Yunnan Province Archives

As they span significant areas of Asia, Europe and the Americas, karst landscapes cover some 15 percent of the Earth’s land mass. Scientists estimate that these areas of porous bedrock are home to as many as 1.5 billion people, a quarter of the global population.

‘Romeo and Juliet’ of China Captured in Karst

January 18, 2010

Among all the scenic spots in Shilin, the rock of Ashima in the Small Stone Forest is the most famous. This rock resembles a girl, with a kerchief on her head and a bamboo basket on her back. The shape and expression are surprisingly lifelike. Tourists dress up in traditional Sani -- a branch of the Yi ethnic group -- dresses to strike the same pose next to the stone girl.

Hidden Waters, Dragons in the Deep: The Freshwater Crisis in China’s Karst Regions

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January 18, 2010

Yunnan Province is a microcosm of China's freshwater challenges.

Chinese Court Issues Verdicts Over Water Pollution

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June 3, 2009

Water polluters are on the docket of Chinese courts this week.