Mystery of Giant Sink Holes in China Unraveled

Often referred as “tiankeng,” or “sky holes” near the southern Chinese city of Guilin they are 2,000-foot-deep wonders. The main factor to them is an underground river. It is the waterof the river that dissolves limestone to make caves, the roofs of which can give way to form sinkholes.

However the limestone at Guilin is fractured the sink hole are liable to form along vertical cracks forming steep walls. Rubble due to the cave in is dissolved by the waters of the river and over the eons cavern opens to the sky and a tiankeng is born Arthur Palmer, a cave expert at the State University of New York at Oneonta is quoted to have said

“You are impressed by how abrupt they are. These do tend to be the biggest in the world.”

Geologist William White, an emeritus professor at Pennsylvania State University is quoted to have said

“You could fit a couple of Empire State Buildings in and they’d disappear,”.

It would definitely be worth it to visit such extrordinary natural wonders especially now when China is becoming tourism friendly.

Via: discovery

Huangguoshu Falls, China: The biggest waterfall in Asia

Location: Two-hour drive from Guiyang province

The massive waterfall is formed by 18 waterfalls of various sizes. The wide Baishui River thunders over a main waterfall, 74m high and 81m wide, into the huge Pool, then down a series of smaller cascades.


The most fascinating is the 12 meters high water-screen cave that arches into the cliffside and is curtained by a sheet of water also is present an inner waterfall. A path has been cut into the cliff behind the fall which gives you a beautiful view through the cascading water. This semi man made cave takes you behind the falls where you can get a feel of the force of the water as it slips through your fingers.

Three Gorges - China

Image Credit:jasmin0916

The Three Gorges Dam in China is projected to be the absolute largest in the world. Expected to hold over 39,300,000,000 in volume, the reservoir is complete but the actual dam itself will not be completed until later this year. The construction of this dam had a huge impact on life in Sandouping, resulting not only in the relocation of dozens of villages but in the scenery as well. Because of the height of the Three Gorges Dam the mountains now look a bit lower than they actually are.

These dams are not only amongst the largest, but are considered some of the most functional, beautiful, and aesthetically pleasing in the world. Don’t hesitate to visit one if you’re ever in the area. Seeing one of the enormous dams in person will prove to be an absolutely breathtaking experience.

Forbidden City (Beijing, China)

The construction of the Forbidden City in China was completed in 1420 and was believed, by the emperor at least, to be the center of the universe. The city is protected by a 30 foot high wall and was reserved for the emperor only until 1925. At that point it was turned into a museum and the public was given open access. It’s estimated that the Forbidden City receives anywhere from 7 - 9 million visitors each year, though visitation during the 2008 Olympics likely made numbers for that year spike a bit higher.

Mount Tai /Taishan (Tai’an, China)

Image credit: kanegen

Not far North of Tai’an City you’ll find Mount Tai, which is considered one of the five mountains held sacred to Taoism. Once a respected retreat for Chinese emperors, millions of people flock to the mountain each year. Many climb the 7,000 steps to the Azure Clouds Temple which is found at the top of the mountain. Those who are wary of the stairs will simply explore the Taishan Temple at the base.

Asia is full of ancient and contemporary attractions bound to draw visitors from both local cities and the rest of the world. Make sure you take advantage of as many cultural opportunities as possible if you’re ever in the area. These are some of the most popular sites in Southeast Asia. Make room for them on your itinerary!