Hangzhou's West Lake is recognizedas an extraordinary model of culturallandscape that reflects Chinesephilosophy and aesthetics. Liang Zhen/ for China Daily

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BEIJING - When Zhang Jianting, vice-mayor of Hangzhou, heard the World Heritage Committee(WHC) had inscribed the West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou on the UNESCO's WorldHeritage List on Friday night in Paris, he broke into tears.

Zhang knows the city has come a long way in helping the West Lake get recognized by the WHC. Heremembered the first time the West Lake made a bid several years ago and how a European worldheritage expert had told him: "There are thousands of lakes like that in my hometown."

That summed up the frustration he felt with so many Westerners who had yet to realize the truesignificance of the lake.

The 35th session of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee has finally recognized the West Lake andits hinterland as an extraordinary model of cultural landscape, which reflects Chinese philosophyand aesthetics and which has inspired countless landscape artists in China and abroad.

Surrounded by mountains on three sides, the 3,322-hectare area is already a national cultural iconwith beautiful scenic spots, all with individual myths and legends. After centuries of enhancement,the area is appreciated as a unique combination of nature and artifice.

Spread across 5.66 square kilometers of water divided into five territorial zones by causeways anddikes, the area is enhanced by numerous bridges, towers, terraces, pavilions, pagodas, grottoesand temples.

According to the Chinese State Bureau of Cultural Relics, the lake's preparatory work for WorldHeritage inscription kicked off in 1990, initiated by the Hangzhou municipality, and supported by theState Bureau since 2008.

Keeping in mind the principles of preserving the authenticity, integrity and outstanding universalvalue of World Heritage sites, the Chinese government is dedicated to the continual protection andmanagement of the West Lake Landscape, said Tong Mingkang, vice-director of the Chinese StateBureau of Cultural Relics.

Many worry that the West Lake's new prestige may mean higher charges for entry into this beautifulparadise. Since 2002, the West Lake has been the only top tourist site in China that does notcharge a general entry fee, and there are 130 scenic spots in the park that do not chargeadmission.

The few which sell tickets, such as the Lingyin Temple, do so more as a move to limit visitors inorder to protect their historical relics.

Now there is concern that free entry may end.

Zhang Wei, the founder of oldbeijing.org, a devoted guardian of history, said on his microblog thatthe West Lake might soon be forced to up the charges.

Addressing those concerns, Wang Guoping, head of the West Lake's world heritage applicationteam, told Xinhua that the city government would continue to stick to its guiding principles. The parkwill still be open to the public without any charge, ticket prices of scenic spots will not rise, and noreal estate projects will be allowed in the designated area.

"The aim in getting the West Lake listed as a World Heritage site is to protect the lake and benefitour future generations. We want to let the West Lake live for another 2,000 years. And protectionwill be the eternal theme," Wang said.

This is the ninth consecutive year that Chinese sites have entered the World Heritage List. TheWest Lake Landscape is the 41st World Heritage site in China.