Asian cities (14)
http://www.worldheritagesite.org/categories/category56.html

Bukhara
Fujian Tulou
Hahoe and Yangdong
Hue
Itchan Kala
Kaesong
Kathmandu
Luang Prabang
Lijiang
Ping Yao
Samarkand
Shirakawa-go and Gokayama
Tusi
Xidi and Hongcun

For Central Asia I would take Bukhara and Samarkand.
For colonial architecture in Asia there is only Luang Prabang.
For traditional architecture of SE Asia there is only Hue.
Fujian Tulou I would take for its special vernacular architecture.
Kathmandu I would take for its religious significance as well as architecture.
I am personally fond of traditional villages, but I don't know if I would admit all three examples (Xidi and Hongcun for China, Hahoe and Yangdong for Korean and Shirakawa-go and Gokayama for Japan). I don't know them enough to choose.
I would not take Itchan Kala, Kaesong and Tusi.
I would also choose one from Lijiang and Ping Yao. I don't know which one.

Mostly in agreement with Assif there. I didn't realise the colonial architecture of Luang Prabang was a reason for inscription so learnt something new.


I've only visited Yangdong, I really don't think it would be good enough for top 400. More worth a trip if you have time to spare in Gyeongju.
I think there is some room for villages, most humans have lived in rural settlements after all, just which ones are best to pick out?

I think this is another poor category with few interesting selections. I really confused with Kathmandhu as its WHS status is only for seven monuments not the whole historic town. For top 200, the Uzbekistan sites are really stand out in these group, agreed with Assif that both Samarkand and Bukhara are really impressive for its architecture and roles on Silk Road, but Itchan Kala also amazing. Lijiang is another interesting choice for unique Naxi culture and urban landscape. Ping Yao is a must see and pick for well preserved chinese city.

I will not pick Hue as the architecture is a bit too Chinese even its location in SE Asia. Luang Prabang seems to be a fine choice but there are better examples for colonial mix local architecture eg. Chiang Mai.

For village, Shirakawa and Fujian Tulou are the most unique and their location are very beautiful. Hahoe and Yangdong are nice but still can find similar villages in other parts of S. Korea. After inscription of many villages along grand canal, the huizhou styles of Xidi and Hongcun is not unique anymore.

So For my selection:

Bukhara - one of the best preserve historic city in central asia
Itchan Kala - impressive architecture, one of the best in this category.
Samarkand - stunning architecture on the silk road and center of Timur Empire
Ping Yao - only well preserved wall city of China
Lijiang - unique Naxi ideal city and sophisticate water management
Shirakawa - unique architecture apart from other Japanese villages, very iconic and show how human adopt with severe climate.
Fujian Tulou - unique Hakka architecture and very iconic.

"Asian Cities" includes villages as well? These are widely different, no? Colonial cities, traditional villages, ruined cities (kaesong).
Hahoe is more scenic, important, and representative of Confucian "clan" villages. However, I lean toward your opinion. Probably not Top 400. I think traditional villages belong in a different category. Shirakawa, Fijian Tulou, Tusi, Xidi/Hongcun and Hahoe/Yangdong are representative examples of East Asian traditional villages or clan villages. These should be discussed in a different category.
Yes, but none are quite as important or as well preserved as Hahoe. Naganeupsong is certainly special, but essentially there are only a handful of truly authentic villages, Hahoe being the most iconic.

My selections (not including traditional villages)
Pingyao - perhaps best preserved example of a dynastic Chinese town/city. Shows evolution of Chinese urban planning.
Samarkand - huge significance, Silk Road
Kathmandu - Stunning architecture

But we need to decide here. These do not appear in any other category. There is no category for rural settlements/vernacular architecture.

Do we feel we can't include both Bukhara and Itchan Kala or that the latter is, in some way, lacking? If so - how?

Bukhara is larger and more famous. But still I wouldn't mind having them both. We don't have to be as strict here as with overrepresented categories such as European palaces or cathedrals.

My selection :

Bukhara and Samarkhand (some of the best examples in Central Asia) - Itchan Kala I'd leave out as it would be too much of the same really
Fujian Tulou - unique in Southern Asia
Ping Yao - maybe
Kathmandu - mostly for architecture and cremation
Luang Prabang - mostly for other categories though

China and Italy are the two biggest contenders for most maybes! Some great WHS coming from these 2 countries I'll have to reluctantly discard in favour of a worldwide selection.

My selection:

Bukhara
Fujian Tulou
Hue
Itchan Kala
Kaesong
Kathmandu
Luang Prabang
Lijiang
Ping Yao
Samarkand
Shirakawa-go and Gokayama
Tusi
Xidi and Hongcun

I'd choose to keep:
Bukhara
Hue
Kathmandu
Ping Yao
Samarkand
Shirakawa-go and Gokayama

Summarizing:

Bukhara - one of the best preserved historic cities in Central Asia
Fujian Tulou - unique and iconic vernacular architecture
Hahoe and Yangdong
Hue - traditional architecture of SE Asia
Itchan Kala - impressive architecture
Kaesong
Kathmandu - religious significance as well as stunning Newari architecture
Luang Prabang - colonial architecture in Asia
Lijiang - unique Naxi ideal city and sophisticate water management
Ping Yao - best preserved example of a dynastic Chinese town/city, shows evolution of Chinese urban planning.
Samarkand - huge Silk Road signficance
Shirakawa-go and Gokayama - unique architecture apart from other Japanese villages
Tusi
Xidi and Hongcun

I want to keep

Kathmandu (Already got many votes, Stunning site; I don't know its present condition after earthquake)
Ping Yao
Samarkand
Luang Prabang
Bukhara

I agree with these "Yes votes" in Els's summary. With regards to the maybes, I'd support Kathmandu (for its impressive monuments and architecture), Luang Prabang (for the wats), Hue (best Vietnamese site; vast capital city) and Lijiang (one of the most picturesque Chinese towns).

Here both Luang Prabang and Hue enjoy the support of 5/8 contributors. Is this enough to upgrade them to bold?