Stone Forest: Ten Thousand Stones Form a Forest, A World Wonder

Author: Xu Jiaguo
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-01-01
Features: The Stone Forest Scenic Area is located in Lunan County, 100 kilometers away from Kunming City. The scenic area consists of seven major scenic zones: the Big and Small Stone Forests, Nagog Stone Forest, Dadaishui, Changhu Lake, Yuehu Lake, Zhiyun Cave, and Qifeng Cave. Covering a total area of 400 square kilometers in the county, it is a well-known scenic area with a karst landscape as its main feature, recognized both domestically and internationally.
Karst landscape, also known as karst topography, refers to the dissolution, precipitation, collapse, subsidence, and accumulation of soluble rocks (primarily limestone) on the Earth's surface due to water erosion, forming various unique landforms such as stone forests, stone pinnacles, stone teeth, sinkholes, waterfalls, underground rivers, and peculiar dragon pools, as well as numerous lakes. These phenomena are collectively known as karst (named after the Kras plateau in northwestern Slovenia, which is a typical example). Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Guangdong, Fujian, and Sichuan in China all have karst formations, with the most developed and beautiful stone forests being the Stone Forest in Yunnan. In 1966, the second Chinese Karst Academic Conference recommended changing the term "karst landscape" to "karst topography," so it is also called karst topography in China.
The Stone Forest Scenic Area is vast and, with an extraordinary abundance of lifelike stones and high scenic value, making it rare in the world. Surrounding areas include the developed provincial-level scenic spots such as Jiuxiang, Alu Gudong, and Bailongdong. Combined with its pleasant, spring-like climate year-round, it is an ideal destination for tourism, sightseeing, and leisure. In 1982, it was approved by the State Council as a national-level key scenic area.
Unique products worth purchasing or tasting include Yi ethnic clothing, Lunan pickled vegetables, Yiliang roasted ducks, and fried bee larvae. The Yi ethnic dances also hold high artistic and cultural value. Located east of Kunming City, the Stone Forest is a rare scenic wonder in the world, a masterpiece of nature's artistry. Over 400 square kilometers of Lunan are dotted with hundreds of massive stone clusters resembling black forests. Some stand alone, while others intertwine, covering tens to hundreds of acres. The most typical section is the Liziying Stone Forest, where extraordinary stones rise from the ground, forming a breathtaking landscape of varied peaks and formations, celebrated as the "Wonder of the World."
About 360 million years ago during the Paleozoic Devonian period, Lunan was part of the Yunnan-Guizhou ancient sea. Around 280 million years ago in the Carboniferous period, the Stone Forest began to form. The limestone in the sea was eroded by water currents, leaving behind countless dissolution grooves and columns. Later, continuous crustal uplift and long-term sedimentation gradually transformed the sea into land. After the sea receded, the area endured millions of years of sun exposure, rain erosion, wind weathering, and earthquakes, creating this fairy-tale-like spectacular landscape. From afar, the towering, dark gray stone pinnacles and pillars seem to reach for the sky, resembling a vast black forest, hence the name "Stone Forest."
The main tourist area, the Liziying Stone Forest, covers about 12 square kilometers with a visitable area of approximately 1,200 acres. It consists of several parts: Stone Forest Lake, the Big Stone Forest, the Small Stone Forest, and Liziying Garden. With over 5,000 meters of walking paths, it is the largest, most, and most beautiful section within the Stone Forest Scenic Area. Inside the scenic area, stone pillars, walls, and peaks display a myriad of shapes, competing in beauty. Some pillars reach up to 40–50 meters tall, as humorously described in an anonymous folk poem: "From afar, the big stone looks small; up close, the small stone looks big. The stone is indeed big, and the stone is indeed big." However, these stones are unlike any ordinary ones—they are a masterpiece of art, attracting visitors from all over the world to admire; they are a poem of beauty, praised by scholars and poets throughout history; and they possess a spirit and life. There are numerous lifelike stones such as "Two Horses Crossing for Food," "Peacock Combing Its Wings," "Phoenix's Spiritual Ceremony," "Elephant's Stone Platform," "Rhinoceros Gazing at the Moon"; "Tang Monk Stone," "Monkey King Stone," "Pigsy Stone," "Sandy Boy Stone," "Guanyin Stone," "General Stone," "Soldier Terracotta," "Poet Reciting," and "Mother and Child Strolling," all vividly lifelike, leaving visitors in awe.
Beyond animals, there are many plant-like formations, such as bamboo shoots after rain, mushrooms, and jade tubes. There is also a "Bell Stone" that can produce various tones when struck. The entire Liziying Stone Forest is a vast natural stone art treasure, inviting visitors to observe, discover, and imagine freely. The scenic area is filled with winding paths and hidden corners, where every step reveals a new view, making it feel like entering a maze or fairyland. Tourists are inevitably captivated and leave with nothing but praise.
The scenic area features pavilions like the Lion Pavilion, Peak Viewing Pavilion, stone platforms, and benches for rest. As early as the Ming Dynasty, the Stone Forest was already a famous sight, but it was not until the 1950s that the government organized efforts to survey, design, construct, and develop walking paths, as well as roads, hotels, restaurants, and shopping centers. Only then did the Stone Forest gradually gain international fame and become a world-renowned tourist destination.
Visitors can also take a helicopter tour from "Shihang," six kilometers away from the Stone Forest, for a bird's-eye view, offering a unique experience. The 24th day of the sixth lunar month is the Torch Festival, when ethnic minorities like the Yi and Han gather from all directions to celebrate in the Stone Forest. During the day, activities such as wrestling, pole climbing, and bullfighting are held, while at night, people light torches, perform dragon and lion dances, and showcase ethnic songs and dances. The popular traditional performances include the Axi Moon Dance and the Dusanqin Dance. Tens of thousands of domestic and international guests join in the festivities, celebrating all night long. The combination of its magical natural landscapes and beautiful cultural attractions makes the Stone Forest even more enchanting and powerful.