Shilin stone forest: The beautiful Rock feature in China
China’s Yunnan Province is famous for the stone topography of Shillin, meaning “stone forest.” Covering an area of 300-hundred square kilometers the stone forest is a massive landscape of karts formations. As per record, these formations are over 270 million years old. Over time this limestone formation formed due to seismic activity, water, and wind erosion.
Looking alike Trees the stone landscape, adding grey scene instead of greenery in the area. Located about 50 miles from Kunming, the provincial capital of the Yunnan Province, China’s shilling Forest remains one of the country’s most visited locations.
The giant stalagmite-like pillars create huge arrays of limestone formation where anyone can easily lose. Shillin consists of many smaller stone forests and features caves, ponds, waterfalls, a lake with an island, and an underground river. Naidu Stone Forest and Suogeyi Village are a part of the South China Karst, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Both places are within the Shilin stone forest.
Karst topography is a type of landscape that’s formed by the dissolution of soluble rocks like limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. The Shilin Stone Forest is home to a number of karst topography that only exists in this region of the world. The forest has been internationally acclaimed as the “Museum of Stone Forest karst” due to its diverse and amazing karst types.
One of the most famous hypotheses behind this stone forest is that Shillin is actually known as Ashima Stone, which was formed after the beautiful Sani girl, Ashima, ran into the forest and was turned to stone after being forbidden to marry the man she loved. Every year on June 24 the local Sani people hold the time-honored Torch Festival at Shillin, which features many traditional performances.
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Shilin Stone Forest stages a culture show as well as local fruit and product fair. Visitors can also dress up in traditional clothing of the local Chinese ethnic group and take some photos with the beautiful Stone Forest as a backdrop. China’s Shillin stone forest can be easily reached From Kunming Airport. There are many buses and public vehicles from Kunming to Stone Forest Scenic Area.
Source- misadventuresmag, amusing planet, Atlasobscura, Asian news