The Kunming Shilin Scenic Area, also known as the Yunnan Stone Forest, is located in Shilin Yi Autonomous County, Kunming City, Yunnan Province. The area of this karst landform spans over 1,100 square kilometers, with a protected area covering 350 square kilometers.
The scenic area mainly consists of the Shilin Scenic Area, Naigu Stone Forest Scenic Area, Dadieshui Scenic Area, Changhu (Long Lake) Scenic Area, and Guishan National Forest Park. Among them, the Shilin Scenic Area is the core zone, composed of five sections: the Greater Stone Forest, the Lesser Stone Forest, Wannian Lingzhi (Eternal Ganoderma), Liziyuanqing, and Bushao Mountain. The Naigu Stone Forest Scenic Area is located 8 kilometers north of the Greater and Lesser Stone Forest, covering an area of about 10 square kilometers. Its landscape features stone formations, Baiyun Lake, Shifeng Mountain, and the secluded valley waterfall. The Changhu Scenic Area is situated in Weize Village, Changhu Town, 25 kilometers north of the Greater and Lesser Stone Forest. It covers a total area of 3.94 square kilometers, with attractions including Dushi Mountain, Dajian Mountain, Erjian Mountain, Sanjian Mountain, Mopan Mountain, Penglai Island, and Yuanyuan Lake. The Dadieshui Scenic Area lies to the southwest of the Shilin county seat, boasting numerous spots such as Dadieshui, Xiaodieshui, Xianren Cave, Baige Garden, Banpu Garden, and Qingshui River. Guishan National Forest Park, located within Shilin County, has a peak elevation of 2,601 meters. Stretching 14 kilometers from north to south and 10 kilometers from east to west, it covers a total area of 3,206 hectares. It is one of the world's most famous destinations for karst landform tourism and has been hailed by international karst research experts as a "Natural Museum of Geomorphological Forms."
In 2004, the Kunming Shilin Scenic Area was designated as one of the first "Global Geoparks." In 2007, it was rated as one of the first "National AAAAA Tourist Attractions" and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in the same year.