South China Karst

The “South China Karst” is jointly composed by the sword-shaped, pillar-shaped and pagoda-shaped karsts of Yunnan Stone Forests, the cone-shaped karsts (peak forest) in Libo of Guizhou and the stereoscopic karsts with nature-created bridge, geo-crevice and heavenly pit groups as their representatives, which were formed from 500,000 years to 300 million years ago and in a total area of 1,460km2. The scenic attractions in these regions enjoy reputation both at home and abroad, e.g. the Stone Forest of Yunnan has been famous for its being “imposing, queer, perilous, elegant, serene, profound and spacious” and hence is reputed as “No. 1 Spectacle Under Heaven” and “Cream of World Karsts”; the Libo of Guizhou is a habitat of national minorities of Buyi, Shui, Miao, Yao, etc., and was elected the “most beautiful place in China” and the “ten most beautiful great forests in China”. They were included in the “World Heritage List” as a world natural heritage in June 2007.