Karst mountains, Guilin and Lijiang River National Park, China

© Sean Pavone/Alam

Guilin and Lijiang River National Park, China

Though it may look like the setting of a fantasy story or science fiction epic, the remarkable Guilin and Lijiang River National Park in China is quite real. Guilin is located in southern China and is well known for its unique landscape, which consists of about 157 rock hills, 21 major karst caves and more than 2,000 stone carvings. The park featured in today’s homepage image is one of the most popular natural attractions in China.

The Lijiang, or Li River, flows through the region’s limestone karst landscape for a total of 164 kilometres. 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. As one of the best-known tourist destinations in China, both the state and the local governments work to preserve the natural beauty of the area for future generations to enjoy.