South China Karst

A World Natural Heritage Site spanning Yunnan, Guizhou, Chongqing and Guangxi, bringing together stone forests, peak-forest landscapes and tiankeng sinkholes at Shilin, Libo, Wulong, Guilin and more.

"South China Karst" is a World Natural Heritage Site inscribed in two phases, spanning the four provincial-level regions of Yunnan, Guizhou, Chongqing and Guangxi. It includes Shilin in Yunnan, Libo and Shibing in Guizhou, Wulong and Jinfo Mountain in Chongqing, and Guilin and Huanjiang in Guangxi. The landscapes cover sword-shaped stone forests, cone-shaped peak clusters, tower-shaped peak forests, tiankeng sinkholes, ground fissures and giant caves. Each area is distinctive: the sword-like peaks of Shilin, the emerald-green waterfalls of Libo's Xiaoqikong, Wulong's Three Natural Bridges and Furong Cave, the table-top mountains of Jinfo Mountain, Guilin's Li River and Yangshuo's peak forest, and Huanjiang's Mulun Forest. The nearby Wanfenglin in Xingyi and the Dashiwei Tiankeng in Leye are also often included in karst-themed trips. The areas lie far apart and are usually visited province by province: Guiyang–Libo 2–3 days, Chongqing–Wulong 2 days, Guilin–Yangshuo 3–4 days, Kunming–Shilin 1 day. All can be reached by high-speed rail. In the rainy season, caves and canyons may close temporarily, so take care at water-related sites. For geology enthusiasts, this theme can be linked with Zhijin Cave in Guizhou and Maling River Canyon in southwest Guizhou for a more complete karst journey; other visitors can pick one or two of the most representative areas to explore in depth and avoid spending too much time on the road.

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