The South China Karst a UNESCO

UNESCO

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...

 World Heritage Site

World Heritage Site

A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...

 since June 2007, spans China

China

Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...

's southern provinces of Guangxi

Guangxi

Guangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...

, Guizhou

Guizhou

' is a province of the People's Republic of China located in the southwestern part of the country. Its provincial capital city is Guiyang.- History :...

, and Yunnan

Yunnan

Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...

. The region of south China is particularly noted for its karst

KARST

Kilometer-square Area Radio Synthesis Telescope is a Chinese telescope project to which FAST is a forerunner. KARST is a set of large spherical reflectors on karst landforms, which are bowlshaped limestone sinkholes named after the Kras region in Slovenia and Northern Italy. It will consist of...

 features and landscapes as well as rich biodiversity

Biodiversity

Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...

. The site comprises three clusters: Libo Karst, Shilin Karst

Shilin (Stone Forest)

The Stone Forest or Shilin is a notable set of karst formations located in Shilin Yi Autonomous County, Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China, approximately from the provincial capital Kunming. The tall rocks seem to emanate from the ground in the manner of stalagmites, with many looking...

 and Wulong Karst

Wulong Karst

The Wulong Karst is a natural karst landscape located within the borders of Wulong County, Chongqing Municipality, People's Republic of China. It is divided into three areas containing the Three Natural Bridges, the Qingkou Tiankeng and Furong Cave respectively...

. UNESCO describes the South China Karst as "unrivalled in terms of the diversity of its karst features and landscapes."

South China Karst - UNESCO inscription details

UNESCO Inscription No	Name
1248-001	Shilin Karst Shilin (Stone Forest) The Stone Forest or Shilin is a notable set of karst formations located in Shilin Yi Autonomous County, Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China, approximately from the provincial capital Kunming. The tall rocks seem to emanate from the ground in the manner of stalagmites, with many looking...  - Naigu Stone Forest (乃古石林) Shilin Yi Autonomous County Shilin Yi Autonomous County Shilin Yi Autonomous County is an autonomous county, under the jurisdiction of Kunming Prefecture, Yunnan, China.- Administrative divisions :...
1248-002	Shilin Karst – Suogeyi Village (所各邑村) Shilin Yi Autonomous County
1248-003	Libo Karst Libo County Libo County is a county of Guizhou, China. It is under the administration of the Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture.-Geography:The county is located in the remote southeastern corner of the prefecture, on the border with Guangxi...  – Xiaoqijong (小七孔) Libo County
1248-004	Libo Karst – Dongduo (洞多) Libo County
1248-005	Wulong Karst Wulong Karst The Wulong Karst is a natural karst landscape located within the borders of Wulong County, Chongqing Municipality, People's Republic of China. It is divided into three areas containing the Three Natural Bridges, the Qingkou Tiankeng and Furong Cave respectively...  – Qingkou Giant Doline (Tiankeng Sinkhole A sinkhole, also known as a sink, shake hole, swallow hole, swallet, doline or cenote, is a natural depression or hole in the Earth's surface caused by karst processes — the chemical dissolution of carbonate rocks or suffosion processes for example in sandstone... ) (箐口天坑) Wulong County Wulong County Wulong County is a county of Chongqing Municipality in China. It is the location of Wulong Karst which is part of the South China Karst UNESCO World Heritage Site....
1248-006	Wulong Karst – Three Natural Bridges Three Natural Bridges The Three Natural Bridges are a series of natural limestone bridges located in Xiannüshan Town , Wulong County, Chongqing Municipality, People's Republic of China. They lie within the Wulong Karst National Geology Park, itself a part of the South China Karst-Wulong Karst UNESCO World Heritage Site... Wulong County
1248-007	Wulong Karst – Furong Cave Furong Cave Furong Cave is a karst cave located on the banks of the Furong River, from Wulong County town, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.-History:First discovered by local farmers in 1993 the cave was opened to tourists in 1994... Wulong County

Gallery

File:Yunnanshilin2.jpg|The Shilin Karst Scenery

Shilin (Stone Forest)

The Stone Forest or Shilin is a notable set of karst formations located in Shilin Yi Autonomous County, Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China, approximately from the provincial capital Kunming. The tall rocks seem to emanate from the ground in the manner of stalagmites, with many looking...

File:Furongdongfufashisun.JPG|Stalactite

Stalactite

A stalactite , "to drip", and meaning "that which drips") is a type of speleothem that hangs from the ceiling of limestone caves. It is a type of dripstone...

s in the Furong Cave

Furong Cave

Furong Cave is a karst cave located on the banks of the Furong River, from Wulong County town, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.-History:First discovered by local farmers in 1993 the cave was opened to tourists in 1994...

File:Wulongtianlongqiao.JPG|The Tianlong Bridge

Three Natural Bridges

The Three Natural Bridges are a series of natural limestone bridges located in Xiannüshan Town , Wulong County, Chongqing Municipality, People's Republic of China. They lie within the Wulong Karst National Geology Park, itself a part of the South China Karst-Wulong Karst UNESCO World Heritage Site...

External links

• UNESCO World Heritage description