The South China Karst was inscribed on the UNESCO's World Heritage List in June, 2007. Photo Gallery >>

South China Karst region extends over a surface of half a million km2 lying mainly in Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi provinces. It represents one of the world’s most spectacular examples of humid tropical to subtropical karst landscapes. The stone forests of Shilin are considered superlative natural phenomena and a world reference with a wider range of pinnacle shapes than other karst landscapes with pinnacles, and a higher diversity of shapes and changing colours. The cone and tower karsts of Libo, also considered the world reference site for these types of karst, form a distinctive and beautiful landscape. Wulong Karst has been inscribed for its giant dolines (sinkholes), natural bridges and caves.

Tips:

1. Wulong Karst, Chongqing

There are many family-style hotels providing various levels of service in this area. Prices are generally reasonable. And one may be able to bargain for a discount.

Local Specialties: Dried bean curd, sweet potato noodles, Wulong dried beef, and wild-growing medicinal herbs.

How to get there:

It is roughly a five-hour drive from Chongqing to the Three Natural Bridges and the Houping Karst Pits.

2. Shilin Karst, Yunnan

Cars and horse carriages can be rented in the parking lots of the national park. Renting a mini-bus for four people usually runs from 150 to 170 yuan per day. A horse carriage is usually 60 yuan per day. For a larger group, the bus is a better choice. A bus with the capacity to hold 15 people is about 300 yuan per day.

How to get there:

Tourists heading for Shilin can catch a bus at the Kunming Train Station. The drive is about two hours. There are also special touring vehicles for Shilin in Kunming City. A roundtrip ticket is 30 yuan.

Admission: A through ticket for the main scenic area of Shilin National Park is 140 yuan.

Accommodations: There are decent hotels in the Shilin National Park. A double room typically costs about 100 yuan.

3. Libo Karst, Guizhou

Local Specialties and Souvenirs: Sour-soup fish, glutinous rice wine, fancy cloth of the Buyi Ethnic Group, colored ribbons of the Yao Ethnic Group, and silverwares of the Miao Ethnic Group.

Accommodations: Libo is well equipped with visitor accommodations. There are 21 star-rated hotels in the county seat, with more than 4,500 beds. Nice family hotels can also be found in the county seat.

How to get there:

Tourists bound for Libo can either fly to Guiyang and then take a bus, or take a train on the Guiyang-Liuzhou line.

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