Stone Forest, China: The Uninhabited, Drained Ocean From 230 Million Years Ago

China's Stone Forest is an ocean that has been drained and was uninhabitable 230 million years ago.

With a height ranging from 1,625 to 1,900 meters above sea level, The Stone Forest (Shilin), also known as the "First Wonder of the World," is located in the Lunan Yu Autonomous County, at 126 kilometers due southeast of Yunnan Province's Kunming Qujing Prefecture. Both the railroad and the expressway provide convenient transportation between Kunming and the Stone Forest.

Drained Ocean from 230 Million Years Ago

Its origins go back more than 230 million years when it was a vast, unpopulated ocean. Towering rocks emerged in their places as the water emptied, and as they were gently worn through time, they took on the strange formations we can see today.

Special Landform

A unique sort of karst landform is the stone forest. The term comes from the great concentration of towering rock pillars that resemble a forest of stones. These tall, oddly shaped granite pillars cover more than 26,000ha of space. Only 80 acres of this region are accessible to tourists. The rock pillars remain in good condition.

Capacity at 50 Million Cubic Meters

There are also several karst caves full of stalagmites, stalactite, stone pillars, stone corridors, and five subterranean rivers, lakes, ponds, and waterfalls. 65 reservoirs and ponds with a combined storage capacity of 50 million cubic meters can also be found in the beautiful zone.

Memorable Rock Formations

Avalokitesvara Rock, Buddha Stone, Mother and Son, Camel Riding on Elephant, Rhinoceros Looking at the Moon, and Beautiful Maiden Ascending from the Water are just a few of the unique titles given to the rocks.

The fabled Ashima karst feature in the Stone Forest is arguably the most well-known. Ashima was a nice, bright, diligent, and attractive girl who came from the Sani branch of the Yi ethnic group, according to folklore.

The Lunan Stone Forest is made up primarily of odd rock pillars, with karst caverns, lakes, waterfalls, and other picturesque features added in.

Biodiversity

The Stone Forest is home to more than 400 different species of flowers and is divided into various picturesque regions with names such as Outer Stone Forest, Greater Stone Forest, Lesser Stone Forest, Underground Stone Forest, and Stone Forest Lake, as well as Da Dieshui Falls. It also has a good climate.

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Labyrinths

While exploring these fascinating labyrinths, where there are ancient frescoes painted upon the stone walls. These so-called "cave paintings" originate from the Neolithic Era and were created using a combination of animal blood and minerals.

Tourist Attraction

The Shilin Stone Forest was first found by the Chinese government in the 1950s, but since then it has become increasingly well-known due to the grandeur of the sword-shaped limestone pillars and the friendliness and customs of the Sani people, who draw visitors from all over the world.