Part of the Silk Road has become China's first international joint project to be recognized on the UNESCO World Heritage site list, as the ancient route between China and Europe is catching increasing attention from the international community.

China gained its 46th and 47th listings on the World Heritage Site roster, as well as its 32nd and 33rd World Cultural Heritage designations, on Sunday when the World Heritage Committee approved including parts of the Silk Road and the Grand Canal on the lists at a UNESCO conference in Doha, Qatar.

The portion of the Silk Road passes through China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. It is one of the biggest World Cultural Heritage areas in terms of geographic distribution and is the first World Heritage site co-owned by China and other countries.