Yunnan Travel: A Masterpiece of Nature - Stone Forest Tour (Photos)

The Stone Forest Scenic Area in Yunnan Province is located in Lunan Yi Autonomous County, Kunming, 80 kilometers from downtown Kunming. It is one of the first batch of national key scenic spots approved by the State Council in 1982. This area features the world's most typical karst landform, covering 350 square kilometers. It is known as the 'Natural Museum of Sculpted Landforms' and is one of China's four major natural wonders. The reporter has visited here twice for sightseeing and inspiration, and the unique natural landscape leaves a deep impression and boundless longing.

Stone Forest Scenic Area (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

I remember my first visit was on November 26, 1998. The reporter accompanied the filming crew of 'China Ethnic Sports' after finishing filming in southeastern Yunnan, and came here on the way back to Kunming from Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. The second time was on October 28, 2005, when the reporter followed a China Railway special train on a cultural tour through Hunan, Yunnan, and Guizhou, and arrived at the Stone Forest.

First Stone Forest Photo (Photo by Hu Xiaofei)

Although I visited the Stone Forest twice, each had its own focus. The first time was a quick, free tour, limited by time, so the area visited was relatively small. The second time, with an organized tour group, not only were there more scenic spots, but the guide's vivid commentary made the tour feel very fulfilling.

Second Stone Forest Photo (Photo by Wang Jue)

The formation of the Stone Forest originated from underwater limestone layers over 200 million years ago. Through crustal movements, seawater, and wind and rain erosion, this natural wonder was created. It mainly includes seven scenic areas: Big Stone Forest, Naigu Stone Forest, Dadieshui Waterfall, Zhiyun Cave, Qifeng Cave, Changhu Lake, and Yuehu Lake.

Stone Forest Landscape (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

According to scientific assessment, this area was a vast ocean 270 million years ago. Gradually, limestone deposits formed on the seabed. Through crustal movements, the seabed rose to form land. Over hundreds of millions of years, through long-term rain erosion and weathering, some limestone dissolved and precipitated, some collapsed and sank, and some accumulated. About 2 million years ago, this created countless stone peaks, pillars, stalagmites, and stone buds rising from the ground, looking from afar like a vast forest of steep stone columns. As early as the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, people called it 'Stone Forest'.

Stone Forest Sword Peak Landscape (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Inside the Stone Forest scenic area, stone peaks stand in great numbers, with thousands of overlapping peaks. The varied stone peaks, pillars, flowers, platforms, and streams resemble a vast, dark, and majestic forest, praised as 'the number one wonder under heaven'.

Overlooking the Stone Forest (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

The Stone Forest wonder is rare worldwide. It showcases its unique charm with its grand and magnificent karst landform. The tourist attractions centered on the Stone Forest scenic area have undergone more than a decade of focused planning and construction. While preserving the original features, they have incorporated the gardening characteristics of Chinese gardens, making it even more fascinating.

Autumn-tinted Stone Forest (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

The shopping environment in the Stone Forest Scenic Area is increasingly improving. Adjacent to the parking lot is a large ethnic shopping center with unique architectural designs that reflect local ethnic characteristics and the Stone Forest's landform style. Strolling through, whether shopping, tasting local snacks, or browsing the mall complex, it is an indispensable part of the tour.

Stone Forest Lake (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

In addition, with the opening of high-grade highways, convenient transportation conditions have been created for visiting the Stone Forest. Based on the continuous improvement of road and rail transport, the routes connecting various scenic spots within the Stone Forest are now more convenient and comfortable. The Stone Forest tourism management and service organizations have also timely launched more daytime and nighttime tour programs, allowing people to experience something new each time, leaving the wonderful scenery and excellent service in their fond memories.

Viewing Wangfeng Pavilion from Afar (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Generally speaking, after entering the Stone Forest, the first area to visit is the Big Stone Forest. It consists of dense stone peaks, like a stone basin. The stone forest here stands upright and abrupt, with smooth lines and a light bluish-gray color. The tallest independent stone pillar exceeds 40 meters in height.

Maze-like Stone Forest (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Among them are typical attractions such as 'Lotus Peak', 'Sword Peak Pool', and 'Phoenix Combing Feathers'. The most famous is the 'Stone Forest Wonderland' where Long Yun inscribed 'Stone Forest'. The 'Wangfeng Pavilion' is the best place to appreciate the 'sea of peaks'. Walking in the peak forest, every few steps one is blocked by stone peaks. After winding twists and turns, another world appears.

Beautiful Scenery Outside Little Stone Forest (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

After coming out of the maze-like Big Stone Forest and walking outward, passing a green open area, you enter the beautiful Little Stone Forest scenic area. Compared with the dense Big Stone Forest, the adjacent Little Stone Forest appears sparse, open, and elegant. Thick and solid stone walls, like screens, divide the Little Stone Forest into several gardens.

Little Stone Forest Landscape (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

In 1964, a film music scenic story 'Ashima' written by Ge Yan and Liu Qiong and directed by Liu Qiong from Shanghai Tianma Film Studio was based on this location.

Little Stone Forest Lake View (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Nowadays, the Yi girls here take pride in being called Ashima. Thus, the name Ashima has become a general term for the girls here. It is understood that 'Ashima' is in the Yi language, translated into Chinese as 'golden girl', meaning beautiful and kind.

Ashima Landscape (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

And the most famous attraction in the Little Stone Forest scenic area is the 'Ashima' landscape, a huge rock shaped like a girl. When night falls and colored lights shine on it, it becomes even more colorful and charming. The beautiful legend of Ashima, the colorful Sani embroidery, the ancient and magical 'Torch Festival', and the lively and cheerful Sani songs and dances make the natural and cultural landscapes of the Stone Forest complement each other, intoxicating visitors and leaving an unforgettable impression.

Taking a Photo in Ethnic Costume (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Leaving the Stone Forest Scenic Area, the tour fleet traveled for over an hour and arrived at a park called Colorful Yunnan, rich in ethnic characteristics.

Lush Green Grass in Little Stone Forest (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

The name 'Colorful Yunnan' and 'the South of Colorful Clouds' are poetic names, widely known like 'Shangri-La'. They represent Yunnan, its characteristics, style, and people's praise of Yunnan. Yunnan, with its vast territory, abundant resources, talented people, beauty, and allure, has always called itself 'the South of Colorful Clouds, the Origin of Ten Thousand Greens', and this is widely recognized.

Colorful Yunnan Peacock Garden (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Colorful Yunnan is a large comprehensive tourism shopping enterprise integrating tourism product production, sightseeing, shopping, and dining. The park has a total operating area of 36,000 square meters. It comprises eight major operating venues: Colorful Yunnan Jade Jewelry Hall, Crafts Hall, Local Specialty Hall, Famous Medicine Hall, Plant Essential Oil Hall, Famous Tea Garden, Colorful Yunnan Peacock Garden, and Yixin Garden Hotel, as well as two processing plants for jade jewelry and arts and crafts. It is the largest and highest-grade tourism shopping center in Yunnan Province.

Peacock Displaying its Tail (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

The Colorful Yunnan park is picturesque. Even if you don't shop, the beautiful scenery here is enough to make you linger. Especially the Peacock Garden within the park is very distinctive.

Peacock Garden Scenery (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Strolling in the Colorful Yunnan Peacock Garden, you see forest waterfalls cascading, streams babbling, birds singing, and flowers fragrant. Over a thousand peacocks walk in pairs in the forest, some perching alone on high branches, outstanding and elegant, with emerald feathers over a meter long fluttering; some leaping and playing, with graceful postures and agile dances; some in pairs, whispering intimately, pure and sweet; some spreading their wings and displaying their tails, colorful and gorgeous, dignified and luxurious.

Wonderful Ethnic Songs and Dances (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

In the Peacock Garden, strolling with the dancing peacocks, taking photos, feeding them, or admiring their beauty, all allow people to experience the harmonious integration of humans and nature. Especially the wonderful ethnic song and dance evening performance in the garden relieves the fatigue of a day's tour and brings great pleasure, making the wonderful Stone Forest tour unforgettable. (Text and photos by Feng Ganyong)