Stone Forest (Shilin)
FAQFrequently asked questions
What is Shilin Stone Forest?
This is a karst field of limestone pillars-needles sticking out of the ground like a petrified forest. Extends to approximately 500 square meters. km in the Yunnan province of southern China, and not in Nepal, as one might think from the erroneous signature.
How old is this stone and where did it come from?
The limestone layers were formed more than 270 million years ago, when a shallow sea of the Permian period lapped here. Then water took over: rains and underground streams dissolved the stone for centuries until these vertical spiers were carved.
How to get there?
Shilin lies some 90 km east of Kunming, the capital of Yunnan. Buses and trains go from the city to the park, so the journey takes a little more than an hour.
What is worth seeing inside?
The territory is divided into seven zones: Great and Small Stone Forests, Naigu Forest, Zhiyun and Qifeng Caves, Chang and Yue Lakes and Dadeshui Waterfall. You can wander the stone corridors all day and not repeat the route.
Any interesting facts or legends?
Since 2007, two areas have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the South China Karst. Among the people, a legend about the girl Ashima is connected with this place, and every year the Festival of Torches is loudly celebrated here.
