Table 1 Detailed information on the rural cultural heritage sites in Southwest China

World Cultural Heritage

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

Represent masterpieces of human creativity; serve as an outstanding example of architecture, landscapes, or traditional human settlement that has significantly influenced contemporary planning and design; bear witness to a lost culture; and have substantial connections with ongoing traditional thoughts and beliefs and literary and artistic works [9]

2

World Heritage List (https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/)

Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Outstanding landscapes of aesthetic beauty that combine agro-biodiversity, resilient ecosystems, traditional farming practices, and a valuable cultural heritage [60]

2

List of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (https://www.fao.org/giahs/giahsaroundtheworld/en/)

World Heritage Irrigation Structures

International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage

The structure shall be more than 100 years old and shall fall under one of the following categories: dams, water storage structures such as tanks, barrages, and other water diversion structures, canal systems, old waterwheels, etc. [61]

3

World Heritage Irrigation Structures

(https://icid-ciid.org/award/his/44)

Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in Rural Areas

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

References various social practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills, related tools, objects, artifacts, and cultural spaces that are viewed as part of their cultural heritage by communities, groups, or individuals [62]

9

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Register of good safeguarding practices (https://ich.unesco.org/en/lists)

China’s Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China

This agricultural production system, passed down through generations, has evolved from the long-term collaboration between people and their environment. It has rich agricultural biodiversity, a robust framework of traditional knowledge and techniques, and a unique ecological and cultural landscape [63]

22

Registry of Significant Agricultural Cultural Heritage in China (http://www.moa.gov.cn/)

China’s Famous Historical Towns and Villages

State Administration of Cultural Heritage

Possess a wealth of cultural relics with profound historical significance, a traditional layout, and a historical style that can comprehensively reflect the traditional aesthetics and local ethnic characteristics of specific historical periods [64]

115

List of Famous Historical Towns and Villages in China (https://www.mohurd.gov.cn/)

China’s Traditional Villages

Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, Ministry of Finance Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, etc

Early-established village with rich traditional resources that are relatively complete at present and have high historical, cultural, scientific, artistic, social, and economic values [65]

2101

Directory of Traditional Villages in China (https://www.mohurd.gov.cn/)

China’s Ethnic Minority Characteristic Villages

State Ethnic Affairs Commission of the People’s Republic of China

Villages predominantly inhabited by ethnic minorities, with comprehensive functions for production and living that exhibit distinct characteristics of minority culture and settlement patterns [66]

667

Compiled from the State Ethnic Affairs Commission of the People’s Republic of China (https://www.neac.gov.cn/)

China’s Nationally Intangible Cultural Heritage in Rural Areas

Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China

Areas that pertain to various traditional cultural expressions passed down through generations and are regarded as integral parts of their cultural heritage by people of all ethnicities, along with the tangible objects and places associated with traditional expressions [67]

366

Directory of Intangible Cultural Heritage in China (https://www.gov.cn/)