Libo Maolan Karst Forest [Qiannan]

"One of Top Ten Most Beautiful Forests in China"
Ranked by China National Geography Magazine

Libo Maolan Karst Forest in Libo County, Qiannan Buyi & Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Guizhou Province: Emerald on the girdle of Earth

The Maolan Karst located in Libo of southern Guizhou Province; the reserve is covered by a lush virgin forest. The stable ecological system means the forest is a rich biological resource. There are more than 2,000 species found in the reserve and these include some 40 new plant species. The reserve features the perfect blend of Karst sceneries and lush green forest. You will so charmed by the Karst peak-clusters, funnels and depressions, covered with primeval vegetation.

Here, life is tough, with poor soils, arid surface and the water table far below. In order to absorb water and nutrients, every plant has an extensive root system. Root hairs, climbing over the rock faces, stretch out in all directions, coiling around each other, creating spectacular natural tree-root sculptures. Indeed, some roots are thicker and several times longer than the tree trunks themselves. Wriggling like snacks and dragons, they make their way down sheer precipices to the ground, or climb up towering cliffs, the area of the root system several times largest than that of the crown. Then there are bryophytes twining around them and red-leaves falling on them. Sometimes, the roots are covered with water droplets that ooze from the rocks, just like glistening amber beads. The forest has another wonder 'trees embracing huge rocks.' These occur when a great number of contorted tree roots climb over rocks, worm their way into the soil, and, over time, gradually pull out the rocks.

It is the only one along the same latitude. It displays the true features of subtropical zone Karst natural environment, and the best preserved in the world.

Best time to go
Spring, Summer and Autumn.
Its annual average temperature is 60F.
The hottest is between 82.4F -87.8F and the coldest is between 26.6-32F.

Ticket
RMB 30/person

Around Landscape
Big Seven-hole Bridge Scenic Area RMB 42/person, Small Seven-hole Bridge Scenic Area RMB 82/person, Drift on Shuichun River RMB 170/person (about 3 hours), etc.

Local Snacks and Specialties
Mi Bean-curd, Preserved ham by smoke, Bean curd with odor, Dushan Yansuancai, Buyi Silver Adornments, Buyi Gallus, Zelkova Furniture and Mat, etc.

Travel Tips
Hiking is the best way.
In winter, hundreds of hectare plum blossom is blossoming.
In Spring and Summer especially from May to October it rain high frequency.
Please take raincoat or umbrella, sunbonnet, sunglass, and suntan oil in summer.

Distance
Beijing (2536 km) Guiyang City (159 km) Duyun City ( 160 km) Libo County (26 km)Libo Karst Forest.