The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Friday announced the inclusion of the Xixia Imperial Tombs, which are located in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, into its World Heritage List.
The Xixia Imperial Tombs, royal mausoleums complex of the emperors in ancient China's Xixia Dynasty (1038-1227), were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France.
The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60.
The Xixia Imperial Tombs are located at the foot of the Helan Mountain, 30 km west of the city of Yinchuan, the capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.
They were built by the Tangut (Dangxiang) people, an ethnic minority that prospered in agricultural-husbandry areas of northwest China between the 11th and 13th centuries.
To date, nine imperial tombs, 271 subordinate tombs, a 5-hectare complex of architectural ruins and 32 flood control sites, in addition to over 7,100 architectural components and finely crafted artifacts, have been uncovered at this site.
The findings have offered valuable insights into the sophisticated engineering, artistry and cultural achievements of the Xixia Dynasty.
The 47th session of the World Heritage Committee convened Monday at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France, to evaluate 30 applications for World Heritage status.
The World Heritage Committee is responsible for reviewing new applications for inclusion in the World Heritage List, as well as overseeing and guiding the protection of sites already listed. Currently, there are 1,223 World Heritage sites worldwide, comprising 952 cultural heritage sites, 231 natural heritage sites, and 40 mixed sites.
China's Xixia Imperial Tombs officially included on UNESCO World Heritage List
China's Xixia Imperial Tombs officially included on UNESCO World Heritage List
An increasing number of German consumers are considering buying electric vehicles (EVs) in the face of high fuel prices, according to a recent survey by the largest German online car trading platform, mobile.de.
As the Middle East tensions continue to drive up international oil and gas prices, the cost of automotive fuel has been rising steadily in many European countries.
According to fuel price data compiled by the German Association of the Automotive Industry, since the United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran on February 28, gasoline prices in Germany have risen by nearly 20 percent, while diesel prices have shot up by more than 30 percent.
Results from a recent survey by mobile.de show that if gasoline prices remain at current high levels, 43 percent of respondents said they would switch to EVs, and 36 percent cited long-term cost savings as the most important reason for considering an EV purchase.
Additionally, the platform's data show that inquiries about used EVs surged by 66 percent in the first half of March.
"We are absolutely seeing much more interest on mobile.de for electric cars. What the German energy transition couldn't do, this current geopolitical situation has done in terms of transition to electric cars," said Ajay Bhatia, CEO of mobile.de.
In addition to high oil prices, government subsidies are also a key factor driving German consumers to consider purchasing EVs.
The German government announced the resumption of subsidies in January of this year, planning to invest 3 billion euros over the next few years to provide purchase subsidies for some 800,000 EVs.
Driven by the combined effects of high oil prices and subsidy policies, German consumers' interest in EVs has grown clearly. However, it remains to be seen whether this shift will evolve into a more sustained market trend.
"How long it will stay is anyone's guess, but at the moment we're absolutely seeing an increase, and sometimes these transitions need a catalyst. And this is definitely a catalyst that is seeing the transition to electric cars speed up," said Bhatia.
More Germans interested in buying EVs due to high oil prices: survey
