Stone Forest

Stone Forest Scenic Area is located in Shilin County, known as the ‘greatest wonder of all’, and is also a must-see scenic attraction in Kunming. The Stone Forest is a typical Karst landform, full of stone peaks, stone buds, sinkholes, and underground rivers. These stone peaks are in various shapes, such as sword, tower, mushroom, etc.

Different parts of the Stone Forest Scenic Area are distributed separately. The Major and Minor Stone Forest is located in the center, Naigu Stone Forest is about 12 km to its north, Dadieshui Scenic Area is about 29 km to its southwest, and Long Lake Scenic Area is 26 km to its southeast. Conventional tours refer to the Major and Minor Stone Forest.

In the midst of the forest, there is a huge rock screen on which two words--Stone Forest--are engraved in official script. Among the scenic sights is the "Sword Peak Pond" with jadeite-colored water so clear that one can see the bottom of the pond. Other astonishing sights include ‘Figure of Ashima’, ‘Shi Ba Xiang Song’, and ‘Lotus Peak’.

Walk slowly along the road, you can see Tang Monk Stone, Stone Prison, Phoenix Stone, Ganoderma Lucidum Stone, etc. They are all vivid and true to life, which shows the spectacular power of nature.

Walk along the road you will enter the Major Stone Forest, passing ‘Two Preying Birds’, ‘Rhinoceros Watching the Moon’, ‘Lotus Peak’, ‘Stone Forest Scenic Spot’ and ‘Stone Screen’. You can have a rest at the Lion Pavilion, enjoying the view of Lion Pond. Taking the boat on Stone Forest Lake will shake off all pressure and distress.

Naigu Stone Forest is 13 km to the north of the Major and Minor Stone Forest, and is also known as the New Stone Forest or Mozhai Stone Forest. Compared with the Major and Minor Stone Forest, Naigu Stone Forest has another kind of landscape. They are mainly gray stones, which are tall and dense, and look like castle, tower, and mushroom. Walking in the black forest is like entering a wild world. There is shuttle bus service between the Major and Minor Stone Forest, and Naigu Stone Forest Scenic Area.

Tel: 0086-0871-67711439; 0086-0871-67710699

Website: http://www.chinastoneforest.com/

Transportation:

There are a number of buses from Kunming East Bus Station to Stone Forest every day (about 7:00-19:10), the fare is about 29 yuan, and the distance is about 2 hours’ drive.

Admission fee:

175 yuan/person (including Naigu Stone Forest) for universal ticket, 18 yuan/person for Dadieshui Waterfall ticket, and 10 yuan/person for Long Lake ticket. (Note: the prices above are for reference only)

Opening hours: 8:00-18:00

Approximate touring time: 5-7 hours

Location: Shilin Yi Autonomous County, Kunming