Kunming Stone Forest

About an hour east of Kunming, the Stone Forest (Shilin) is a 350-square-kilometer maze of grey limestone pinnacles that rise out of the ground like petrified trees. The rock began as a seabed some 270 million years ago; rain and groundwater then dissolved the softer stone and left these blades and towers standing. It is the most famous karst landscape in China and part of the UNESCO South China Karst World Heritage Site.

What you see here

The ticketed core is the Greater and Lesser Stone Forest, where paved paths weave between pillars up to 30 meters tall, through slot canyons and past a small lake reflecting the rock. The site belongs to the Sani branch of the Yi people, and you will hear the legend of Ashima, a Sani girl said to have turned to stone here; a pillar near the lake is named after her.

Tickets and hours

The entrance ticket is CNY 130 for adults, with a reduced CNY 65 for seniors over 60 and visitors under 18. A shuttle buggy around the large site costs about CNY 25. The park opens roughly 07:30–18:00 from March to October and 08:00–17:00 in winter. Plan on three to four hours to walk the main loop.

Getting there

A direct tourist train runs from Kunming Railway Station to Shilin in about 75 minutes; from the Shilin stop a shuttle covers the last few kilometers. Drivers and day tours take a similar hour by expressway. Go early: tour groups arrive mid-morning, and the maze feels very different when you have a quiet path to yourself.

Make a day of it

Pair the Stone Forest with the nearby Naigu Stone Forest, a quieter black-limestone section, or simply head back to Kunming for an evening of Yunnan food. It is the classic day trip from the city and the single sight most visitors remember.