SEVEN tourists were killed and 25 others, including eight Taiwanese tourists, injured when they were struck by huge rocks tumbling down a mountain in one of China’s most popular tourist spots Thursday.

    The rocks hit the group of travelers at around 9:25 a.m. as they waited to board boats in the Diecai Mountain scenic area in Guilin in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

    Pictures posted online showed rocks — one as big as a meter wide — resting on broken pavement splattered with pools of blood with handbags, shoes and other personal items scattered across the ground.

    Four were killed at the scene and three of the injured later died in a hospital, China Radio International reported.

    Xinhua News Agency said as of Thursday afternoon, 13 have left the hospital after treatment, including seven Taiwanese. Another two received surgery and the 10 others were all in stable condition.

    The area is known for its karst mountains and caves, and is a popular site for Chinese and foreign visitors, with Diecai Mountain — also known as Folded Brocade Hill — offering stunning views.

    The region’s caves were an inspiration for visuals shown in the Hollywood blockbuster Avatar, according to reports.

    Visitors are cautioned against falling boulders at the site where the incident occurred.

    An ancient city with a history of 2,110 years, Guilin is one of China’s most popular tourist destinations.

    The fame of its landscape is reflected in the picture on the back of China’s 20-yuan (US$3.17) banknote. It is the sight of spectacular karst mountains and a fisherman on a bamboo raft floating down the Lijiang River. The river is now a UNESCO World Heritage site candidate.(SD-Xinhua)