Scientists from China and France have discovered a rare, huge sinkhole in Guangxi Zhuang region, officials said on Sunday.
The 420-metres deep sinkhole was discovered by scientists during an eight-day expedition that began on February 26 in Donglan county.
Sinkholes found in Guangxi are normally around 250-metres deep.
Many species live in these sinkholes, including bats and snakes.
Scientists also found some as-yet unidentified vertebrates and plants.
sinkhole are special geological landscape formations found in Karst regions, formed by repeated cave-ins of underground caves. They are common in China, Mexico and Papua New Guinea.