What’s inside this forest of stone in China?

Precious RongmeiPrecious Rongmei/TIMESOFINDIA.COM/TRAVEL TRENDS, YUNNAN/ Created : Sep 4, 2023, 08:00 IST

What’s inside this forest of stone in China?

You're Reading

Synopsis

The landscape is mostly characterised by towering limestone pillars, caves, underground rivers, and a smattering of greenery. The formations are the result of natural erosion of the rocks over millions of years. The Kunming Stone … Read more

What’s inside this forest of stone in China?

The Kunming Stone Forest or Shilin is a remarkable geological formation that makes Yunnan Province in China one of the most strikingly beautiful places in the world. For some, the so-called forest is a place of great wonder.

More from Travel News

More News

It is called so because of the unique and prominent limestone karst landscape. These geological formations are formed in such a way that it resembles a forest of stone pillars. Some would also find this quite otherworldly too.

We have one such place in India too, though not as expansive as Kunming Stone Forest. Have you heard of the Yana Rocks and Yana Caves of Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka? The idea behind these two places are the same–limestone karst formations.

Coming back to Kunming, the landscape is mostly characterised by towering limestone pillars, caves, underground rivers, and a smattering of greenery. The formations are the result of natural erosion of the rocks over millions of years.

The Kunming Stone Forest is also home to the Naxi and the Sani communities. From this, one thing is clear that the Kunming Stone Forest is only a geological formation, it is also intertwined with the cultures and traditions of these communities.

The people residing in the area even live in stone houses!

For those curious, the stone forest is spread across an area of 400 sq km, and is open to visitors from 8:30 AM to 6 PM. It will take you about three to four hours to explore the place, its natural attractions like waterfalls, lakes, caves and the local culture of the communities living there.

The forest is beautifully managed with proper walking trails, bridges and viewing platforms.

There is an interesting romantic local legend that goes with the Stone Forest, and that is of a beautiful Sani girl, named Ashima. As per the legend, Ashima was abducted by an evil landlord’s son and was kept hidden in these stone labyrinths. Her grief-stricken beau Ahei faced everything to save her and bring her back, which included several face-offs with the evil abductor. He wins and gets to take Ashima home but as expected, this was not acceptable to the abductor.

In an effort to stop the lovers, he floods the stone forest and in the process, turning both Ashima and Ahei into stones.

Visitors can find this rock in the Lesser Stone Forest inside Kunming Stone Forest. For the Sani community, Ashima is a protector.

Also read: This unusual beach in China is a wildlife treasure trove

The Kunming Stone Forest is a part of Shillin UNESCO Global Geopark. The stone forest is a very good reason to visit the region of Yunnan. This unconventional forest is not only a geological marvel, but also a remarkable chance for visitors to explore new and unique culture.