Stone Forest------One of the Most Stunning Natural Creations

The Stone Forest is one of the world's most stunning natural creations. It is just southeast of Kunming in Shilin County. It is only a three hour drive from Kunming and is commonly said that a visit there without visiting the stone forest is "a waste of time". The Stone Forest is made up of countless awesome natural rock formations that will truly boggle your mind.

According to legend, the forest is the birthplace of Ashima, a beautiful girl of the Yi people. After falling in love she was forbidden to marry her chosen suitor and instead turned into a stone in the forest that still bears her name. Each year on the 24th day of the sixth lunar month, many Yi people celebrate the Torch Festival, which features folk dances and wrestling competitions.

Actually, this natural phenomenon is said to have begun taking shape about 270 million years ago in the Carboniferous Period. The area is believed to have been originally under the ocean. With eons of movement of the earth crust the area rose and broke through. The limestone left behind went through sun, rain, wind, and earthquakes and finally developed into the beautiful Stone Forest we see today.

In the midst of the forest, there is a huge rock screen on which two words--Stone Forest--are engraved in official script (in a calligraphic style typical of the Han Dynasty, 206 B.C.-220 A.D.). 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 (its name originating in the Chinese love story, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai), and Lotus Peak.

In the Major, Minor, and Naigu Stone Forests people marvel at the natural wonders before their eyes. The pillars of rock tower into the air seemingly just springing up from the ground. These stalagmites form a twisted jungle of stone.

Even more mysterious, is the Strange Wind Cave. Between the months of August and November, winds travel through the cave like clockwork lasting two to three minutes and spaced thirty minutes apart. It is the "Old Faithful" of China. The Dadie Waterfall is equally impressive and tumbles down 91 meters (300 feet). All of these amazing sights combine to create a stunning tourist destination that is unparalleled in the world leading it to be dubbed "The First Wonder of the World".

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