Guilin China: Gumdrop Mountains

       After the Hong Kong conference and sightseeing we headed inland and a bit north to the city or area of Guilin (pronounced “gway – lean”).  This area is famous for the “gumdrop” mountains or in general mountains with very interesting shapes and lines.  For example some of the lines of mountains look like dragons or sea monsters in serpentine patterns as opposed to more traditional mountains.  According to Lonely Planet these meandering, odd shape mountains are what is left of a large flat limestone plateau that eroded away.  Anciently there was a large seabed that eventually formed a plateau of limestone.  This plateau became honeycombed by numerous underground rivers.

Over time the caverns and tunnels for the underground rivers became big enough that their ceilings collapsed.   The Gumdrop and other oddly shaped mountains are what’s left of the walls of these huge underground caverns whose tops caved in.  These mountains are the harder parts of the limestone and are actually growing in height because the softer low land and river areas (lots of rivers and streams) are eroding faster than the “mountains” so the mountains are therefore growing in height above the lowlands.

There are still many underground rivers and streams.

This two pronged feature in the foreground is referred to as the goat's hoof

This is part of what would look like the spiny back of the dragon.  

In the foreground are ~30ft high clumps of bamboo.

Okay, so I couldn't find a Magnum bar and had to settle for a different ice cream treat.

This “gumdrop” is set up for rock climbing enthusiasts.  You can see a few on the side.  I think the banners are to mark different paths as opposed as a memorial where someone fell….