Plant kingdom in a sinkhole

Plants bask in the sunlight while clear streams flow through this picturesque sinkhole in the mountains of Central China's Hubei province.

Due to the Karst landscape and humid climate in Xuanen county, the hole, which is more than 290 meters deep, has become home to various vegetation and wildlife, such as palms, vines and moss, and swallows and butterflies.

For decades, access was only possible by scaling a long rope, allowing the hole to develop an independent eco-system.

Although some residents have used the hole as a giant rubbish bin, the local authority said it is working to clear the sinkhole to create a protected nature reserve.

(China Daily European Weekly 05/29/2015 page4)