Karst mountains in Guilin and Lijiang River National Park, China

© Sean Pavone/Alam

Misty mountain hop. Guilin and Lijiang River National Park, China

Mountains pierce the mist like a dragon’s teeth in this enchanting location. Though it may look like the setting of a fantasy story or science fiction epic, the remarkable Guilin and Lijiang River National Park is quite real.

The park is one of the most popular natural attractions in China. The Lijiang, or Li River, flows through the region’s limestone karst landscape. It’s the karst that gives the area its unusual geologic features, notably the cone-like hills covered in lush greenery, but also the craggy caves below the surface.