Since 2015, WHITR‑AP Shanghai has been implementing the WH+ST pilot programme in China, commissioned by the World Heritage Centre. The project aims to promote UNESCO's WH+ST program by building capacity and developing sustainable tourism strategies suited to China. Through pilot cases and comparative studies, it seeks to advance the program's application in China and globally, protecting and developing several World Heritage sites in China.

In August 2020, WHITR‑AP Shanghai co‑organised a three‑day training for tutorial instructors with the Wulingyuan District Government of Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province. This event raised public awareness of Wulingyuan as a natural heritage site and geopark while training a pool of local study tour instructors. That same year, under UNESCO’s framework, WHITR‑AP Shanghai completed the Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interests World Heritage Sustainable Tourism Development Strategy. The research team also published a monograph on Wulingyuan, furthering the understanding and dissemination of its heritage value.

In June 2021, the second WH+ST training course was organised. Domestic and international experts were invited to teach topics such as Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), management planning, sustainable tourism, and community collaboration. The course combined theory with practice, and helped participants adopt new methods and technologies to address post‑pandemic challenges.

In January 2022, WHITR‑AP Shanghai signed a second memorandum of cooperation with the Yancheng City Wetland and World Natural Heritage Protection Management Centre. This collaboration continued UNESCO's "WH+ST" pilot programme in China, focusing on the protection and sustainable development of coastal ecosystems.

In 2024, aligning with UNESCO's WH+ST objectives, WHITR‑AP Shanghai and the Yancheng City Wetland and World Natural Heritage Protection Management Centre promoted research on the Yellow (Bohai) Sea Migratory Bird Habitats Phase I World Natural Heritage. Two key topics were addressed: Pilot Demonstration of World Heritage Sustainable Ecotourism and Building Cooperation Among Stakeholders. In May, a training course was conducted to enhance local site managers' understanding of heritage site protection and the value of the Yellow (Bohai) Sea Migratory Bird Habitats.