Libo - the newest world heritage
Posted on Jun 13,2008 13:56



The South China Karst region extends over a surface of half a million km2 lying mainly in Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi provinces. It represents one of the world's most spectacular examples of humid tropical to subtropical karst landscapes, and was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. The stone forests of Shilin are considered superlative natural phenomena and a world reference with a wider range of pinnacle shapes than other karst landscapes with pinnacles, and a higher diversity of shapes and changing colors. The cone and tower karsts of Libo, also considered the world reference site for these types of karst, form a distinctive and beautiful landscape. Wulong Karst has been inscribed for its giant dolines (sinkholes), natural bridges and caves.


Libo is a little town surrounded by beautiful mountains and sceneries, there are more to experience: 

1. Original Mountain - Mt. Maolan
Libo, successfully enlisted as world heritage by UNESCO in 2007, is mainly up the develop-completely and most typical karst landscape in Maolan. Besides of its grand cone, this virgin forest exists abundant in rare fauna and flora resources, included Taxus cuspidate, Magnoliaceae, Paphiopedilum and many other rare species. Because of the bad access, Maolan is like a reclusive land.
2. Original Water - Zhangjiang River
Zhangjiang River, traveling throughout Libo from northeast to southwest, is far away from industrial pollution. The water is crystal and clear.
3. Original People - White-Trousers Yao People
Till 60s of 19th century, the native people were living on Slash and Burn, keeping the lift situation from the ancient time. It is another ecological miracle in Maolan karst virgin forest. They were also called "Indian Tribe in the East" by most anthropologists.
4. Original Drama - Dwarf Dance
The dwarf dance of Buyi People in Libo has more features of original ecosystem, closer to the nature of Wizardry (Wu Shu): worship the mountains and forest, keep off the disease and disaster. This most famous folk dancing - Dwarf Dance, was originated from the pastime activity of the villagers: the men are painted human face on the belly; the women wear cute masks on the back of head, playing and chasing together.
5. Original Manuscripts -Shui Manuscripts
Shui People are the special ethnic group living in the southern Guizhou. For Shui people, they have a unique asset in which they take pride Shui Manuscripts, which is identified as one of the few surviving hieroglyphics in China. Shui manuscripts are written, kept and taught by the native priesthood (called locally as Gui Shi). The contents of the Shui manuscripts are so abundant covering aboriginal knowledge on astronomy, geography, folklore, religion, ethic, philosophy, art and history that the manuscripts are called the encyclopaedia of Shui People.
6. Original Skill - Paper Making
The tourists could see the old way of paper making in Buyi Nationality mountain village in Maolan. The local people grinded and mashed the bamboo to make the coarse paper with dozens of processes. Then, they sell the paper on the fair and live on the little earning. The existing handcrafts also include weaving and tie-dye of Buyi People.
7. Original Taste - Sour (Chou Suan)  
In Libo, Herba Houttuyniae (Yu Xing Cao) is not an odd taste, Sour is more smelly and odd. The process of making sour is complicated, and it is a famous flavored taste in local.
8. Original Interest - Drifting and Cave-Seeking
Besides, some primitive resources of fauna, flora and humanity-oriented, Libo contains rich wild resources of outdoors and exploration. Countless karst caves, mountains, valleys and gorges provide the good place to out-door lovers. 

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