Among the World Heritage sites in China, the South China Karst stands out as a spectacular example of humid tropical to subtropical karst landscapes.

In geology, karst is an area of land made up by limestone, a kind of soft rock that can dissolve in water. Because of rain, karst areas feature caves, rocky cliffs and sinkholes. Karst landscape in south China covers an area totaling over 5 million square kilometers.

The South China Karst includes seven karst clusters in Chongqing, Guangxi, Guizhou and Yunnan, namely the Shilin Karst, Libo Karst, Wulong Karst, Guilin Karst, Shibing Karst, Jinfoshan Karst and Huanjiang Karst. The sites were inscribed in two phases, in 2009 and 2014.

The UNESCO says the South China Karst is "unrivaled in terms of the diversity of its karst features and landscapes" and that the region is "the global type-site for three karst landform styles: fenglin (tower karst), fengcong (cone karst), and shilin (stone forest or pinnacle karst)." The natural vegetation with its seasonal variations only adds to the beauty of this natural wonder.

About Treasure of Nature

The extended 44th session of the World Heritage Committee is taking place in Fuzhou, the capital city of southeast China's Fujian Province from July 16 to 31, 2021. The UNESCO labels natural World Heritage sites as the "nature's most precious gifts to humanity." This series takes you on a tour of the beautiful natural World Heritage sites in China and helps you learn more about these treasures of nature.

Read more from the series:

Treasure of Nature: A 'natural paradise' featuring mudflats

Treasure of Nature: Giant park with peculiar-shaped peaks and pillars

(Cover via VCG, designed by CGTN's Jia Jieqiong and Yu Peng.)

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com.)