Shaolin temple on heritage list

Shaolin temple is the home of Chinese kung fu. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

Shaolin temple, the Buddhist monastery that's also the birthplace of Chinese kung fu, has been added to the United Nations' list of World Heritage Sites.

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation named historical monuments near Dengfeng city, including the Shaolin temple, to its list of heritage sites yesterday, according to a statement on the group's web-site.

Dengfeng is the 40th site in China to be added to the Unesco heritage list, which may help boost tourism to the city in Henan province.

Local authorities had applied for the Unesco designation for nine years, Xinhua News Agency reported. China is also ready to apply next year for West Lake in the eastern city of Hangzhou to be added, says Xinhua.

In addition to Shaolin temple, the Dengfeng site also includes three Han Que gates, which are the remains of the oldest religious edifices in China, Unesco says.

- BLOOMBERG