Africa is home to ancient cities, rock art and striking natural landscapes, yet its sites are sorely under-represented on Unesco’s World Heritage List.
According to data released by the UN body, of the 1,273 sites on the list – which are formally protected under the World Heritage Convention treaty – just 115 are in Africa.
But as Beijing seeks closer cultural ties with the continent, it is offering help to change this through funding, guidance on how to navigate the nomination process and training in conservation.