The outstanding universal value refers to the rare value of either culture or nature that has gone beyond national boundaries, and has exhibited and will always exhibit great and pervasive significances for human beings. The permanent protection of heritages with such values is of utmost importance for the entire international community.

The outstanding universal value of a world heritage site shall be presented by written form-which will be referred to as a major reason why the site is inscribed into the World Heritage List, and which will be depended upon for future protection and management. The description shall include the abstract of the resolution by the World Heritage Committee; and the abstract shall describe the outstanding universal value of the heritage, specify the criteria according to which the heritage is inscribed into the List, evaluate the integrity and authenticity of the factors of the heritage, and expound the current protection and management situation.

In order to be considered to have outstanding universal values, a heritage shall conform to the relevant criteria, such as evaluation criteria for outstanding universal value, integrity criteria, and authenticity criteria. And what is further needed is sufficient protection and management organs to ensure the heritage can be effectively protected.