The new UNESCO World Heritage sites that every globetrotter should see

There are 1,223 UNESCO World Heritage sites around the world, from the Great Pyramids of Giza to Easter Island to Independence Hall in Philadelphia. These landmarks have cultural, historical or scientific significance and World Heritage designation provides a degree of protection – the aim of the program is to preserve these wonders for future generations. For 2024, UNESCO awarded World Heritage status to 24 new sites, including these seven highlights.

Central Axis Beijing, China

The Central Axis runs north to south through Beijing and includes imperial palaces, gardens, and ceremonial and public buildings dating to the 13th century Yuan Dynasty. These structures “testify to the city’s development” and are “evidence of China’s imperial dynastic system and urban planning traditions,” according to UNESCO. The more modern areas of the Central Axis feature buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Dacia, Romania

During the Roman Empire, the Dacian Limes formed the “longest and most complex land border” of any former Roman province in Europe, according to National Geographic. North of the Danube, these 277 auxiliary forts, ramparts, watchtowers and legionary camps crisscross 16 counties, forming a “network of eerie-looking” sites that “still stand as testament to the strategic role Dacia once played.”

Historic town and archaeological site of Gedi, Kenya

For centuries, Gedi was one of the most important Swahili cities near the East African coast. It had a large mosque, a palace, well-built houses and an impressive infrastructure, including a water management system. Experts believe that Gedi was founded in the 13th century and probably rebuilt in the 15th century during its heyday. It was finally abandoned in the early 17th century. No one knows exactly why Gedi was abandoned. Speculations suggest that it was either an epidemic that wiped out the population or a Portuguese attack.

Lencóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil

The white sand dunes and emerald and sapphire blue freshwater lagoons of the Lencóis Maranhenses National Park in northeastern Brazil create an otherworldly landscape. The wind shapes the dunes, and when it rains, the lagoons change shape, depth, size and even color. More than 110 species of birds and 42 species of reptiles call the park home, as well as the endangered scarlet ibis, the neotropical river otter, the oncilla and the Caribbean manatee.

Nelson Mandela Heritage Sites, South Africa

At these 14 sites representing “human rights, liberation and reconciliation,” visitors can follow in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela and other anti-apartheid activists. Sites include Fort Hare University, where Mandela studied, and the village of Mqhekezweni, where he took his first political steps. The site of the Sharpeville massacre is a somber place, a place to commemorate the 69 black demonstrators killed here in 1960 while protesting against the passing of legislation.

Residence Ensemble Schwerin, Germany

The ensemble consists of nearly 40 elegant buildings, the most magnificent of which is Schwerin Castle, once the residence of the Grand Duke. Most of the buildings in Schwerin, which is complete with parks and ornamental ponds, were built in the 19th century, when the city was the capital of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Architectural styles include neo-baroque, neo-classicism and neo-renaissance, with echoes of the Italian Renaissance.

Umm Al-Jimal, Jordan

The ruins of Umm Al-Jimal, near the Jordanian-Syrian border, display “unpretentious urban architecture,” according to Lonely Planet, and the buildings offer “fascinating insights into rural life during the Roman-Byzantine and early Islamic periods.” This rural settlement was mainly in operation from the 5th century AD to the end of the 8th century AD, but archaeologists have uncovered structures dating to the 1st century. Although not much is known about these early days at Umm Al-Jimal, researchers have been able to study the site better than others in the region because it was “rarely looted or vandalized, leaving much of the original layout intact,” according to Lonely Planet.