Having joined the International Convention for the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 1985, China has 56 World Heritage Sites to date, ranking second in the world. Of these 56 sites , 38 are cultural heritage sites, 14 are natural heritage sites, and 4 are cultural and natural (mixed) sites.
The South China Karst, which spans a total area of 176,228 hectares, is made up of seven heritage sites, including Shilin (Stone Forest), Libo, Wulong, Guilin, Jinfoshan, Shibing, and Huanjiang sites. UNESCO added the first three to the World Natural Heritage List in June 2007 and the remaining ones in June 2014. Karst is a special type of landform that develops when limestones and other ‘soft’ rocks mix with firmer rock. The soft rock disintegrates over time, leaving unique patterns in the harder stone.
Known as one of the most remarkable tropical and subtropical Karst landforms in the world, South China Karst is home to the most notable Karst landform types (such as spires and cones), as well as magnificent and unusual landscapes like natural bridges and enormous sinkholes. Located primarily in the provinces of Yunnan, Guizhou, and Guangxi, the variety of their Karst characteristics and landscapes are unparalleled. Libo Karst, Shilin Karst, and Wulong Karst are three of the most impressive Tropical Karst landscapes in the entire world. These breathtaking karst structures and landscapes are both rare natural occurrences and masterpieces of aesthetic beauty. Shilin’s stone forests are among them, as are other natural occurrences like the Suyishan stone forest that grows out of a lake and the Naigu stone forest that develops on dolomitic limestone. In comparison to other Karst landscapes, Shilin has a greater variety of shapes and shifting colors. Similar to Shilin, the cone and tower Karsts of Libo are among the world’s most impressive Karst structures.
It is no surprise that the Guilin Area in Guangxi, the Stone-Forest Scenic Site in Yunnan, the Maolan National Karst Forest Natural Reserve in Guizhou, and the Wulong Area in Chongqing are the best examples in the South China Karst cluster, which not only showcases the beautiful worth of nature to the world, but also provides evidence of how the Earth has changed over time.
Sources:
http://world-heritage-datasheets.unep-wcmc.org/datasheet/output/site/south-china-karst/
https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/article-china-karst-landscape.htm