Hechi's 'eyes of the earth'

Great gashes in the landscape reveal the deep turquoise waters flooding a pair of karst caves in Dixiahe National Geological Park on April 4. There is a complex of 136 caves of different sizes in Du'an Yao autonomous county, Hechi in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. [Photo by Lu Boan/news.cn]

Du'an Yao autonomous county is a place of rich karst formations. The particular geographical idiosyncrasies have formed 136 special caves along Dixiahe River bank, which are often referred to as the "eyes of the earth" by locals. [Photo by Lu Boan/news.cn]

The complexes of 136 caves appear as great welts in the landscape and are spotted all around Du'an. [Photo by Lu Boan/news.cn]

The caves, filled with pools of turquoise water, attract many curious visitors from around the country each year. [Photo by Lu Boan/news.cn]

A karst cave sits side by side a residential building in Du'an Yao autonomous county, revealing the depths of the landscape. [Photo by Lu Boan/news.cn]