Destinations: Guilin + Zhangjiajie
Curated by PandaStudyTour, this exclusive 7-day cross-city academic program is a textbook-level dual-world-natural-heritage field course designed for global advanced students majoring in geography and natural sciences. It focuses on the comparative study of two rare global mountain landforms: Guilin's karst peak forest formed by limestone dissolution and Zhangjiajie's quartz sandstone peak forest shaped by weathering and collapse. The two landforms feature completely opposite formation mechanisms and distinct morphological characteristics, providing ultra-high academic value that ordinary single-landform study tours cannot match. Students will travel across Guilin and Zhangjiajie, conducting in-depth field geological surveys, ecological investigations and cross-regional ethnic cultural comparisons. Integrated with professional field practice, data recording, specimen identification and academic report writing, this program perfectly transforms theoretical university and high school geography knowledge into systematic field research capabilities.
Core Program Highlights
Why Consider This Program?
Tailored for international high school seniors and undergraduate students majoring in geography and natural science, this program serves as an extended outdoor classroom for global geographic textbooks. It fills the academic gap of single landform sightseeing and realizes in-depth interdisciplinary integration of earth science, ecology and human geography. PandaStudyTour provides full-process document verification, ticket reservation, professional English instructor guidance and customized catering services for international students, ensuring a smooth, standardized and high-quality academic research experience throughout the journey.
Day 1: Guilin Arrival & Karst Geological Enlightenment
Settle in Guilin and attend a pre-trip academic briefing introducing the core dual-landform research theme and fieldwork standards. Visit Reed Flute Cave for foundational karst study, observing stalactite and stalagmite structures and learning limestone dissolution theories. Students will conduct on-site environmental data recording and collect limestone specimens. In the evening, explore ancient stone carvings at Diecai Mountain and experience traditional stone rubbing intangible heritage to integrate local landscape humanity into geological learning.
Day 2: Lijiang River Karst Peak Forest Full-Scale Research
Take the official research cruise along the Lijiang River to investigate typical karst peak forest, peak cluster and river valley landforms. Students will observe iconic geographical landscapes and learn the stratigraphic evolution of Guilin's karst terrain. After landing, explore Xingping Ancient Town and traditional fishing settlements to study ancient human settlement modes adapted to karst mountain environments. The evening session focuses on group discussion and systematic sorting of karst landform characteristics.
Day 3: Yangshuo Karst Ecology & Ancient Village Study
Carry out river ecological field research on Yulong River, including water quality testing and aquatic vegetation survey to analyze the ecological characteristics of karst water systems. Experience rural peak forest landscape via ecological cycling, and conduct comparative cave study at Silver Cave to summarize different developmental stages of karst caves. Visit well-preserved ancient villages to explore the geographical wisdom of traditional mountain settlement layout.
Day 4: Academic Sorting & Cross-Region Transition to Zhangjiajie
Systematically organize all Guilin field data, rock specimens and hand-drawn records to establish a complete karst knowledge system. After arriving in Zhangjiajie, students will receive pre-learning on quartz sandstone landform basics. A special thematic meeting will be held to announce the core research topic of dual-landform comparative study, laying a theoretical foundation for subsequent field contrast research.
Day 5: Zhangjiajie Quartz Sandstone Peak Forest Core Field Research
Conduct in-depth geological exploration in Wulingyuan World Natural Heritage Park. Students will closely observe quartz sandstone pillars, vertical cliffs and mesa landforms, and systematically learn the weathering and collapse formation mechanism of Zhangjiajie landforms. By comparing sandstone and limestone specimens, students will summarize the essential differences between the two landform types in rock texture, morphology and genesis. Overlook the entire peak forest landscape at Tianzi Mountain and study alpine vertical vegetation distribution and mountain ecosystem characteristics.
Day 6: Tianmen Mountain Geology & Xiangxi Ethnic Culture Experience
Study the composite mountain geological structure and giant cave landscape of Tianmen Mountain, analyzing the formation of alpine special landforms and mountain climate features. In the afternoon, switch to human geography learning to explore Tujia ethnic culture. Students will experience traditional Tujia brocade making and folk pattern art, and complete comparative notes on the cultural differences between Xiangxi mountain ethnic groups and Guangxi multi-ethnic groups.
Day 7: Academic Summary & Formal Closing Ceremony
All groups will integrate 7-day field research data, complete the final dual-landform comparative academic report and prepare closing presentations. Attend the official closing ceremony for academic achievement sharing and professional tutor comments. All participants will receive an official PandaStudyTour study certificate, completing the entire high-level geoscience field study program.
Important Notes
This exclusive dual-landform study tour integrates top global geological resources and cross-regional human geography, helping students acquire professional field research abilities and unique interdisciplinary academic gains.
