A mesa is an isolated, flat-topped elevation, ridge or hill, which is bounded from all sides by steep escarpments and stands distinctly above a surrounding plain. Mesas characteristically consist of flat-lying soft sedimentary rocks capped by a more resistant layer or layers of harder rock, e.g. shales overlain by sandstones. The resistant layer acts as a caprock that forms the flat summit of a mesa. The caprock can consist of either sedimentary rocks such as sandstone and limestone; dissected lava flows; or a deeply eroded duricrust. Unlike plateau, whose usage does not imply horizontal layers of bedrock, e.g. Tibetan Plateau, the term mesa applies exclusively to the landforms built of flat-lying strata. Instead, flat-topped plateaus are specifically known as tablelands.
Luodian County, which belongs to Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Guizhou Province, is located in the southern border of Guizhou Province. It is located between 160 °23 °E and 25 °45 °N, with a total area of 3013 square kilometers. Luodian County belongs to the subtropical monsoon climate, with the characteristics of early spring, long summer, late autumn and short east. As of 2018, Luodian County has jurisdiction over 8 towns, 1 street and 1 township, with the county government stationed in Longping Town. The total population is 363396. Luodian County belongs to the State of Da Yelang during the warring States period. In 1914, Luohu County was replaced. In 1930 (1930), it was renamed Luodian County. Luodian County 26 townships in addition to Dating Township Township Road to be organized for acceptance, all townships have been through passenger vehicles. The main scenic spots in Luodian County have large and small wells.