To this day, it retains uniquely beautiful and well-preserved basalt landscapes. Its majestic columnar joints and diverse landform variations meet Criterion (viii) for World Heritage inscription.
Moreover, due to its remote location, strong ocean currents, and steep cliffs, the area is rarely visited by humans. As a result, from April to September each year, it has become a breeding paradise for rare and protected bird species. In 2002, the endangered green sea turtle was even spotted coming ashore to lay eggs here, giving the site high research and conservation value, in line with Criterion (x) for World Heritage inscription.
16. Paiwan and Rukai Stone Slate House Settlements(Click here to see more)
The Paiwan and Rukai Stone Slate House Settlements preserve the historical and cultural heritage of the Paiwan and Rukai peoples in their entirety, attracting interest from scholars in fields such as anthropology and architecture. The human settlements within the area are organically integrated with the surrounding natural mountain landscapes, featuring clear layouts and good preservation. These settlements vividly document traditional Paiwan and Rukai spatial arrangements, household structures, front courtyards, quarries, water sources, and traditional territories, meeting Criterion (ii) for World Heritage inscription.
Due to village relocation during the Japanese colonial period to the plains, coupled with the area’s mountainous remoteness, lack of modern electricity, and limited accessibility, residents now only occasionally use the original slate houses as work bases or for leisure. The Paiwan and Rukai Stone Slate House Settlements have endured long-term damage from climate and time, leaving them in a fragile state, in accordance with Criterion (v) for World Heritage inscription.
17. Penghu Stone Fish Traps(Click here to see more)
The ancestors of Penghu relied on fishing for survival, but in winter, the strong northeastern monsoon increased the dangers of venturing out to sea. To address this, they used the island’s black basalt rocks and white coral reefs to construct stone fish traps. By leveraging tidal movements, fish would swim into the enclosures and be easily caught — a testament to local ingenuity. This meets Criterion (i) for World Heritage inscription.
After the 1970s, as other forms of fishing became more profitable, Penghu fishermen gradually neglected the maintenance of stone fish traps. In recent decades, increasing human-induced damage to the marine environment has led to worsening deterioration of the traps. Many are now silted up, and some are entirely buried under sand, making it difficult to restore their former appearance. This aligns with Criterion (v) for World Heritage inscription.
18. Orchid Island Settlements and Natural Landscapes(Click here to see more)
The Tao (Yami) people of Orchid Island developed a unique architectural culture to adapt to the region’s harsh climate, frequent winds, and narrow coastal terrain. This cultural identity is reflected in the traditional dwellings, work shelters, and boat houses. With no natural barriers, the semi-underground house designs protect inhabitants from wind and rain, while also fostering distinctive local cultural traditions and norms. This meets Criterion (v) for World Heritage inscription.
Additionally, Orchid Island’s vast mountainous areas and narrow coastline create stunning landscapes. The island’s dramatic natural features, volcanic rock formations, and enchanting seascapes — combined with local myths and legends — contribute to its beauty. Furthermore, the deep integration of traditional culture with the ocean and flying fish reflects a cultural trait that aligns with Criterion (ix) for World Heritage inscription.
Image source: Cultural Heritage Bureau, Ministry of Culture
References: Cultural Heritage Bureau – Potential World Heritage Sites, Wikipedia – World Heritage
[STEAM Education | Let’s Play Every Day] Authorized Repost. Original article: [“Let Kids Travel with Knowledge!” – Listing 18 Taiwanese Potential World Heritage Sites]
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