1. Karst Topography of China
ESS 101

2. Karst (Explained by National Geographic)
An area of land made up of limestone.
Limestone, also known as chalk or calcium carbonate, is a soft rock that dissolves in water.
As raindrops seep into the rock, it slowly erodes.
Karst landscapes can be worn away from the top or dissolved from a weak point inside the rocks.

3. Guilin Karst Topography
Guilin, located in Southern China, is known for its over 5,180 square kilometers of karst landscape.
One article by Jordan Clary compared Guilin to J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle- earth with sharp cliffs and green plains.
The conditions that formed the magnificent topography of Guilin are “fourfold” according to Ray Beiersdorfer, a geologist at Youngstown State University of Ohio.

5. Four Conditions
First, to form these karst landscapes, the hard, compact carbonate rock is crucial.
In Guilin, they are the Devonian limestone
Secondly, strong uplift is required and they are generated by the collisions of India with Asia to form the Himalaya.
The third condition is the Monsoon climate of high moisture during the warmest season.
And lastly, the area must not be scoured by the glaciers, which in Guilin it wasn’t.

7. Citation (Also very good articles to read)
Exploring Karst in Guilin, China
Karst (National Geographic)