Stone Forest
» Kunming, Yun Nan

石林 造型地貌天然博物馆

Shilin

83km from Kunming

The Stone Forest is in Lunan Yi Nationality Autonomous County, which is about 120 kilometers (75 miles) from Kunming and requires only a three-hour drive. It covers an area of 400 square kilometers (96,000 acres) and includes both large and small stone forests, as well as many other scenic spots. An old local saying says that 'If you have visited Kunming without seeing the Stone Forest, you have wasted your time.' Truly, the Stone Forest is one of the most important attractions of Yunnan.

Why to visit

Among all China's mountainous and river attractions, Stone forests in Kunming are unique for its topographic landscape featuring magnificence, strangeness, danger and secret. Because of its characteristics of large area, high rock posts, beautiful peak shapes and closeness of various scenes, Yunnan's stone forest takes the lead in the world's lava topographic landscape.

The First Wonder of the World

The Stone Forest dates to the Ming Dynasty and is considered by some to be the First Wonder of the World. Scientific research has shown that what is now the Stone Forest was 270 million years ago an immense expanse of water with a vast stretch of limestone sediment formed over the years on the seafloor.

How did "stone forests" become the way it is today

As a result of the crustal movement, the seabed rose gradually and a large piece of land thus came into being. Exposed to rains and winds, eroded by the elements, the limestone ranges were shaped by time. About 200 million years ago numerous stone peaks, pillars, and stalagmites rose abruptly from the ground and towered into the sky, extending now as far as the eye can see, looking like a vast forest of stone, hence the name "the Stone Forest."

What to see

Bestowed to the mankind by nature, stone forests are an extraordinary masterpiece of arts. In the natural scenic area of stone forests with an area of 400 square kilometers, these countless scenic spots can be classified into two types-rocks and water.

Major Stone Forest, Minor Stone Forest, Naigu Stone Forest, Zhiyun Cave and Strange Wind Cave, etc. belong to rock- related scenery. Among the rock-related spots, stone forests - the First Wonder under Heaven - are the most representative one. The water-related scenic spots include Long Lake, Moon Lake and the Dadie Waterfall.

Major Stone Forest, Minor Stone Forest and Naigu Stone Forest

Major Stone Forest, Minor Stone Forest and Naigu Stone Forest all feature stones in various formations. Animals, plants, and even human figures can be found here. Some are elegant, some are rugged, and each is lifelike with its own distinguishing characteristics.

Major Stone Forest

Inside the sea of Stone Forest, one feels as if were in a bizarre fairyland. The stone formations standing still resemble a variety of things such as ancient fortresses, birds, beasts, flowers, trees, human beings, and whatever else one can imagine.

Minor Stone Forest

It adjoins the Greater Stone Forest, and has large lawns, lush growth of bamboos and trees as well as mountain flowers in Spring and Autumn. Most fantastic are "The Cluster of Pinnacles Propping up the Sky" and "The Stone Singing Praises of Plums".

Outer Stone Forest

It's gifted with myriad of stone peaks of various shapes. The Lion Hill resembles a squatting male lion on a height.

The rock of Ashima

Among all the scenic spots in the Stone Forest, the rock of Ashima in the Small Stone Forest is the most famous. The rock of Ashima resembles a girl of the Sani people, a branch of the Yi ethnic group, with a kerchief on her head, and a bamboo basket on her back. The shape and expression are both surprisingly lifelike. Ashima was a beautiful girl in a Sani folk tale. She is a symbol of the hope for freedom to choose who to marry, and a happy life for the Sani people. This is a story of a young couple who fall in love, but cannot marry each other.

Subterranean Stone Forest

Subterranean Stone Forest in Zhiyun Cave is an underground stone forest distributed among several caves and occupying a total area of about three square kilometers (720 acres).

Strange Wind Cave

Strange Wind Cave is composed of Penfeng Cave, Hongxi Spring and an underground river. Between the months of August and November, winds travel through the cave that last two to three minutes in duration and are spaced thirty minutes apart.

Long Lake

Long Lake is a karsts lake that is three kilometers (two miles) long but only 300 meters (zero point two miles) wide. The lake features underwater stalagmites and stalactites and a small island in the center of the water.

The Dadie Waterfall

The source of the Dadie Waterfall, Ba River, is a branch of Nanpan River. In the rainy season, up to 150 cubic meters (196 cubic yards) of water per square inch plummet down the 88 meter (288 feet) drop.

Stones in strange and curious shap

The stone mountains form strange shapes; the peaks are like poems and pictures, like the vertical "Lotus Peak," the majestic "Rhinoceros Admiring the Moon" and the graceful "Pavilion Observing the Peaks." The layers of mountains seem to be pressing forward; the curious shaped rocks excite people's imagination. In the depth of the Stone Forest, numerous lakes are like bright mirrors reflecting the rocks and peaks.

Scenic spots close to "Stone Forest"

Close to the Stone Forest are other scenic spots such as the Black Stone Forest, the Dadieshui Waterfall, the Changhu Lake (Long Lake), and the Ziyundong (Purple Clouds) Cave. Lakes, mountains, caves and rocks add more charm to the Stone Forest area.

Festivals used to be celebrated by local friends

The Sani people, native people known a branch of the Yi ethnic group. Celebrate their national festival - the Torch Festival - every lunar year on June 24. They take part in traditional performances such as wrestling, bull fighting, pole-climbing, dragon-playing, lion-dancing and the A-xi Moon Dance. During this time, the Stone Forest is alive with a particularly joyful, festive atmosphere, making the area even more attractive than usual.

When to visit

  • Recommended time for a Visit: Two hours
  • Opening Hours: 8:30a.m. - 6:00p.m.

Best time to visit

The Stone Forest, especially the Greater and Lesser stone forests, the best time to come is during September to May.

What to eat

Tourists can taste the delicious local food, such as the edible wild mushrooms, Yi people's Tofu feast, and so on.

What to buy

Tourists can buy the handicraft works, minority clothes and the folk paintings in Stone Forest.

Attractions around » Kunming, Yun Nan

Natural Scene

Natural Scene

Historical Site

Historical Site

Cultural Site

Cultural Site

Nightlife

Nightlife

Day Entertainment & Sports

Day Entertainment & Sports

Shopping & Leisure

Shopping & Leisure

Nature Reserve & Scenic Area

Nature Reserve & Scenic Area

  Weather

  1. Is Kunming's weather like Spring all year round?

  Transportation

  1. Noitce this when you take a bus
  2. Noitce this if you plan to rent a car

  Shopping

  1. Avoid buying fake goods
  2. If you have bought some ivory or ivory handicrafts...

  Travel

  1. Is it safe to travel in Kunming?

  Other Hints

  1. Tips for you to have a pleasant tour in Kunming
  2. Is it easy for me to make a call?
  3. Toilet Facilities
  4. Keep healthy
  5. Emergency
  6. Useful Numbers

  • Is Kunming's weather like Spring all year round?

    Kunming belongs to the subtropical plateau monsoon climatic zone; the annual average temperature is 14.7 and the yearly precipitation is 1,024 mm. It has the best climate of all Chinese cities, popularly known as the "Spring City". Kunming does not have severe winters or hot summers and the natural features of the four seasons are clearly defined. For the visitor, this means that Kunming is in bloom all year and a year round destination.


  • Noitce this when you take a bus

    Stand close to the door to get off at the next stop, otherwise, the bus driver does not stop.


  • Noitce this if you plan to rent a car

    Foreigners must have a Chinese driver's license. We suggest tourists rent a car with a local driver to avoid going crooked road.


  • Avoid buying fake goods

    Fake goods are prevalent on the streets of Kunming and while they might seem like tempting purchases, beware that you could be faced with their being impounded and charges brought against you when attempting to bring them back into your home country.So, please try to avoid buying goods from peddlers on streets. Instead, please choose large stores as your shooping places.


  • If you have bought some ivory or ivory handicrafts...

    As a rule, ivory and ivory articles are forbidden to be taken out of China. In China, bring out ivory articles or ivory carving needs strict checkup. The testimonial issued by relative governmental department is required.


  • Is it safe to travel in Kunming?

    The city of Kunming is a safe place to be with low levels of crime and few obvious threats to visitors. Like any big city however, it has its rogue element so the usual caveats with regards to pickpockets and bag snatchers apply. Keep money, wallets, purses and personal items of value well hidden and in hard to reach places. Avoid frequenting run-down or sparsely populated areas especially at night and be particularly conscientious with regards to personal safety if you are a lone female traveller.


  • Tips for you to have a pleasant tour in Kunming

    You should also wear sunglasses to shad their eyes from ultraviolet ray.

    When the lack of oxygen at high altitude occurs, it is necessary to take good rest or receive treatment by sucking oxygen.

    The southwest is an area where the minority nationalities live in compact communities and their culture, customs and habits vary from place to place. Attention should be paid to the following situation.

    • The Dai nationality resent outsiders entering their stockade village on horse back;
    • in the Jingpo village, the place where the Jingpo (Chingpaw) nationality hang the ox head cannot be touched;
    • when seeing logs placed at the door of the va (wa) nationality, one must avoid putting on short pants, must not step on the threshold, not to spit in the presence of other People and what is more, one must not hurt animals and birds at random.



  • Is it easy for me to make a call?

    While public phones are easily found in small shops along streets in Kunming, we suggest tourists make low-cost IDD or DDD calls in post offices or telecom buildings.


  • Toilet Facilities

    Most toilets in Kunming charge no more than 0.5 yuan. Tourists can find free sanitary toilets in some large department stores or fast food restaurants.


  • Keep healthy

    Be wary of where you choose to eat in Kunming, hygiene standards at street vendors and some restaurants may not meet western standards and you could end up with a whole lot more than just a portion of fried rice if you're not careful.

    Water from the tapsshould be avoided for drinking purposes and for brushing teeth and bottled water, which is cheap, can be found everywhere and should be used instead.

    Health care in Kunming's public hospitals is below what is considered international standard so visitors requiring medical care are advised to make use of the newly-opened Richland International Hospital.


  • Emergency Numbers:

    • Fire: 119
    • Ambulance: 120
    • Police: 110
    • Traffic: 122

  • Useful Numbers:

    • Weather forecast of the scenic spots: 16800122
    • Zip code inquiry: 3139491
    • Consumption Complaint: 12315
    • Kunming Tourism Complaint: 3164961


Considered the First Wonder of the World, the Stone Forests are unique for its topographic landscape featuring magnificence, strangeness, danger and secret. Because of its characteristics of large area, high rock posts, beautiful peak shapes and closeness of various scenes, Stone forests in Kunming takes the lead in the world's lava topographic landscape.

Tour Highlights

» 8 toursCity Tours

» 3 toursPackage Tours

»»For exploration of Stone Forest, check out 12 tours ...

Related Guides



Tour Searching
Tour Packages We Provide
Package Searching 101
Customized Tour Design
Tour Booking
Fill Your Cart
Travel Agreement
Order Confirmation
Deposit & Payment
Methods of Payment
Deposit
Final Payment
Cancellation
Alteration
Customer Service
Contact Us
Our Guarantees
Lodge a Complaint
Travel Tips
Sitemap
Popular China Travel Destinations & Tours
phone U.S.A. +1 (310) 997-0051 / +1 (310) 878-2934
Canada +1 (604) 998-6945
China +86 (10) 8409-8570 / +86 (10) 8409-8571
email info@yeschinatour.commsn: help@yeschinatour.com