South China Karst

South China Karst is a serial property made up of seven karst clusters across four provinces: Shilin, in Yunnan; Libo, in Guizhou; Wulong, in Chongqing; and Guilin, Shibing, Jinfoshan and Huanjiang. The inscribed area totals 97,125 hectares, with a buffer zone of 176,228 hectares. It was inscribed in two phases: in 2007 Shilin, Libo and Wulong were added, covering 47,588 hectares; in 2014 the other four clusters were included.

The karst region of southern China covers some 550,000 km² and is recognised as the world type area for the development of karst landforms in humid tropical and subtropical climates. The terrain drops some 2,000 metres over 700 kilometres, from the Yunnan-Guizhou plateau, at around 2,100 metres on average, to the Guangxi basin, at around 110, and that gradient allows the complete transition between the different types of karst relief to be observed.

Each component contributes a characteristic form. The stone forests of Shilin are the world reference for pinnacle karst, with an unmatched variety of shapes and colours, and include rarities such as the Naigu stone forest, on dolomitic limestone, and Suyishan, which rises out of a lake. Libo is the reference site for cone karst (fengcong) and tower karst (fenglin). Wulong stands out for its giant collapse dolines — the tiankeng — the natural bridges of exceptional height that separate them, and long stretches of unroofed cave. Guilin offers the world's most celebrated tower karst and fenglin river landscapes; Shibing, the best-known example of subtropical fengcong on dolomite, with deep gorges; Jinfoshan is a limestone island severed from the plateau, ringed by cliffs and riddled with ancient caves; and Huanjiang extends Libo with an outstanding fengcong covered in all but intact monsoon forest. The areas retain good forest cover, which enhances their scenic value, and they face geological hazards such as earthquakes, landslides and karst collapses.