Maolan Karst Forest Boardwalk Loop

The Maolan Karst Forest Boardwalk Loop is a marked network of paths in the Maolan National Nature Reserve, Libo County, Qiannan Prefecture, Guizhou, China. The reserve protects one of the largest intact subtropical karst forests in the world and forms part of the Libo karst World Natural Heritage area. Visitors reach the scenic section by taxi or scenic shuttle from Libo county town, a journey of about 30 to 40 minutes, with tickets bought at the visitor centre. The visitor section offers about 6 to 8 km of marked paths and takes three to four hours, with roughly 200 m of cumulative gain over rolling terrain, so it is graded moderate. Surfaces alternate between timber boardwalk, stone steps and earth paths that become muddy after rain. The canopy is dense, which keeps most of the walk shaded and humid. Landmarks include moss-covered boulders, buttressed trees growing from bare rock, hidden pools, and the Dripping Waterfall area along the forest trail. The paths branch in several places, so visitors can shorten the walk and return to the entrance at obvious junctions. Water and snacks should be carried from the visitor centre, as supplies inside the forest are limited, and covered rest points are spaced along the main routes. The forest is damp and insects are active from late spring, so repellent and long sleeves are useful. Because the reserve is a strict protection zone, leaving marked paths and picking plants is prohibited, and guards may check tickets along the route.