A view of the West Lake Cultural Landscape in Hangzhou. [Photo/IC]

Celebrations were held in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, on June 24 to mark the West Lake Cultural Landscape's decennial inscription into the World Cultural Heritage List, local media reported.

Six people were awarded with the certificate of Ambassador of West Lake, Xixi Culture for their outstanding contributions to protecting the West Lake and Xixi wetland.

An alliance to protect the cultural and natural heritages in the Yangtze Rive Delta was founded on the same day. A cooperation agreement was also inked among representatives from the YRD, including the West Lake Cultural Landscape, Liangzhu Ancient City, Grand Canal - Yangzhou section, Classical Gardens of Suzhou, Xiaoling Mausoleum in Nanjing, and Huangshan Mountain.

Hangzhou is expected to organize a series of activities in the following few days to summarize the experience of protecting and managing the West Lake and Xixi wetland and explore new ways of protecting the two sites.

Comprising the West Lake and the hills surrounding its three sides, the West Lake Cultural Landscape has inspired famous poets, scholars and artists since the 9th century. It comprises numerous temples, pagodas, pavilions, gardens and ornamental trees, as well as causeways and artificial islands. These additions have been made to improve the landscape from the west of Hangzhou to the south of the Yangtze River.