Guilin Geological Educational Tour

After arriving in Guilin, a driver will pick you up and take you to the hotel to check in. Take a short break to relieve the fatigue from the journey. In the evening, you can taste Guilin's characteristic delicacies near the hotel (such as Guilin rice noodles, beer fish, etc.).

Depart from Guilin urban area in the early morning and head to Ping'an Village of Longji Terraces. Upon arrival, admire the magnificent scenery where terraces and karst landforms complement each other, such as "Nine Dragons and Five Tigers" and "Seven Stars with the Moon". With the guide's explanation, learn about the formation principle of karst hilly landforms in the Longji area, and students discuss this topic together. At the same time, feel the wisdom of local farmers in planning irrigation systems based on geological conditions such as rock permeability and soil thickness.

"Nine Dragons and Five Tigers"

"Seven Stars with the Moon"

On the Platform of Seven Stars with the Moon in Autumn

In the afternoon, start the hiking journey from the Ancient Zhuang Village to Ping'an Village. Students will observe the micro-evolutionary traces of karst landforms in depth. Along the way, you can observe erosion landscapes such as small slope caves and gullies, and understand the long-term destructive effect of running water on rocks. In addition, during the hike, students can observe and discuss the site selection characteristics of the Ancient Zhuang Village, and understand the wisdom of traditional villages in avoiding geological disasters such as landslides and mudslides.

Ancient Zhuang Village

Students Hiking

Your Journey’s Rewards:

Through visiting Longji Terraces, understand the formation principle of karst hilly landforms in the Longji area. During the visit, explore the role of fluvial erosion in the formation of karst landforms, and learn the wisdom of local residents in avoiding geological disasters such as landslides and mudslides in village site selection.

Educational Focus:

What is related to the stability of terraces?

Takeaway:

The stability of terraces is related to rock stability, soil water retention, topographic drainage advantages, and rational utilization of groundwater. Among them, rock stability is the most important. The geological structure of Longji Terraces is mainly composed of granite, which is hard in texture and has strong weathering resistance, providing stable bedrock support for the terraces. The strong stability of granite helps maintain the slope structure of the terraces and reduces the risk of slope collapse caused by rock weathering.

Thought Challenge:

In the protection and inheritance of terrace cultural heritage, how to balance the maintenance of the original geological and ecological environment with the needs of tourism development?

After arriving at Guanyan Scenic Area, an immersive karst geological exploration begins. Led by Dr. Shen (Ph.D., Associate Researcher from the Institute of Karst Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, engaged in research and application of karst ecology, sustainable utilization of karst landscape resources, ecological environment remote sensing, natural education, science popularization, and research practice), students can observe the cave landforms of Guanyan in depth. Here, limestone has been dissolved by groundwater for millions of years, forming unique landscapes such as stalagmites, stone pillars, and stone curtains. Through Dr. Shen's explanation, students learn to identify various cave sediments and understand their formation causes.

Student Team Exploring Karst Landforms

Students Listening to Dr. Shen Explain Karst

In the afternoon, head to Daxu Ancient Town. The ancient town is located in the transition zone between the Lijiang River alluvial plain and hills, avoiding the drought and flood problems that are prone to occur in karst mountainous areas and providing a stable foundation for buildings. Students can stroll through the ancient town, where most buildings are built against mountains and beside water, with beautiful scenery, reflecting the construction wisdom of adapting to local conditions. Then, a home visit activity is carried out, where students can communicate face-to-face with families in the ancient town. During the interaction, they learn about the living customs of the ancient town and study traditional handicrafts from the residents.

Daxu Ancient Town

Home Visit in Daxu Ancient Town

Your Journey’s Rewards:

Under the leadership of Dr. Shen, gain an in-depth understanding of the formation and evolution of karst landforms, appreciate the unique natural landscape of karst caves, and feel the site selection wisdom of the ancient town and experience traditional folk customs through home visits in Daxu Ancient Town.

Educational Focus:

How are the typical karst landscapes in Guanyan Cave formed?

Takeaway:

The formation of karst caves is the result of millions of years of dissolution of groundwater in limestone areas. Calcium in limestone is dissolved and carried away by water. After hundreds of thousands, millions, or even tens of millions of years of sedimentary calcification, dissolution grooves and dissolution troughs will form on the limestone surface, and underground cavities will form. The main component of limestone is calcium carbonate. When water is under certain pressure in deep underground, carbon dioxide will escape, and part of the calcium will precipitate in the form of limestone deposits. Being free from damage by natural external forces, natural landscapes such as stalactites, stalagmites, and stone pillars are formed.

Thought Challenge:

How is the growth rate of sediments such as stalactites, stalagmites, stone pillars, and stone curtains in Guanyan Cave measured?

After breakfast, take a Lijiang River cruise to Yangshuo. Along the way, you can appreciate various geological landscapes such as peak forests, peak clusters, and karst caves. Not only can you enjoy the beautiful scenery on both sides of the Lijiang River, but you can also observe the forms of the mountains and the characteristics of the rocks on both sides, and understand the formation process and evolutionary history of karst landforms. Learn about the geological origins of famous attractions such as Nine-Horse Painting Hill and the background of the 20-yuan RMB note.

The Beautiful Scenery of Li River

In the afternoon, depart for Fuli Town to visit the local fan-painting workshops. The fan-painting craftsmanship is a county-level intangible cultural heritage. In the fan-painting workshop, students can experience fan-painting in person and participate in five processes: cutting, painting, mounting, folding, and fitting the fan ribs into the frame. When painting fans, students can take the karst attractions in Guilin and Yangshuo as inspiration, which not only deepens their impression of karst landforms but also allows them to create their own characteristic painted fans.

Children Painting on a Fan

Fans Painted by Students

Your Journey’s Rewards:

Admire the beautiful scenery on both sides of the Lijiang River while gaining an in-depth understanding of the formation and characteristics of the Lijiang River karst landforms; experience the traditional fan-painting craftsmanship of Fuli Town through hands-on creation and feel the charm of intangible cultural heritage.

Educational Focus:

The scenery along the Lijiang River is known as the "Hundred-Mile Gallery". How did such a beautiful scenery form?

Takeaway:

The Lijiang River basin is centered on typical karst landforms, with multiple geological features such as granite, sandy shale, and limestone. About 400 million years ago, the area where the Lijiang River is located was a marine environment. The long-term deposited seawater sediments formed layered limestone hundreds of meters thick, laying the material foundation for karst landforms. The Lijiang River water has been eroding the limestone on both banks for a long time. In the upper and middle reaches, due to the rapid water flow, canyon peak clusters are formed; in the lower reaches, the water flow is gentle, and sedimentation is the main process, forming landforms such as sandbars and gravel beaches. Meanwhile, intermittent crustal uplift has caused underground caves and underground rivers to gradually emerge on the surface, forming the strange peaks, canyons and other landscapes on both sides of the Lijiang River today.

Thought Challenge:

How does the subtropical monsoon climate in Guilin indirectly promote the development of the Lijiang River karst landforms by affecting the water cycle and biological activities?

Depart from Yangshuo County in the early morning and cycle along the rural greenway. Along the way, enjoy the mutual reflection of village scenery and karst peaks. During the cycling trip, you will visit a designated farmhouse for a home visit to learn about the traditional farming culture of the Zhuang ethnic group and taste Guilin's characteristic foods made by farmers themselves. Strolling through the village, students can observe the spatial distribution relationship between rural settlements and karst landforms, and discuss together why local villagers mostly choose to settle in the flat lands between peak forests or in river valley areas.

Rural Bike Tour

Villages in Karst Landforms

In the afternoon, head to Yangshuo's classic rock climbing site. After receiving safety training and skill guidance from professional rock climbing coaches, experience rock climbing on Yangshuo's karst peaks. Yangshuo's rock climbing relies on typical karst limestone cliffs. During the climbing process, students can observe geological features such as the bedding structure of rocks and dissolution holes at close range, getting intimate contact with karst landforms.

Yangshuo Rock Climbing

Your Journey’s Rewards:

Students can gain an in-depth understanding of the symbiotic relationship between karst landforms and rural life, and experience the traditional folk customs and farming culture of the Zhuang ethnic group through home visits. During rock climbing in Yangshuo, they can observe the characteristics of karst landforms at close range.

Educational Focus:

How does the geographical environment of karst villages affect the production and lifestyle of local residents?

Takeaway:

The beautiful and unique scenery formed by karst landforms brings abundant tourism economy to local residents. However, in karst areas, the terrain is rugged, the soil layer is shallow, and surface water is scarce, which is not suitable for farmers to work, cultivate and live. For this reason, many villages are mostly located in the flat lands between peak forests or in river valley areas.

Thought Challenge:

How to avoid the adverse impacts of karst landforms on the daily life of local residents?

Head to Xianggong Mountain in the early morning and arrive before sunrise to witness the magnificent scenery of sunlight shining on distant karst peaks surrounded by morning mist. After climbing the mountain, you can enjoy the great bend of the Lijiang River, the peak forests on both banks, and the idyllic scenery at the foot of the mountain. The mountain here is composed of limestone, which has formed steep terrain and a unique mountain outline due to long-term weathering and dissolution.

Scenery of Xianggong Mountain

Depart from Yangshuo and return to Guilin, and finally, the driver will take you to the airport to end the trip.

Your Journey’s Rewards:

Admire the magnificent view of the "First Bay" of the Lijiang River at Xianggong Mountain, fully understand the spatial relationship between karst peak forests and river systems, review the integrated beauty of Guilin's geology and humanities, and draw a perfect end to this geological education tour.

Educational Focus:

How does the famous scenic spot "Great Bend of the Lijiang River" at Xianggong Mountain reflect the interaction between river erosion and the evolution of karst landforms?

Takeaway:

The "First Bay" of the Lijiang River at Xianggong Mountain is a typical meander landscape formed by the long-term lateral erosion of the river channel by the river. The Lijiang River basin is dominated by soluble rocks such as limestone. In the long geological history, limestone has undergone weathering, dissolution and other processes, forming karst landforms such as caves and underground rivers. These dissolution channels provide space for the lateral erosion of the river, making it easier for the river to form bends in flat areas.

Thought Challenge:

As a typical karst terrain, what are the reasons for the short and numerous underground rivers in Xianggong Mountain?