Wanfenglin, also known at “ten thousand peak forests” is intertwined with a series of aqua blue lakes. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

At first sight, Wanfenglin’s otherworldly appearance makes it seem as if it’s been lifted straight out of a scene from J.R.R Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. This is no wizardry trick on the senses, however. Forged over millennia, what was once a limestone plateau has been reduced to a vast array of forest-covered, dome-shaped hills.

The incredible formation is located in the southern part Xingyi city in the Qianxinan Bouyei and Dong autonomous prefecture, and is a 4A tourism scenic spot and a national geological park.

Wanfenglin is home to an estimated 20,000 peaks, which stretch more than 15 kilometers from north to south. The peaks range from 800 meters-high to 1,600 meters.

The region can be divided into the east peak forest and west peak forest. The western part, located near Wutun town, can be easily accessed by the public. Accompanied by lush farmland, tortuous rivers, ancient towns and luxuriant green forests, the peak forest creates a picturesque landscape.

Among the peaks, two springs are very special. One is called “female spring” from which water gushes out every four to six minutes and the other is the “male spring.” The two springs are said to be like a couple, always staying together and remaining as clear as a mirror all year long.

At “Sun Spring,” located near Ca’eryan village, the water gushes out from the rocks on the hillside. Every spring and autumn, when the weather gets dry, it will release more water during sunlight hours and will stop as soon as the sun sets.

Other scenic spots at Wanfenglin include ancient temples and military camps near Zhengtun village. The heritages of Guizhou Dragon fossil and Xingyi people are also located in the peak forests.