Karst Mountains Rice Paddies, Guilin, Guangxi, China

Of pillars and paddies

Mountains pierce the mist like dragon's teeth in this enchanting location. Though it seems like the setting of a fantasy epic, the remarkable Guilin region is quite real, and one of the most popular natural attractions in China. The area is defined by limestone karst features, notably cone-like hills covered in lush greenery, but also craggy caves below the surface. The Li River flows through the jagged landscape, diverted in some places to irrigate rice paddies as seen here.