The climate of the region in Late Tertiary period was characterized as low latitude and low altitude tropic and subtropic. Later, it changed gradually into a plateau humid-dry monsoon climate. Nowaday, the climate of Shilin range is a monsoon one of northern subtropic zone, with annual mean temperature 15.6℃, annual mean precipitation 968mm, annual mean evaporation 2086mm, relatively humidity 75% and yearly total solar radiation 134.6-136.8 kc/cm2.
The strata in Shilin area are mainly composed of Formation Maokou, and Formation Qixia of the Lower Permian, Formation Ermeishan of Upper Permian , Formation Lumeiyi of the Tertiary and the Quaternary. The Formation Maokou, 227-311m thick, made of thick bedded limestones with individual layer more than 2m thick, and Formation Qixia, 139-231m thick, of dolomitic limestones and dolostones with less than 0.1m to more than 2m thick for singular layer, form karstic environment of the scenic area, whereas the basalts of Formation Ermeishan, and the red mudstones, siltstones, sandstones and conglomerates of the Tertiary constitute the covers of karstic environment.
Developed in Formation Maokou and Formation Qixia, the caves in Shilin area, like Cave Baiyun, Cave Zhiyun, Cave Jibailong, Cave Weiboyi, Cave Qifeng and Cave Shimalonggong, are distributed 1500-1900m a.s.l.. There are modern subterranean rivers in Cave Baiyun and Cave Weiboyi with cave habitants, e.g., Triplophysa shilinensis besides speleothems.
There are 5 soil types, 8 soil subtypes, 13 soil genera and 48 soil species in Shilin region. 5 soil types are red earth, yellow-brown earth, purple earth, paddy earth and alluvial earth. The pHs of red soil and basaltic weathering crust, 6.37-7.68, are higher than that in other areas, 4.5-5.5. The soil temperatures, 9.6-15.5℃, increase with depth. So does the soil humidity, 32.6-46.7%. The soil organic matter ,about 0.099-0.26% as organic carbon, is lower than that of the usual cultivated land and red soil.
Shilin Scenic Area belongs to Nanpanjiang river drainage basin at the upper reach of the Zhujiang river. Its main surface river, the Bajiang river with catchment area of 705.6km2 and yearly runoff 6.46×108m3, flows 48km long in Shilin region. It transforms into underground river somewhere, and flow into the Nanpanjiang river at the Dadieshui waterfall, a famous scenic spot. There are more than 80 lakes, e.g., Long Lake, Moon Lake and so on, and more than 80 reservoirs such as the Tuanjie reservoir, the Heilongtan reservoir. Besides, there are 9 subterranean rivers explored, with more than 50 natural karst windows and springs.
There are 185 species of vertebrates, including 42 species of beasts, 87 species of birds, 32 species of reptiles, 12 species of amphibian and 12 species of fishes. Among them, 7 species of beasts and 8 species of birds are national second level protected animals, especially, the Chrysolophus as the world level endangered in IUCN red book published in 1988.
The pteridophyte is divided into 21 families, 41 genera and 87 species, and the Gymnospermae and the Angipermae, 51 families, 574 genera, 990 species. 40.2%, 47.5% and 12.3% of the plants belong to those of the tropic zone, temperate zone and the globally distributed respectively. Among them, 31 species are peculiar to the Shilin Scenic Area, 18 species are listed as provincial level protection plants, and the rare Psammosilene of Caryophyllaceae and the Rosa odorata of the Rosaceae, and the endangered Calocedrus of the Cupressaceae, the Paconia delavalyi of the Ranunculaceae and the Ncochciropteris palmatopedata of the Polypodiaceae are national level precious and rare plants.
The aerial alga on rock surface are usually the genera and species of blue green alga class of blue green phylum, classified into 4 orders, 11 families, 31 genera and 188 species, including a new species, Nephrococcus Shilinensis Tian and three new mutations, Asterocapsa rubra var. crdssa Tian, Asterpcapsa changbaishanensis var. rubra Tian and Asterocapsa purpuera var. minor Tian.
2 The Geomorphology and origin of Stone Forest

Stone forest refers to a particular karst landscape, composed of a group of densely distributed limestone columns standing on a wavy karst plateau. The most typical example is the Shilin Stone Forest in Yunnan. The columns are usually more than 10m high, with their upper part decorated with sharp karren (PhotoⅣ-4). Stone forest is also distributed in Guizhou, Guangxi and Fujian Provinces. In addition to Shilin County, stone forest is also found dispersed in Luliang and Mile Counties of Yunnan with a total area of more than 400km2.
Shilin Stone Forest is distributed on the gently undulated karst plateau 1720 to 2000m above sea level. There stand various shapes of rocky columns which are generally 10 to 30 m high. The rocky columns less than 10m occur on the higher land while the tall and big rocky columns are dispersed on the low land. Grikes interweave in length and breadth just like a labyrinth between rocky columns. There are caves and subterranean streams as well in the stone forest.
The reason why stone forests are well developed in Shilin and adjacent Lingzhi areas is that there is special combination of climatic, lithological, structural geology and geomorphological conditions. The most essential conditions are as follows:
Firstly, the carbonate rocks in Shilin are the Early Permian. The typical stone forests are mostly developed in reef biolithite deposited on the slope of shallow-sea plateform. This facies of carbonate rocks with unitary chemical composition and thick stratification are easy to form big and tall rocky columns. The differences in stratigraphical and lithological features can give rise to varieties of column shapes. The glossy ganoderm-like stone forest is brought about by its medium-bedded lower strata, and thick-bedded upper strata. Moreover, the difference of the density of fissure makes karst process different (Fig.3). Twenty kilometres to the northeast of Shilin, there is a Lingzhi Stone Forest characterized by mushroom-shaped column. It is because the dolomite in the lower part of column contains more siliceous components and is vulnerable to physical weathering. The columns here are 5-10m higher than those of Shilin. The highest is up to 35-40m. Secondly, the gently dipping of strata is also an important factor that makes stone forest develop. The strata of Shilin Stone Forest generally dip in an angle of less than 5о. Under the stress, the vertical fissures were developed into a chessboard joint net (Fig 4) which was favourable to the percolations and dissolution process of vadose water as well as the formation and conservation of the tall rocky columns. Thirdly, topographically, the dish-shaped depressions with big catchment area are favourable to the formation of tall rocky columns (20-30m), while the gentle slope is fit for medium rocky columns (more than 10m), and the denudation plain, still covered by red soil universally, is the background to the formation of the low stone forest usually in the shape of stone teeth (1-5m). Fourthly, the formation of rocky columns is closely related to the subsoil dissolution. Notches, small punching cavities and round wavy rocky wall, frequently found on the colunms, are all the phenomena of subsoil dissolution by the CO2-rich vadose water. The sharp tops and the deep karrens on the upper part of columns were formed by the dissolution of surface water in the subsequent subaerial environment. Finally, the function of the impermeable caprocks (red beds and basalt) which accumulate surface water washing down along vertical fissure in the underneath limestone can bring about sub-jacent karst process (Chen Zhiping, Song Linhua and M.M.Sweeting , 1986).
The age of the stone forest is still controversial. Some people considered that stone forests were developed in the Eocene and the Oligocene on the basis of stratigraphical and palaeogeomorphical analyses. Someone defined the age of stone forest as the Early-Middle Pleistocene based on the analyses of cave and surface CaCO3 sediments. Others believed that stone forests were mainly formed 0.2-0.01 Ma years ago by calculating the corrosion rate. More researches are necessary for better defining the age of the stone forest.

Fig.3 Limestone column, Shilin, Yunnan (after Map Illustration of Geomorphologic Types,1984)
Fig.4 map showing linear structure in Shilin Scenic Area(after Zhang Shouyue,1984)

According to the available knowledge, the genetical model of Shilin Stone forest can be put forward as follows. Under the crustal stress, several sets of steep-dipped joints were formed on the gently-dipped thick-bedded carbonate rocks with the NW 310о set as the prevailing one. Originally, limestones were covered by soil and dissolved by the organogenic CO2-bearing vadose water along the chessboard joints net and cut into rectangular and rhomboid blocks. Typical stone forests are found at the bottom of depressions with favourable water-collecting condition. The fluctuation of water table and accumulation of a great deal of water make the joints broaden and deepen along with the dropdown of water table, meanwhile, the rectangular and rhomboid blocks were increasing in height and reducing in diameter with small subsoil cavities and notches developed on wall rocks. Rocky columns were exposed in the air after the overlying coprocks and soil was denudated and washed into the fissures and carried away by underground water. The tops of rocky columns were then corroded and eroded by rainfall and finally developed into the stone forest scenery with numerous rocky columns and interweaved grikes seen today.

3 Ecosystems of Shilin Scenic Area

Taking into account comprehensively the factors of climate, rocks, water, soil, caves, microbes, plants, animals and human activities, Shilin Scenic Area can be distinguished in the 4 ecological systems, that is, karst ecosystem, non-karst earth hill ecosystem, lake ecosystem and agricultural ecosystem. Only karst ecosystem will be discussed here.
3.1 Plant ecosystem
The paleoenvironment and modern environment in Shilin area were/are favorable for the development of soil and plants. From the points of botanical geographical division, the plants in Shilin Scenic Area, include those elements from the Sino-Himalaya, Sino-Japanese and East Asian compositions with transitional features. Also, they may horizontally substitute for and correspond to those of Eastern China subtropic zone, for example, Cyclobalanopsis glaucoides for the dominant species-Quercus glauca, Pinus yunnanensis to mason pine, Alnus nepalensis to alder. Moreover, Shilin Scenic Area enjoys representatives of the characteristic evergreen broadleaf forest in the Southwestern area, such as Quercus cocciferoides, Quercus franchetii. Characterized by karstic, drought and enduring-heat environment, the xerophile and calciphile plant genera, are Zanthoxylum gen., Pistacia chinensis gen., Berberis gen., Myrsine africana gen., Rhamnus gen. and so on and the plant species, Dichotomanthes tristaniaecarpa, Cotoneaster microphyllus, Osyris wightiana , Sarcococca ruscifolia. The peculiar petrophile plants are Sedum multicaule, Itea yunnanensis, Reevesia pubescens, Pterolobium punctatum, Dalbergia mimosoides, Cynanchum wallichii and Petrocosmea duclouxii.
The plant flora mentioned above manifests the habitat features which reflect the vegetation cover evolution of Shilin area. There exist two types of climax vegetation cover evolving in three ways (Fig.5). The first semihumid evergreen broadleaf woods--the climatic climax and regional, latitudinal vegetation cover category mirroring the plateau monsoon climate " four seasons like spring, alternate dryness & humidness ", is a potentially, stable forest ecosystem in dynamic equilibrium. The other, semihumid evergreen deciduous broadleaf forest in limestone reflecting rocky mountain-soil climax plant.
One example of plant evolution is from naked carbonate rock to Cyclobalanopsis glaucoides forest, that is, from the petrophile plant, Berberis wilsonae, Cotoneaster microphyllus, Rubus parvifolius, Dalbergia mimosoides, Sarcococca ruscifolia, Micromeria biflora, Sedum multicaule, Itea yunnanensis, Reevesia pubescens, Cynanchum wallichii, Petrocosmea duclouxii, which may be seen in the bush cluster on naked rocky land of Naigu Stone Forest, to evergreen broadleaf woods on the naked rock land, such as that of Pistacia weinmannifolia, Pistacia chinensis, Cinnamomum, soft Ziziphus, Sapindus mukurosii, Albizia mollis, Celtis sinensis, Photinia serrulata, Ulmus, Sapindus delavayi and Cyclobalanopsis glaucoides in the Big Stone Forest and of Cyclobalanopsis glaucoides, Olea yunnanensis and Pistacia weinmannifolia on the stone hillock around Mt. Suoyishan (Fig1). In this kind of broadleaf woods on the naked rock land, the soil layer is only constituted by humic layer of litter. Therefore, given enough time and natural evolution, endemic climax flora may develop in the areas of all kinds of matter compositions in Shilin Scenic Area.

Fig.5 Plant evolutions of Shilin Scenic Area

Another case of plant evolution, from secondary naked land in the areas covered by basalts and the Tertiary sandstone and mudstone to semihumid evergreen broadleaf forest or evergreen hardleaf forest. Cyclobalanopsis glaucoides forest, typical composition of semihumid evergreen broadleaf forest or evergreen hardleaf forest of climax community in this region, is made of Cyclobalanopsis glaucoides-Olea yunnanensis cluster, Cyclobalanopsis glaucoides-Pistacia weinmannifolia-Olea yunnanensis cluster, Pistacia chinensis-Cyclobalanopsis glaucoides-Olea yunnanensis cluster, Quercus franchetii-Pistacia weinmannifolia-Olea yunnanensis cluster, the xerophile and petrophile shrub and bush, herb and pteridophyte fond of shade, which appear on the southern slope of some protected mountains for Yi nationality to hold sacrificial rites, the stone hillock at natural villages, i.e., at Wukeshu and the Big Stone Forest and in the basalt-forming soil zone or the interlocked area of carbonate and basalts. The arbor of it is typical endemic one of the limestone red soil mountain lands.
Alnus nepalensis forest is a secondary woods recovered from the once cleared or burned endemic vegetation. The product of evergreen broadleaf forest destroyed many times, the Pinus yunanensis woods may have the tree species of germinating broadleaf forest, for example, Cyclobalanopsis glaucoides and Olea yunnanensis, and a large amount of xerophile, fire-enduring, tread-enduring and pasturing-enduring shrub and herb, e.g., Myrsine africana, Berberis pruinosa, Pyracantha fortuneana, Heteropogon contortus, Imperata cylindrical, Schizachyrium delavayi etc. If the evolution condition being kept, the transformation of this pinus yunnanensis forest into an endemic semihumid evergreen broadleaf forest is possible, and can provide a clear evidence of endemic forest evolution and show its importance as the pioneering plant for the recovery of endemic plant cover.
The warm limestone bush cluster posses the representative shrub and herb of xerophile, heat-enduring, infertility-enduring, tread-enduring and pasturing-enduring natures. As a case of dry-hot river valley shrub cluster, the Sophora davidii-Pyracantha fortuneana cluster which emerges on southern limestone slope land and beside the roads with less soil and much stone block, and serious soil erosion caused by repeated human interference, is an indicator for the trend of dry ecosystem
The warm marshland typical of Cynodon dactylon-Centella asiatica cluster in the lake beach is low grass cluster growing on the limestone wetland, i.e., on karst lake beaches or in seasonal waterlogged depressions, including both humid grass like Centella asiatica, Cynodon dactylon, Hibiscus trionum, Dichrocephala integrifolia, Taraxacum mongolicum, Kummerowia striata, Ophioglossum parvifolium and the grass reflecting dry environment, such as Bidens pilosa, Micromeria biflora, Heteropogon contortus, Imperata cylindrical, Tylophora yunnanensis, Eremochloa zeylanica and Onosma paniculata.
Comparing the compositions of major flora from semihumid evergreen broadleaf forest to low grass-shrub cluster, the increase of xerophile, heat-enduring, infertility-enduring, tread-enduring and pasturing-enduring plant species reflects a deteriorated series of plant cover and on environment deterioration and an evolution relationship. The grass cluster typical of Cynodon dactylon- Centella asiatica cluster on aboriginal naked rock land and the weeds cluster of low Arundinella setosa-Heteropogon contortus-Schizachyrium delavayi community on secondary naked lands may develop into a petrophile of calciphile, xerophile and heat-enduring features like Myrsine africana-Sophora velutina cluster, Millettia velutina-Spiraea martini cluster, Sophora davidii-Pyracantha fortuneana cluster, and then into the sparse tree bush-grass cluster of warm coniferous forest species, e.g., Arundinella setosa-Schizachyrium delavayi-Pinus yunnanensis cluster, Heteropogon contortus-Schizachyrium delavayi-Pinus yunnanensis cluster, and finally into the heat-enduring petrophile-bush cluster with warm coniferous forest species, i.e., Myrsine africana-Sophora velutina cluster and Sophora davidii-Pyracantha fortuneana cluster of Pinus yunnanensis and Pinus armandii. Growing on the slope lands of basaltic red soil are Alnus nepalensis-Pinus yunnanensis or Alnus nepalensis-Pinus armandii bush-grass community. With the formation of thin and dense woods that followed the normal development and domination of warm coniferous forest, the species of the evergreen broadleaf forest related to the increase of closing density such as Cyclobalanopsis glaucoides, Cyclobalanopsis delavayi, Olea, Pistacia weinmannifolia, Olea yunnanensis, Albizia mollis, Celtis tetrandra gradually grows too. Then the coniferous forest and evergreen broadleaf mixed forest came into being. Some deciduous, broadleaf tree species, for example, Pistacia chinensis and Quercus variabilis also appear. Finally, tree species of evergreen broadleaf forest evolve into endemic plant cover to form the climax community by dominating and restraining the growth of the heliotropic trees like the coniferous forest etc.
3.2 Microbial ecosystem on rock surface
Aerial algae widespreadly grow on naked carbonate rock surface of Shilin area. For carbonate rocks in different areas of Shilin, differences in the CaO/MgO value, i.e., Liziyuanqing > Wannianlingzhi > Big Stone Forest > Naigu Stone Forest, affect algal distribution. Microcystis parasitic Kütz and Scytonema bohneri Schmidle emerge in Big Stone Forest, Small Stone Forest and Naigu Stone Forest while Gloeocapsa atrata (Turp.) Kütz and Scytonema crustaceum Ag. in Liziyuanqing and Wannianlingzhi. Aerial algae not only directly or indirectly influence the shaping of corrosive forms, but also can mechanically destroy rocks to produce pale loose porous layers on rock surface through the shrinkage and swell of algal cells as the weather changes from dry to humid, which may accelerate the weathering of rocks. Algae indirectly join and enhance the formation of miniature to large karst features in the process of their life activities and physiology and biochemistry. Algal individual and community directly control the appearance of miniature and small dissolved forms (Photo Ⅳ-1, Photo Ⅳ-2).
Microbial amount is different in different small habitats (Fig.6). In the depression bottom and on the depression slope and hill waist, microbial amount at 0.2m under soil are 20.8×104, 4.1×104and 20.6×104/g (dry soil) respectively. Though in the same place, different habitats at different soil depths produce different microbial amount, usually higher or highest 28.5×104/g (dry soil) at 0.6m below surface. Soil microbe can explain 46%-99.8% of soil air CO2 change. Soil air CO2 was the primary drive factor for the formation of karst. So, soil microbe may indirectly affect karst formation through its production of CO2 in soil air.

Fig.6 Microbial amount in the soil (from Liang Fuyuan)

D1, in the depression bottom covered by basaltic weathering crust ;
D2, on the depression slope ; S1, on the hill waist ;

3.3 cave fauna: cave fishes and bats
Triplophysa shilinensis Chen et Yang was first discovered in the Cave Weiboyi on 18th March , 1991, which was also the first case in more than 300 World Heritages List registered in1992(Fig.7).
Developed in Formation Qixia, Cave Weiboyi is situated southeast 7 km to the center of Shilin Scenic Area. Its funnel-like entrance is 1880m a.s.l., 109m high from water surface of underground river. The latter is 20m wide with flow velocity 0.3m/s. Triplophysa shilinensis Chen et Yang swim slowly 0.2-0.3m below water surface and quickly dive when they find exotic intervention.
Triplophysa shilinensis Chen et Yang was one of the 11 cavefishes and the fourth Nemacheilinae fish found in the karst caves of P. R. China. It belongs to Triplophysa, Nemacheilinae and Cobitidae. The amount of this species, with the longest one 61.0mm, is less than 5. There were large number of undigested insect crust segments in their intestines which could originate from the bat's faeces, not aquatic insects.

Fig.7 Triplophysa shilinensis Chen et Yang, sp. Nov. (from Chen Yinrui et al.)

Triplophysa shilinensis Chen et Yang may have the same ancestor as Noemacheilus gejiuensis Chu et Chen and Triplophysa nanpanjiangensis Zhu et Cao due to their close relationship. Their ancestor, similar to Triplophysa nanpanjiangensis Zhu et Cao, was ever widespreadly distributive in southeast Yunnan province, and afterwards evolved into nowaday Noemacheilus gejiuensis Chu et Chen and Triplophysa nanpanjiangensis Zhu et Cao as subterranean rivers developed into geographical barrier and Triplophysa nanpanjiangensis went into Cave Bajiaoqing at Qiafang of Gejiu City and Cave Weiboyi.
The bat dwells individually or in groups in the caves. Two categories of bats can be seen. One is the Great Himalayan leafnosed Bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum tragatus Hodgson), 10-20g in weight, with 55-60mm long forearms, brown back and grey-brown abdomen hair. The other, Greater horseshoe Bat (Hipposidero armiger armiger Hodgson), 60-65g, 90-95mm, brown-black black hair and dark brown abdomen hair. The bats can kill harmful insects, sow botanical seeds and transmit pollen, which are beneficial to the recovery of vegetation cover.

3.4 human effect on and modification of ecosystem
The plant evolutions in Shilin Scenic Area were strongly affected by human activities. The typical case is the decline of the broadleaf, coniferous mixed forest. Before 1955, water and trees were both deficient. Since then, Shilin Lake was dug and exotic plant species were introduced. In 70-80's of 20th century, pine and cypress seeds were sowed by plane to be afforested. Pine moth hazard often broke out because of single tree species (Photo Ⅳ-3). The introduction of the eucalyptus made plant cover restored, but lowered underground water level. Recently, grass cover has been introduced into some important scenic areas to green the land among stone pinnacles. The pine trees, cypress trees, natural grass cover and artificial grass cover constitute some major plant cover, which greatly influence soil CO2. Soil air CO2 at 0.6m under natural grass cover was higher than that under pines and cypresses, but below 0.6m, it is contrary. However, CO2 below manmade grass cover was highest (Fig.8), e.g., up to 10×104ppm in dry season at Small Stone Forest, 2.5×104ppm though lowest. Being fertilized in artificial grass lawn, organic matter at 0.2m and 0.4m depths under soil increased remarkably to 0.744% and 0.452%, which stimulated the increase of microbial amount and CO2.

Fig.8 The effect of different plant cover on soil air CO2 (from Liang Fuyuan)

4 Excursions
The participants will excurse in Shilin Scenic Area on September the eighth and ninth, 2001. In the afternoon of the ninth, they will leave for Guilin by plane via Kunming by bus. The major excursions in Shilin Scenic Area are as follows.
Stop 1 The Big & Small Stone Forest
(1) limestone stone forest, the famous tropic sword-like pinnacle karst in China and the world (Fig.9, Photo Ⅳ-4).

Fig.9 Excursion map in the Big and Small Stone Forest

(2) endemic Cyclobalanopsis glaucoides-Pistacia weinmannifolia-Olea yunnanensis cluster at Wukeshu.
Arbor： Celtis tetrandra, Cyclobalanopsis glaucoides, Pittosporum tobira, Ehretia corylifolia, Pistacia chinensis, Albizia mollis, Rhamnella martini, Toxicodendron vernicifluum, Pistacia weinmannifolia (Photo Ⅳ-5), Photinia serrulata, Quercus variabilis, Sapindus mukurosii, Olea yunnanensis, Cinnamomum, Xylosma racemosum.
Bush：Rhamnus leptophyllus, Zanthoxylum armatum, Millettia reticula, Sageretia theezans, Photinia serrulata, Smilax lunglingensis, Rabdosia, Clematis gouriana, Myrsine africana, Gleditsia delavayi, Eupatorium coelestrium, Xylosma racemosum
Herb: Calystegia hederacea, Crassocephalum crepidioides, Bidens pilosa, Artemisia, Rostellularia procumbens, Senecio scadens, Cynanchum otophyllum, Elsholtzia ciliata, Lobelia seguinii, Capillipedium assimile.
(3) endemic arbor and vine in the Big Stone Forest
Arbor: Cinnamomum, Pistacia weinmannifolia, Pistacia chinensis, soft Ziziphus sativa, Sapindus mukurosii, Albizia mollis, Crataegus scabrifolia, Apodytes sp., Celtis sinensis, Sapindus delavayi, Ulmus.
Vine: Nicandra physaloides (PhotoⅣ-6), Hedera nepalensis var. sinensis, Millettia reticula, Pyrostegia venusta, Celastrus gemmatus.
Artificial Trees: Juniperus formosana, Cupressus duclouxiana, Cedrus deodara, Lagerstroemia indica, Malus halliana.
(4) artificial limestone Pinus yunnanensis forest on the west slope of Shilin wrestling arena
Arbor: Pinus yunnanensis, Pinus armandi
Bush: Sophora davidii, Pyracantha fortuneana, Buddleia asiatica, Myrsine africana.
Herb: Eremopogon delavayi, Sporobolus fertilis, Heteropogon contortus, Heteropogon contortus, Ficus ti-koua , Eupatorium coelestrium, Imperata cylindrical, Eremochloa zeylanica.
(5) basaltic crust at Mt. Bushao.
Stop 2 Naigu Stone Forest
(1) manmade eucalyptus woods and the relationship between stone forest and basalts(Photo Ⅳ-7).
(2) dolomitic limestone & dolostone stone forest and their difference from the Big & Small Stone Forest(Photo Ⅳ-8)
3, Cave Baiyun(photo 7, back cover). Cave Baiyun, 380m long, developed in Formation Qixia, Permian System. There are many different infills of cave sediments. Their age was younger than 780kyr. B.P. (Brunhes chron,2001) by paleomagnetic analyses. The upper part of sampled profile belongs to reverse Blake Event (112.3-117.9kyr. B.P.) The formation of Cave Baiyun may be directly related to the development of Naigu Shilin (Fig.10).

Fig.10 The plane map of Cave Baiyun (from Liuhong et al.)

References
1. Zhang Faming et al.. Study on the lunan stone forest karst, China(Chinese, English content and summary) (M). Yunnan Science and Technology Press. 1997.
2. Yunnan Province Geological Bureau Hydrogeological and Engineering team. P.R.China Regional hydrogeological survey report (Yiliang, 1:200000, G-48-ⅩⅩⅥ) (R). 1977.
3. Chen Yinrui et al., Discussion on the discovery and its position of Triplophysa shilinensis, Zoological Research, 1992,13 (1):17-23
4. Liang Fuyuan, Genesis of Lunan Stone Forest Landscape and Subsoil Dissolution (Thesis), 2000
5. Tian Youping, Aerial algae on the surface of carbonate rock in Yunnan Stone Forest, Yunnan province, China and its action to formation of eroded shapes of Stone Forest (Dissertation), Nanjing University, 2001.
6. Yuan Daoxian et al., Karst of China, Geological Publishing House, 1994.
7. Song Linhua et al., Stone Forest-A Treasure of Natural Heritage, China Environmental Science Press, 1997.
8. Chen Zhiping, Song Linhua and M. M. Sweeting. The pinnacle karst of Stone Forest, Lunan, Yunnan, China, an example of a sub-jacent karst. New directions in karst (Eds. K Paterson and M. M. Sweeting). Geobooks, p.605-606, 1986