The Tongwang River Forest Sea and Stone Forest Scenic Area is located in Tongwang County, Yichun City, Heilongjiang Province. It is a National 5A Tourist Attraction and a National Geopark, and it is also China's first approved national-level geopark featuring the Lesser Khingan Mountains stone forest landscape. The scenic area is centered on rare granite stone forest landforms and vast primary forests, with a total area of 190 square kilometers, of which the core landscape area is about 20 square kilometers. The forest coverage rate in the scenic area is as high as 98%, and it is home to many rare tree species such as Korean pine, larch, and spruce, forming a unique ecological landscape of "trees growing on stones, stones hidden in the forest." The granite stone forest here was formed about 250 million years ago during the Indosinian Movement. Through long-term weathering, erosion, and other geological processes, it has created a variety of bizarre stone landscapes. It has extremely high value for geological research and tourism appreciation and is known as "the First Stone Forest of the Lesser Khingan Mountains."
History and Culture
The Tongwang River basin is the traditional settlement area of ethnic minorities such as the Oroqen and Evenki people, who historically lived by hunting and nomadic herding and left behind rich ethnic cultural relics. The ethnic minorities around the scenic area still retain traditional hunting culture, birch bark handicraft customs, and other practices. Tourists can learn about the related history through the folk customs exhibition area in the scenic area.
From the perspective of geological history, the formation process of the granite stone forest in the scenic area spans hundreds of millions of years, witnessing the geological changes of the Lesser Khingan Mountains region. In the 1980s, the local area began to investigate and protect this unique landform. In 2003, the scenic area was officially established and opened to the public. In 2013, it was rated as a National 5A Tourist Attraction, becoming an important window for displaying the geology and ecological culture of the Lesser Khingan Mountains.
Main Attractions
One-Line Sky
One-Line Sky is one of the iconic landscapes of the scenic area. It is formed by two huge granite peaks more than 20 meters high standing side by side. The gap between the two pillars is only 0.6 meters wide, and visitors can pass through sideways. Looking up at the sky from the gap, only a single line of blue sky can be seen, hence the name "One-Line Sky." The surface of the peaks is covered with honeycomb-like weathering marks, a typical landform formed by long-term weathering and denudation of granite. It is highly visually striking and is also a must-visit photo spot for tourists.
Guanyin in the Forest Sea
Guanyin in the Forest Sea is a naturally formed giant granite boulder, about 12 meters high. Its overall shape resembles a seated Guanyin statue, with coordinated proportions of head and body and a serene expression. The giant rock is located in an open forest area surrounded by green trees, as if Guanyin were quietly standing guard over the forest sea, and is therefore regarded by local people as a symbol of good fortune. Because of its lifelike appearance, this landscape has been endowed with rich cultural meaning and attracts many tourists to stop and pray.
Korean Pine Mother Tree Forest
The Korean Pine Mother Tree Forest is located in the eastern part of the scenic area, covering an area of about 500 hectares. It is one of the well-preserved primary Korean pine forests in the Lesser Khingan Mountains. The average age of the Korean pines in the forest is over 200 years, with the oldest trees over 500 years old, an average height of 30 meters, and a diameter at breast height of about 80 centimeters. The Korean pines here are tall and straight, forming a dense canopy. Under the forest grow many medicinal plants such as Schisandra chinensis and Acanthopanax senticosus, as well as rare fungi. Tourists can stroll along the forest boardwalk and experience the tranquility and vitality of the primary forest. It is an ideal area for forest bathing and ecological education.
Wind-Moving Stone
The Wind-Moving Stone is an oval granite rock about 5 meters in diameter and about 100 tons in weight. Its bottom is connected to the base rock by only a very small contact area. When the wind blows, it sways slightly but never falls, making it a natural wonder. Its formation is due to the gradual erosion of the lower rock layers during the weathering process of the granite body, leaving only a few support points, which demonstrates the precision and balance of geological processes and often amazes tourists.
Tour Route：
Recommended one-day tour route: Arrive at the scenic area before 9:00 a.m., take the sightseeing bus to One-Line Sky (about 15 minutes), and tour One-Line Sky and the surrounding stone forest group (about 1.5 hours); have lunch at the forest restaurant in the scenic area at noon (average consumption about 60 yuan per person). In the afternoon, take the sightseeing bus to Guanyin in the Forest Sea (about 10 minutes) and experience the landscape combining nature and culture (about 40 minutes); then go to the Korean Pine Mother Tree Forest and hike along the boardwalk to experience the primary forest (about 1.5 hours); finally visit the Wind-Moving Stone (about 30 minutes), and take the sightseeing bus back to the scenic area entrance before 16:30 to end the trip. If time permits, you can stay near the scenic area and experience nearby rafting or folk village activities the next day.
Travel Suggestions：
Best seasons to visit: Summer (June-August) has a cool climate and dense forests, suitable for escaping the heat and viewing the combination of stone forest and greenery; autumn (September-October) features layered forests dyed in brilliant colors, with the stone forest and red leaves complementing each other, creating gorgeous scenery; winter (December-February) allows visitors to see the stone forest covered in ice and snow and experience the northern scenery, but attention must be paid to keeping warm.
The scenic area mostly consists of mountain boardwalks, and some sections are steep. It is recommended to wear slip-resistant sports shoes; in summer, bring mosquito repellent, a sun hat, and a light jacket (the temperature difference between morning and evening is about 10°C); in winter, wear a down jacket, snow boots, gloves, and other cold-weather gear. The boardwalks may be icy, so it is recommended to bring ice cleats (available for rent at the scenic area entrance, 10 yuan per pair).
Dining suggestions: The restaurant in the scenic area has moderate prices, and you can taste wild vegetables and specialty dishes of the forest region; if you want to save money, you can bring dry food and eat in designated rest areas, but you must keep the environment clean.
Photography suggestions: Soft light in the early morning and evening is suitable for photographing stone forest silhouettes; in the Korean Pine Mother Tree Forest, you can photograph the Tyndall effect of sunlight passing through the canopy, with the best times before 10:00 a.m. or after 3:00 p.m.
Suggested tour duration: The full tour takes about 5-6 hours. If you have good stamina, you can appropriately extend the hiking time in the Korean Pine Mother Tree Forest for a deeper experience of the forest ecology.
Precautions：
The granite stone forest in the scenic area is steep, and some sections have no guardrails. During the tour, walk only along designated boardwalks. Do not climb rocks or leave the route to avoid danger.
Smoking and open flames are prohibited in the primary forest area. Picking plants and catching wild animals are strictly prohibited. Follow the principle of "leave no trace" to protect the ecological environment.
In summer, sudden showers may occur in the mountains. It is recommended to carry a folding umbrella or disposable raincoat; in winter, snow can be deep, so when hiking, follow a guide or move along signs to avoid getting lost.
Mobile phone signal in the scenic area is weak, and some areas have no signal. It is recommended to travel with companions and agree in advance on meeting times and places; paper maps are available at the scenic area entrance, and it is recommended to carry one.
Wild mushrooms should be tasted only in legitimate restaurants. Do not pick wild mushrooms yourself to prevent accidental consumption of toxic varieties; although wild vegetables are healthy, some sensitive individuals may be allergic, so it is recommended to eat only a small amount first.
Transportation：
Bus: Yichun City Passenger Transport Terminal has direct buses to Tongwang County, departing every hour from 6:00 to 15:00, with a journey time of about 2 hours and a fare of 25 yuan per person; after arriving in Tongwang County, you can take a taxi (about 10 yuan) or a special bus line (2 yuan per person) to the scenic area (about 6 kilometers from the county seat).
Self-driving: From Yichun City, drive along Henen Highway (G1111) toward Tongwang River, about 110 kilometers in total, with a journey time of 1.5 hours; from Harbin, drive along Suibei Expressway (G1111), then turn onto Henen Highway (G1111), about 450 kilometers in total, with a journey time of 5.5 hours. The scenic area parking fee is 10 yuan per day for small vehicles and 20 yuan per day for large vehicles.
Train: You can take a train to Tongwang River Station (the railway station is about 3 kilometers from the county seat). Taking a taxi from Tongwang River Station to the scenic area costs about 15 yuan and takes 10 minutes; or take a train from Yichun Station to Tongwang River Station, with 3 trains daily, a journey time of about 2.5 hours, and a fare of 15 yuan per person.
Opening Hours：
The opening hours of the scenic area in peak season (May 1-October 31) are 7:30-17:30 (last entry at 16:30); in off-season (November 1-April 30 of the following year), the opening hours are 8:30-16:30 (last entry at 15:30). In winter, some boardwalks may be closed due to snow, and some attractions must be visited along designated routes; from December to February of the following year, the scenic area launches the ice and snow stone forest landscape. The opening hours remain unchanged, but tourists are advised to check road conditions and information on open attractions in advance.
Tickets：
Ticket: 90 yuan per person (including sightseeing bus).