Informal co-
operation between 
Slovenian and Chi-
nese karstologists 
started as early as 
1980's, but the main 
boost was initiated 
after 1995 in the 
frame of several 
national and inter-
national projects. 
Fruitful long-term 
cooperation be-
tween the Karst 
Research Institute, 
Research Centre of 
the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, and Yun-
nan Institute of Geography, Yunnan University, success-
fully culminated in many joint research efforts, among 
which the research in Stone Forest (Shilin) in South Chi-
na Karst was the most apparent one.
The Yunnan University International Joint Research 
Center for Karstology was established in 2012 with the 
support of the leadership of the Yunnan province, and 
within the Center, Yunnan International Karst Envi-
ronmental Laboratory started to operate. To upgrade a 
successful long-term cooperation, agreement between 
the Stone Forest Research Centre of Stone Forest Scenic 
Spot Administration, Yunnan University International 
Joint Research Center for Karstology and Karst Research 
Institute, Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of 
Sciences and Arts, to strengthen international karsto-
logical research, 
its promotion and 
presentation to the 
public, was put in 
practice in 2013.
The Stone 
Forest (Shilin) 
UNESCO Global 
Geopark covers 
approximately 350 
km
2
 of remarkable 
humid tropical to 
subtropical karst 
landscapes with 
features such as 
tower karst, pin-
nacle karst and cone karst formations. These features 
reflect the evolution and development of this particu-
lar landscape which holds multi-stage and diverse karst 
forms. Complex geological evolution of this karst terrain, 
which included submerge period of ancient sea, tectonic 
activities and weathering, is clearly observed in the rocks 
since late Palaeozoic, although the main strata belong to 
Devonian, Carboniferous and Permian carbonate rocks.
Tourist visitation of the area, which has been pro-
tected since the 1930’s, has risen significantly after 1978, 
when the territory was officially open for tourism. Close 
cooperation between Slovenian and Chinese researchers 
supported to unravel some mechanisms in the evolu-
tion of these natural phenomenon. The results assisted 
the successful candidature of Shilin’s designation as 
UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. Nowadays, ap-
EXPOSITION IN STONE FOREST NATIONAL PARK: 
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION BETWEEN SLOVENIA AND 
CHINA IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF STONE FOREST 
UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK 
COBISS: 1.19
Opening of the permanent exhibition dedicated to Slovenian-Chinese cooperation 
on karst research in Stone Forest Karst Museum, 17 November 2018. From the left: 
Martin Knez (Karst Research Institute, Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy 
of Sciences and Arts), Huang Jin (Stone Forest Karst Geological Research Center), 
Tadej Slabe (Karst Research Institute, Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of 
Sciences and Arts), and Liu Hong (International Joint Research Center for Karstol-
ogy, Yunnan University). 
ACTA CARSOLOGICA 48/2, 255-256, POSTOJNA 2019

proximately four million tourists visit the site, and the 
wider surrounding area additional six million more. The 
proper presentation of such natural phenomenon is vital 
for tourists, particularly for those who want to under-
stand profoundly the formation of stone forest, its evolu-
tion and projection in the future along with the diversity 
of biota, and ethnological and cultural elements of Sani 
and Yi people.
Inside the Shilin protected area, there is Stone For-
est Karst Geological Museum that holds a great collec-
tion of different geological and biological items which are 
presented in a highly attractive manner. Inside the park, 
there is also another museum, the Stone Forest Karst Mu-
seum with a smaller collection, but more focused on the 
local history of stone forest formation, and is intended for 
smaller groups. A part of the story on stone forest evolu-
tion was assisted by the researchers of the Karst Research 
Institute, Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of 
Sciences and Arts, from Postojna, and this is now on a 
display. This new interactive presentation in the museum 
shows the history of Slovenian-Chinese scientific coop-
eration in karst research between 1995 and 2018, joint 
explorations on the field, and the results of geological and 
hydrological investigation in the area with the biodiver-
sity in caves (Figure). 
Janez Mulec
Tadej Slabe
Martin Knez
Liu Hong
REPORT: EXPOSITION IN STONE FOREST NATIONAL PARK: INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION BETWEEN SLOVENIA AND CHINA 
IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF STONE FOREST UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK
ACTA CARSOLOGICA 48/2 – 2019 256