Stone Forest
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The Stone Forest has unique karst topography which is one of the best of its kind within China. There are six scenic spots in the Stone Forest: the Greater Stone Forest, the Lesser Stone Forest, the Naigu Stone Forest (also known as the Heisong Cave), the Zhiyun Cave, the Long Lake, the Da Dieshui Waterfall and the Qifeng Cave. The stelae and the stalagmites are erecting abruptly from the ground forming a magnificent stone forest. Looking from afar, the stone forest looks amazingly like a mighty army of thousands of soldiers. Strangely the stones stay stainless and keep themselves away from dust and dirt seemingly naturally. Walking through the stone forest was quite an adventure and an unforgettable experience.
Stone Forest
The Greater and Lesser stone forests are the largest and the most beautiful clusters among all. There are a good variety of conformations stelae, cliffs and apices, some of which look like phoenixes, elephants and rhinoceros.
The Naigu Stone Forest is situated 13 kilometers north of the main Stone Forest. Naigu means “black” in Yi language. Thus in the Naigu Stone Forest, the stones look like rough ocean with terrifying roaring waves covered by dark black clouds.
On the other hand, the beautiful Long Lake lies silently beside the Weize Village, about 15 kilometers from the town center. It is such a heavenly scene of a peaceful lake surrounded by greenery and rolling hills.
The Da Dieshui Waterfall pours down from the cliff, looking like a piece of milky silk hanging from the cliff. It is such a splendid and dramatic scene.
The rich folk customs and interesting legends of the local ethnic group Yi are equally charming if not more than the scenic attractions of the Stone Forest. There are the tale of Ashima, the colorful Sani (a tribal group within the Yi ethnicity) embroideries, the ancient and mysterious Torch Festival (every year on June 24th of the lunar calendar) as well as the passionate and joyful Sani dances all make the place more attractive.
The Tale of Ashima
Somewhere in the Lesser Stone Forest, there is a pinnacle resembling a slim and beautiful girl. Seen on the side, together with another stone formation, the pinnacle appears to be a girl carrying a basket on her back. And this is the famous Ashma, the heroine of a legend that has been popular among Sani from generations to generations.
The tale goes like this: Once upon a time there was a rich and ruthless landlord in Sani called Rebubala. He arbitrarily decided that he would marry the local beauty Ashma. However Ashma and Ahei were deeply in love with each other at the time. She fearlessly refused the marriage. Rebubala was very furious and threatened to kidnap Ashma. Ahei became very anxious. One day when he rushed home from a remote livestock farm, he found that his beloved Ashima had been kidnapped three days ago while he was away.
Ahei was upset but he quickly put himself together and rushed to Rebubala's home to rescure Ashma. He fought against Rebubala and managed to get them both out of Rebubala's place safely.
The love birds were over the moon; they rode on their horse heading home with much hope for the future at heart. They continued their journey crossing mountains, valleys and jungles, even when it became dark and windy. Suddenly a thundering rainstorm came without notice. The night was so dark, the wind was so strong, and the storm was so heavy that they couldn’t see, couldn’t hear each other and lost each other in the middle of the storm. But luckily when the storm was over, the flood retreated, they found each other. While they were so lost and so worried about finding way home, a humming bee circling them for three times and said, "You can stay at my home for the night; and my home is in a cave." They had no choice but followed the bee into the Stone Forest.
It was extremely wet and slippery in the Stone Forest. Ashma slipped, grabbing a stone in for support, only to find that her hand was stuck on the stone. She was crying out for Ahei "Help me, Ahei. Please go and find a white cock and a white pig who can sacrifice to the stone god, so then I shall be freed."
Ahei was extremely upset and worried about Ashsma, but he had to be strong and set off to find the white cock and the white pig. After crossing 49 mountains and 81 rivers, he found a white cock. Continuously searching countless number of villages, he failed to find the white pig, but a black pig and dug a basket of white mud. Ahei mudded the pig and it turned into a white pig. He then started to return to the Stone Forest. After crossing the last mountain, he decided to sit down and have a rest. He was so tired that he fell asleep very quickly. He was awakened by heavy rain pouring down only to find that the white mud was washed away and the pig turned back to its own color.
With much desperation and sorrow, Ahei couldn't bring back the required white pig, and Ashma, his lover was stuck to the stone forever. It is the stone image that we see today.
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The Stone forest is a great place to visit, but do not make the big mistake to stay in the Stone Forest Hotel. Because of the new highway from Kunming no people visit the hotel anymore, but stay in Kunming. The rooms are in bad shape, there is no hot water, the toilet will not flush, there is much dust because only the beds are cleaned. There are only a few staff members and they do not speak English and are rude! Nobody is in control. When the restaurant is open, nobody will help you and the hygiëne is bad. If the park closes at night, you have nowhere else to go. Please, please, please, do not go to this hotel. It will ruin your holiday.
The Stone Forest is so fantastic, you won't be disoppointed with the scenery when you come here!
If you leave Kunming without having visited the Stone Forest you will regret. Weird and wonderful rock formations, sculpted by the forces of nature, are quite awe-inspiring.
This sight outside of Kunming city is a maze of stones of various shapes. It is a place to absorb the power of nature.
Different shapes of the stones make you a surprise at the power of Nature.
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I seen an article years ago , about this temple turned into a hotel, The picture showed the structure on top of the forest accessible only by swinging rope bridges . Any ideas?
Hello, I never heard about it, but there is a hotel in the middle of the Stone Forest in Kunming, called Stone Forest Hotel.
I don't know wheter it is too hot or the weather is okey there, so I want to know wheter I should take the umbrella along with!
umbrellas are good for rain and sun, but you can get them cheap there
umbrellas are good for rain and sun, but you can get them cheap there
Yes, if you dont like to be brown
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to where?
Yes! Especially in the rainy season! ;)
I think umbrella would be a waste of precious luggage space. I would recommend getting umbrella in China or or taking a rain coat - which might be more flexible solution.
It depends what season you are going. Anyway, umbrellas are sold everywhere. Even some tourist places have a lot of people come and sell umbrellas when there is rain.
It depends what season you are going. Anyway, umbrellas are sold everywhere. Even some tourist places have a lot of people come and sell umbrellas when there is rain.
Umbrella are cheap and easily available in all parts of China.
Well! you should take an umbrella with you anywhere though it is not very convenient. After all, defensive stance can make your travel happy and safe.
you should take a umbrella whenever you go to Kuming.
But when are you going to visit it? I do not think you need to bring a umbrella in autumn and winter when less rain comes.
In my opinion, you should take one with you. The weather there are very changeable.
There always be sufficient illumination, if you are used to avoiding the sunshine,you can take the umbrella along with!
Which minority people live in Stone Forest?
The Stone Forest area is the home of the Sani people, their folk customs has become one spectacular scene, the colorful embroidery and minority dances combine with the natural
The Stone Forest area is the home of the Sani people, their folk customs has become one spectacular scene, the colorful embroidery and minority dances combine with the natural sceneries, which will surely leave you a deep impression.
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