Submit
Floating By Bizarre Karst Formations in Guilin, China
For centuries, the misty green mountains and clear winding rivers that ring the city of Guilin have inspired both poets and painters. These enchanting mystical peaks are called "gumdrop hills" due to their rounded tops. Their beginnings date to more than two million years ago when limestone was thrust from the bottom of the sea and eroded by water and wind. The bizarre looking peaks rise up out of the mist like creatures from a science fiction film. The locals have immortalized the craggy shapes with names like Elephant Trunk, Embroidery, and Cockfighting Hill. The best way to soak up the eerie scenery is to glide slowly through the valley on a boat trip down the Li River. The fifty mile cruise winds its way among these towering geological oddities while floating past tiny pastoral towns with water buffalo at work in shimmering green rice paddies. Fairy-tale limestone caves filled with stalactites and stalagmites also dot the landscape. In the dim light, these icy pillars actually resemble their fanciful names: Pines in the Snow, Mushroom Hill, Dragon Pagoda, Sky-Scraping Twin, Virgin Forests, and Red Curtain, to name a few.
Add a Comment
