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Theme · Karst and Peaks

Karst Landscapes and Rock Peaks in China

This page lists 19 places in 7 provinces and municipalities of southern and western China where water has shaped limestone into peak forests, stone forests, caves, sinkholes and waterfalls, plus the sandstone pillars of Wulingyuan. Ten have World Heritage status and nine lie in a UNESCO Global Geopark.

This page gathers information that changes rarely. Details were collected in October 2026 and may have changed since. Tickets, opening hours and reservations are not listed here, so contact each venue or check its official website for accurate information.

Status
Region
19 of 19 sites shown

Pins mark all 19 sites on this page. Colours follow the legend below.

The map shows 19 of the 19 sites with a pin, and the lists below open each city guide and the routes that include a site. The list shows where else in southern and western China the same landscapes occur.

Landforms

Karst, Sandstone Peaks and Danxia

The three are often confused. They differ in the rock and in how the rock wears away.

Karst

Karst forms where water dissolves carbonate rock such as limestone. It leaves peak clusters and peak forests, stone forests, caves, sinkholes and underground rivers. UNESCO describes the Guilin area as having both tower karst, called fenglin, and cone karst, called fengcong.

Sandstone peak forest

The pillars of Wulingyuan in Zhangjiajie are quartz sandstone. UNESCO says physical erosion, such as ice expanding in winter and plant growth, shaped them, not the chemical dissolution that makes karst.

Danxia

Danxia landforms develop on continental red sedimentary beds, shaped by uplift, weathering and erosion. China Danxia has been a World Heritage site since 2010. Danxia sites are not listed on this page.

Heritage Status

World Heritage and Geopark Status

UNESCO lists South China Karst in two phases and Wulingyuan separately. Just the parts named by UNESCO count, so a well-known site nearby may not be inside the listing.

South China Karst, 2007

The 2007 inscription added three karst clusters to the World Heritage site. Parks on this page are listed under each cluster.

  • Shilin KarstShilin Stone Forest
  • Wulong KarstWulong Karst; Furong Cave
  • Libo KarstLibo Karst (Xiaoqijong); Maolan Karst Forest

South China Karst, 2014

The 2014 inscription added four karst clusters to the World Heritage site. Parks on this page are listed under each cluster.

  • Guilin KarstLi River, Guilin to Yangshuo
  • Shibing KarstShibing Karst
  • Jinfoshan KarstJinfoshan Karst
  • Huanjiang KarstHuanjiang Karst

Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, 1992

A separate World Heritage listing, and the one sandstone site on this page.

  • Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area (张家界武陵源)

UNESCO Global Geoparks

Seven geoparks cover nine of the sites. Years are UNESCO listing years, and some geoparks were part of the earlier Global Geoparks Network.

  • Leye Fengshan2015 · Leye Fengshan UNESCO Global Geopark
  • Shilin2015 · Shilin Stone Forest
  • Xingwen2015 · Xingwen UNESCO Global Geopark
  • Zhangjiajie2015 · Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area
  • Zhijindong Cave2015 · Zhijindong Cave
  • Enshi Grand Canyon-Tenglongdong Cave2024 · Tenglongdong Cave; Enshi Grand Canyon
  • Xingyi2024 · Wanfenglin; Malinghe River Gorge

By Place

Sites and Their City Guides

Each place name opens the PreeChina guide where one exists. Chinese names follow each site so they can be shown to drivers and local staff.

Southwest12 sites in 8 places

Chongqing

Chongqing · three sites

  • Furong Cave (芙蓉洞)World Heritage 2007
  • Jinfoshan Karst (金佛山)World Heritage 2014
  • Wulong Karst (武隆喀斯特)World Heritage 2007

Kunming

Yunnan · one site

  • Shilin Stone Forest (云南石林)World Heritage 2007 · Geopark 2015

Yibin

Sichuan · one site

  • Xingwen UNESCO Global Geopark (兴文石海)Geopark 2015

Anshun

Guizhou · one site

  • Huangguoshu Waterfall (黄果树风景名胜区)

Bijie

Guizhou · one site

  • Zhijindong Cave (织金洞)Geopark 2015

Libo

Guizhou · two sites

  • Libo Karst (Xiaoqijong) (荔波樟江风景名胜区)World Heritage 2007
  • Maolan Karst Forest (茂兰喀斯特森林国家级自然保护区)World Heritage 2007

Shibing

Guizhou · one site

  • Shibing Karst (施秉云台山)World Heritage 2014

Xingyi

Guizhou · two sites

  • Malinghe River Gorge (马岭河峡谷)Geopark 2024
  • Wanfenglin (万峰林)Geopark 2024

South China4 sites in 4 places

Guilin

Guangxi · one site

  • Li River, Guilin to Yangshuo (桂林漓江—阳朔)World Heritage 2014

Hechi

Guangxi · one site

  • Huanjiang Karst (环江喀斯特(木论国家级自然保护区))World Heritage 2014

Chongzuo

Guangxi · one site

  • Detian Waterfall (德天跨国瀑布景区)

Baise

Guangxi · one site

  • Leye Fengshan UNESCO Global Geopark (乐业—凤山世界地质公园(大石围天坑群))Geopark 2015

Central China3 sites in 2 places

Zhangjiajie

Hunan · one site

  • Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area (张家界武陵源)World Heritage 1992 · Geopark 2015

Enshi

Hubei · two sites

  • Enshi Grand Canyon (恩施大峡谷)Geopark 2024
  • Tenglongdong Cave (腾龙洞)Geopark 2024

Go Further

Routes with Karst and Peak Stops

Five PreeChina routes include a stop at one of the sites above.

Explore by Province

Each province page maps its places on this theme together with its cities, museums and routes.

Related

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Attractions in this theme

Routes and day trips

Plan a Karst and Peaks Trip with PreeChina

Tell us the places, travel dates and group, and a local expert will build a private itinerary around the sites above, with the practical details handled in advance.

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