This field trip is perhaps the longest and most ambitious karst trip ever made, We owes everything to the energy and organization of professor Yuan Daoxian , whom we thank very much for all his help to us.

By focussing on 5 different areas we saw karst in China in different climatic, tectonic and lithologic circumstances. It has enabled us to get some idea of the factors responsible for the formation of Chinese karst areas. The composition of the party has made our discussions more interesting—with expert hydrogeologists , soil morphologists , geomorphologists and physicists. We have also valued the help and information given to us at each site by the local geomorphologists and hydrogeologists and in the Maolan Preserve , the local ecologists.

The field trip has entailed a lot of travelling---but in an area as large as China, this is inevitable. We would have liked even more time to consider each site. While the variation of climate in China has been one main theme---it as not been the only theme. Tectonics , lithology and the effect of human beings have also been considered. I think the field excursion will form the perfect background to the future work of the IGCP 299. From this more defined and re-fined work should come. In our final meeting we are able to select work topics resulting from the field trip and from the discussions arising. It is important that the great effort put in by Prof.Yuan Daoxian and his team should be followed up and built upon. The projects should now be worked upon.

All f us involved in the field programme will never forget it , not only the varied karst landscapes of China , but the varied people of China have been part of our trip. From the trip we should be able to seek simularities and regularities in karst areas , which is part of the IGCP 299 programme. The field discussions have fulfilled the idea of "on the spot" questions and we have been able to raise questions on all issues of karst---from the geological and the lithological to the issues of human exploitation of karst.

M.M.Sweeting (Oxford , UK)

The opportunity to study such a comprehensive selection of Chinese karst landforms and processes is one which I would always be grateful for; grateful also to Prof.Yuan Daoxian and his team for the immence logistical task which he , and they , have performed to an outstanding standard.

The direct morphological approach of landforms as seen around China contrasts the often discussed measurements of dissolution rates as measured by Hardness , pH etc. It is imperative that such process and morphological descriptions can be combined for successful correlation.

Areas for future work and correlation in China.
1. Surficial deposits---cave (clastics) doline and polje basin sediments.
Alluvial fans , mudflows and screes. Simple seismic and boreholes through doline and polje bottoms to ascertain palaeoenvironmental conditions (SEM , granulometry , pollen microfauna etc.)
2. Human impact upon karst regions. The effects of air pollution , quarrying , deforestation , afforestation , soil erosion , canalization , groundwater quality and quantity.
3. Areas for correlation (worldwide)
----karst atlas of the world
----speleothems
----clastic cave sediments as palaeoenvironmental indications(I'm writing a book)
----human impact--karst as a resource; environmental and economic
----karst soils; agricultural impact
----whilst ll areas treated us with great regard I feel that special thanks should be given to Libo and Zhengan who although in poor areas , treated us quite magnificently.

Petar Bull (Oxford , UK)

After three weeks travelling in a very well organized trip it is difficult to give a comment, since there were so many new impressions both from science and from seeing a country unknown to me.

I think that I have learned a lot were about karst , since the morphology of karst landforms , especially in South China , is very much different from other places I know.

A well organized guide book , which was not too long gave very good introduction o the basic understanding , which was improved by the expertise of Prof.Yuan comments in the trip itself. Although the trip was very long and arduous I would not have liked to miss a single site of which we saw , since I have obtained a good impression on the variety of karst in China.
I would also like to express my thanks to the people and officials in Libo , who took so much care of us and should say that even in not so developed areas it is possible to supply appropriate accommodation. This also applies to Zhengan county. The banquet and the official walk through the city with such a warm welcome by people I will never forget in my life.
In summary: for us the trip was a great success both personally but also in science. I hope that we can start cooperation with the karst Institute of do cooperation on dissolution and deposition of calcite.
I express my sincere appreciation to the fine job Prof.Yuan and his colleagues did in organizing the trip.

W.Dreybrodt ( Germany )

First of all I'd like to thank you again the possibility to take part at the IGCP 299 meeting in Guilin and follow the post-conference field trip. It was really a great possibility for me to visit the different types of karst in China , and I really learned a lot.

Although the filed-trip was a long and sometimes tiring one , it worthed to take part in it , because it provided a unique possibility to compare the different types of karst. There is one thing , which really surprised me , namely that the acro-forms (such as peak forests , peak clusters , the different types of valleys , etc.) show a very clear and sharp climatic zonation , while the micro-forms (as karrens for example) are the same in different karst regions. I was astonished to see the surface of peak clusters , closer with the same microforms (karrens), which you can see in the Alps in Europe , or elsewhere in high-mountain areas. I was thinking a lot , that how can you explain hat the macro-forms seem to be controlled mainly by the climate , while the micro-forms seem to be independent of that. Finally what are the main factors , which controll the process of karstification. Do the factors--which controll macro-forms differ from those ones , which controll the development of micro-forms? These are still often questions for me and I still can't answer them. Probably you know the solution.
The other big "invention" for me was during the field trip , that a lot of forms (both dissolutional ones and mineral precipitations , i.e., speleothems) which occur in a great number in Hungarian hydrothermal caves , can be observed in your caves s well. So here is my 2nd big problem: Whether , does the hydrothermal karst differs at all from the "normal karst" systems. I think that the differences we thought until now aren't so important at all. But this is a very difficult question and needs a lot of further investigation.

So his seminar and field trip gave me a lot of new information about karst processes and promoted my further research work.
Thank you again your help and I hope we'll see each other soon.

Annamaria Nador ( Hungary )

Further to your request during the field seminar of IGCP 299 Program 299 , it is our pleasure to comment on the scientific quality and other relevant aspects of this meeting.

The most remarkable feature of the field seminar in our view as the diversity of karst features that we have visited. We are very well aware that China s one of the very few countries in the world that due to its vastness and different climatic conditions can offer this diversity of karst features. What the organizers of this meeting should be congratulated for , is their success in planning a field trip that made it possible to visit if not all , but most of the karst features of China. In this regards subtropical monsoon humid climate of Guilin and surrounding area has provided a unique opportunity to visit peak cluster depressions and peak forest plain. The karst microforms such as karrens , Lapies and kamenitza were also well developed and interesting to visit. The Maolan Nature reserve with its fantastic deep doline karst forest was also one of the best of its kind to provide the opportunity to see the original natural background of karst forest. The Epikarst spring and the underground stream was also very interesting and informative.

The Alpine karst in Huanglong Ravine , the tufa flows and the rimstone dams were all very characteristic and well worth the long trip all through Chengdu to Song Pan and then Huanglong. We do agree with the local authorities that Huanglong should obtain the status of an international nature reserve. We do also hope that the authorities will take note of the views presented by the experts in local gatherings. Finally we would also like to mention the unforgettable Zhashui karst cave systems and other karst features visited in Shanxi Province. What made the field seminar more pleasant , and the long road trips easier to bear was the unforgettable Chinese hospitality and the historic sites we visited whenever we would spare some time.
Now that we are back in our country we have found experiences of China extremely helpful in starting some new themes of research on karst problems of Iran. We hope in not too far future we will be a position to correlate our data with hat s already available from China and other countries in a world wide framework which is the ultimate aim of IGCP Program 299.
Finally we would like to thank you once again for the fabulous Chinese hospitality and excellent organization.

E.Raeissi
F.Moore
N.Samani (Iran)

Field observations offered a good opportunity for an exchange of opinions about the evolution of landscape of all visited areas.
It is certain I have learned a lot about karst of China , developed in areas of different climatic conditions. While it is possible to recognize a sharp zonation of karst landscape in areas we have visited , it is more difficult o relate such variety of forms to one of the controlling actors that could have had the most important role in the development of karst.
My impression is that more research should be carried out. I think that more detailed investigations are necessary for each karst "macrozone" to find out the role and weight of the controlling factors on that particular area.
The suggestion of Prof.Yuan to introduce the concept of "karst complex" is positive although it needs a much deeper knowledge and data about the actors that control the development of karst in each complex.
I deeply appreciate the initiative of Prof.Yuan to organize such important field trip in China on karst correlation.
I think I will never forget such experience and somehow epic excursions in China.

Paolo Bono (Italy)

For karst landforms in China , I had been understood on literature and papers. There are landforms of various stages in China. But Japanese karst is young stage. Attending on this long field seminar , I have impressively known the peak cluster , deep doline , plateau karst near Shi Ban Shao , karst lake in the mountain. These landscape are not in Japan.
But now , I have interest of two points for Chinese karst:
(1) hat is reasonable , Japanese karst (doline karst) is dolinen and doline ponds near Shi Banshao. I would like to try on comparative study f dolinen and doline ponds.
(2) I did not find "karren" or lapies on the surface of limestones rock , I think its reason is very interesting problem. Teach me for correlation of lithology and climate(rainfall , seasonal distribution , etc.)

Hajime Miura ( Japan )

This field seminar was very very impressive for me. If I may say so , I could observe almost all of calcimorphic soil types in China except tropical areas , namely , from Guilin to Guiyang (from 200m a.s.l. to 1100m a.s.l.), we have been vertical change of calcimorphic soil types include palaeosoil types. From Chengdu to Tibetan plateau , we observed again vertical soil from 500m a.s.l. to 4000m a.s.l.. However , limestone areas were limited on the upper part of plateau in these areas. Podzol or podzolic soils developed well around the tree limit zone commonly. And , Rendzine was formed in the limestone areas. Then , we moved to the limestone areas in Qinling mountain where we have been calcimorphic brown soils. Of course , palaeosoils should exist in these areas. But , we could not make sure , because of short visit.
Finally , in Shandong Province , we have seen very thick residual soil covered by loess or mixed by loess and debris in limestone areas. The reddish heavy lay as estimated as middle Pleistocene by loess , according to the explanation of Chinese friends.
In southern China , it seems to me that the tectonic effects are very strong or the geomorphological phenomena and the distribution of soil types in karst areas.
Therefore , it might be easy to observe the vertical zonation of soils and palaeosoils n South China. In northern area , it might be consider the residual soils under the affects f loess. It is needed to research systematically palaeo calcimorphic soils and present calcimorphic soils in karst areas in China.
In all of karst areas except Libo county , the deforestation and soil errosion occurred seriously. And in almost all areas did not well forested. We observed only one example in Zibo where have been forested and stepped field on the slopes since 1956. Natural conservation in karst areas also might be important problems in China.
Through these field seminar , we could consider together with hydrologist , geologist , geomorphologist , pedologist and climatologist. It was very successful to discuss and study together in the field. I would like to express many thanks to Chinese friends to prepare and organize for this successful field seminar.

Kazuko Urushibara-Yoshino ( Japan )

About the seminar in the meeting room, at the Geological Exchange Center:
Since I am new in the IGCP 299 project, I have learnt a lot from the seminar. There were some papers I cannot follow because in Thailand we have not yet done more deep in karstology. However, I tried hard to follow; then, gained some more knowledge about karst including new words in karst.
The trip in Guilin area was wonderful sceneries I had ever seen. I enjoyed and gained more clearly about karst; such as , peak forest , peak luster , polje , vadose zone in limestone etc. Also it gave me understand that Guangxi is one of the richest land in China and located very close to Thailand. Many tourists , especially the oversea Chinese in Thailand have come to visit their country and the beautiful Guilin.
Your organizing group had done a great deal of job in reparing the program of field seminar. I studied it before I leave for China. The program includes everything n the trip, for example , good scenery , rough road , exciting and very dangerous roads, not quite good hotels, good hotels as well as first class hotel. The most challenge riding on the bus is one from Guilin--Libo county. Most of us were very scarce because we never drive a car down the mountain with the engine on and the gear in a low gear position. While shut off the engine and neutral gear, mean that the car is completely out of control. What will happen if the brakes are broken! one can imagine? Fortunately other drivers are very good and well trained. We finally get through our successful trip.
Scientific programs at each stop are very fruitful to everybody. I myself learned lot from this long trip. A lake formed by earthquake , rock low , landslide as well as the recent wind deposits , are new events for me. The gravel and silt layers formed in Pleistocene are also attractive.
Up to now , I know much about karst , hydrology in karst terraines in the Humid , semihumid and semihumid-semiarid regions. The trip also educated me in the formation of caves , its existences and the deposition of calcium carbonate in different form. Some of which can not be seen in my country.
I would like to make my conclusion that your organization in this seminar is successful. All of your colleagues are very kind and very helpful in every thing. they have been giving us warmly hospitality. I heartly say a lot of thank to you all. I welcome you and your staff to visit Thailand too.

Chaimthaisong (Thailand)

It was a great field seminar. I was concerned in the beginning that it would be too long , but I do not know how it could have been shortened without adversely impacting the trip. It gave me an unique opportunity to see the karst of China. Some I have seen pictures of , others I have not. I now have experienced seeing an excellent cross-section of five different karst regions.
The addition of cultural and historical sites was also an excellent thing. It helped me to gain a better understanding at China and her people. The visits to Libo and Zhengan were particularly interesting and enjoyable because in addition to the interesting karst , the people were great.
The study of karst in China most become more process oriented without loosing the morphological description. slowly add new techniques of investigation. Get young karst scientist out to other countries to be trained in these techniques.
It was interesting to observe the struggles that China is going through in the reservation of areas. The conflicts between visitors , protection and scientific investigation. We all have these problems.
Thank you.

Jack Hess (USA)

The symposium of IGCP 299 was a great success. The link between karst geoscientists all over the world are getting more and more close. Karst research in China and abroad has become a unified system.
The karst of China was studied from a global view. It will improve greatly our knowledge on the karst development regularities of China.
Under the guidance of the earth system sciences , the karst will be studied based on the processes between the carbon cycle , calcium cycle , and water cycle among lithosphere , atmosphere , hydrosphere and biosphere.
Reconstruct paleoenvironment with the karst records as stressed. The soluble rock is very sensitive to environmental, especially climatic change. Accordingly , there are many geological records reflecting paleoenvironment in
karst regions. For example , in the Renqiu Oil Field , Hebei province , China , there are buried limestone peak-forest , peak-cluster and caves with any speleothems. These evidences indicate the warm humid Tertiary environment in the region.
The karst feature complex is taken as the common standard of regional karst correlation. It will help us to escape from the confusion of isomorphic landform and make a great step to improve karstology.
Research or karstology is very arduous. Various environmental problems , e.g. , deforestation , soil erosion , flood , drought , pollution , sinkhole , the lack of water resources etc. , are affecting the development of national economy. The existed problems should be settled in latter works.
We are grateful to the organizers and IGCP 299 Secretariat. They did an outstanding works or publishing Newsletter , abstract of the symposium , Guidebook of the field trip , etc. before the meeting.

Dong Xingwen (School of Coal Industry Chongqing ,China)
Translated by Lin Xinhong

It is a significant seminar in karst history. The Symposium and field trip are successful thanks to the excellent job of Prof. Yuan Daoxian and his team.
I have learned a lot from this field seminar.
It s important to study the characteristics of karst development from global view , and it has practical significance.
I have a further understanding on the idea of karst feature complex , which is new concept. To study the karst types and processes , in addition to geological actors , and surface and subsurface karst features , the water and heat conditions , ecosystem , dissolution and deposition , material and energy transfer etc. should be taken into account.
The characteristics of karst in many countries , especially in China were understood. The new theories , new technology and new approaches about karst in other countries were earned. After seeing intact Maolan karst forest , I believe it will be possible to change karst desert .

Hu Zejun (Guizhou Institute of Environmental Geology , China)
Translated by Lin Xinhong

It is impressive to take part in the symposium and field seminar. I agree fully with what Dr.M.M.Sweeting said , "this field trip is perhaps the longest and most ambitious karst trip ever made".
Firstly , the field seminar offered a good opportunity to discuss and study together or experts from home and abroad. We have learned a lot about new theory and technology of karst sciences , and this will promote our future research works.
Secondly , it gives us a further understanding for the IGCP 299 program. Different environments have different karst feature complexes. Hence , to study the karst processes must be based on the karst feature complex.
Thirdly , the correlation shows the relationship between geology , climate , hydrology and karst formation.

Xiang Yuanfa (Central Coal Mining Research Institute Xi’an Branch , China)

I greatly enjoyed the karst country. It is charming , peaceful and restful and a good place for both man and wild life.
It would help if the area was more sigh-posted for trails to explain to visitors the scientific points to be seen. As in Huanglong---there are notices for visitors. Few people yet know about Maolan---so that it would be helpful if it could be more widely advertised. But every notice and development should be carefully done in order to preserve the nature of the landscape.
More notices on the trees to give their names in Chinese (and Latin) would be useful. Also an explanation of the usefulness of the trees in medicine etc.
Altogether more explanations---both f the karst features and of the flora--- would make a visit more enjoyable.

M.M.Sweeting (Oxford , UK)

A spectacular reserve , quite unique in my experience of travel around the world , and probably one of the great areas for the study of palaeobiology-botany and its interrelationship with karst landform assemblyes.
The area is spectacular and must be preserved at all cost. It is vital to get the correct balance between tourism (revenue) and reservation of the environment. There is a delicate palace to achieve , if it is uncorrectly assessed , then the reserve will be irrecoverably damaged.
The cave was spectacular (the golden bell cave) but would benefit from the maintenance of WHITE LIGHT ONLY---perhaps a little more discretely placed--but still are of the best show caves I have visited.
The doline was remarkable---perhaps a small noticeboard explaining data would eventually benefit the karst through education.
A marvellous two days; one I will never forget---and one I will tell all of my family and friend . The people of Libo were warm and very friendly.
Thank you.

Petar Bull (Oxford , UK)

This was fantastic stay in your area. Friendly people , magnificent scenery and a peaceful atmosphere everywhere. This is a beautiful country. It combines its magnificent scenery with scientific interest. I learned a lot about karst features , which we do not know in Germany.
Thank you very much for all your efforts.

W.Dreybrodt (Germany)

Actually , I think Maolan area is really beautiful lace. Its intact karst forest is unique even all over the world , that's why it's need as strong protection as possible. You should warn people coming here (foreigners and Chinese as well) to be care of this place , I mean don't throw rubbish (empty bottles of mineral waters etc.) in the forest , don't cut out away more trees , don't bother animals.
Maolan karst forest area belongs to that very few places in the world where human activity haven't destroyed yet the nature , so please be care of it!
I'd also like to thank the possibility to be able to visit that beautiful place.

Annamaria Nador (Hungary)

I would like to express my greatest gratitude for the kind hospitality and the most fruitful conference and the field seminar. The visit to the doline forest as unforgettable but I am sure if I was warned in advance to wear suitable clothing, I would have enjoyed it much more. I wish the organizers of this field seminar and the IGCP the very best of luck. The only thing I may regret about when I’m back home is that the schedule was so tight that I missed all chance to take a look at my leisure to those fantastic Chinese cities we have passed. May I thank you once again for all kindness and generality.

F.Moore (Iran)

Maolan karst is impressive. I have never seen such morphologies and related vegetation area , which deeply differ from the karst scenery of Central Italy and in a wide broad sense of Mediterranean region.
It will help me to understand what karst represents for your country development and the way how to feel a new scientific technique.
Before giving a suggestion, I think we must learn.
I wish to come back in your country , then I hope to tell you something.
God bless to your people.

Paolo Bono (Italy)

I satisfied very much to observe that the vegetation well perserved in karst areas. I hope to keep this condition for future.

Kazuko Urushibara-Yoshino (Japan)

Thank you very much for your hospitality and management of field trip and so on.
Maolan Nature Preserve is the most impressive place in China , where I have ever visited. From the standpoint of climatologist , I would like to suggest that he more studies on local and small scale climate conditions should be done. In particular , the local climate conditions in relation to vegetation distribution should be investigated in dolinen.

M.Yoshino (Japan)

I respect that the Maolan National Nature Forest and the Xiaoqikong area have very beautiful landscape , karst landforms , underground water , forest , unique doline pond , forest and their reserve is going well by the government and the research workers.
I think that in part of Maolan mountain the deep dolinen and high , sharp cone peaks may be a new type of cockpit karst.
I hope to proceeding new investigation from this new point of view.

Hajime Miura (Japan)

Since I am quite new for this project , it is my first time to participate such a kind of symposium. I am very glad and gain a lot of knowledge and learnt more while in the fields. I myself is working in one karst area in Thailand , which can not compare with that you have in this country ; e.g. , Guilin , Maolan areas. Our karst in Thailand seems quite more complicate because it has been controlled by both structures and erosion. However , we have not yet studied in details. I'm gaining more knowledge from this country. It gave me an intention to start with and have in mind that some of your experts in karst may be welcome to help us to set a systematic project in Thailand under some international program.
You kindly ask for our suggestion or comment. I would say that no comment
from me; but would like say that you and your co-scientists have done a great deal of success which will be helpful for any other countries.

C.Chaimthaisong (Thailand)

My time in the Maolan Nature Preserve was most enjoyable and educational; I am glad to see that part of the natural forest ecosystem is being reserved and studied. It should help our understanding of the development of the unique karst landscape of this part of China. The role of hydrology/ hydrogeology in the development of the towers is very important. Large dolinen may be formed by collapse into a cave stream and the material transported away horizontally. Keep white light in the cave. It is a good one.
Thank you for a great visit.

John W. Hess(USA)

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