Stone Forest

Lore & Background

The Stone Forest, known locally as Shilin, is a vast expanse of limestone formations covering approximately 500 square kilometers in Yunnan Province, China, about 90 kilometers east of Kunming. The rocks rise abruptly from the ground, resembling petrified trees and creating the illusion of a stone forest. These formations are the result of weathering on limestone deposits that began accumulating in a shallow sea around 270 million years ago during the Permian period. After the region was uplifted, wind and running water sculpted the pillars. The main area, Shilin National Scenic Area, spans 400 square kilometers and includes seven distinct scenic zones, such as the Greater and Lesser Stone Forests, Naigu Stone Forest, Zhiyun Cave, two lakes (Chang and Yue), Dadieshui Waterfall, and Qifeng Cave. The Major and Minor Stone Forests developed in nearly pure limestone of the Permian Makou Formation, while the Naigu Stone Forest, located 9 kilometers northeast, formed in dolomite and dolomitic limestone of the Qixia Formation. These carbonate rock layers, totaling 505 meters in thickness, are part of a gently westward-dipping monocline, with fractures controlling the karst topography. Sandstones and shales below act as a barrier, directing groundwater flow from west to east. The area hosts diverse plant communities, including evergreen broad-leaved forests, sclerophyllous forests, deciduous and subtropical needle-leaved forests, and lake vegetation. Culturally, the forest is tied to the Yi people’s legend of Ashima, a girl who turned to stone after being forbidden to marry her love. The site has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007 as part of the South China Karst.

Reader's Guide

The Stone Forest’s distinctive landscape results from a geological history spanning hundreds of millions of years. The area was once a shallow sea where thick deposits of sandstone and limestone accumulated during the Permian period. Subsequent uplift of the region, followed by prolonged exposure to wind and running water, sculpted the limestone into towering pillars that resemble a forest of petrified trees. The main formations developed in nearly pure limestone of the Maokou Formation, while the Naigu Stone Forest, located northeast of the main site, formed in dolomite and dolomitic limestone of the Qixia Formation. Conjugate shear joints in the rock provided pathways for water, controlling the depth and orientation of the karst features. The underlying sandstone and shale act as a barrier, directing groundwater flow from west to east. Ecologically, the site hosts several forest types, including evergreen broad-leaved forests dominated by Cyclobalanopsis and Castanopsis species, sclerophyllous forests with Quercus varieties, and subtropical needle-leaved forests of Pinus yunnanensis. Lake vegetation such as Ottelia acuminata also occurs. Culturally, the forest is tied to the Yi people’s legend of Ashima, a young woman who was turned to stone after being forbidden to marry her chosen suitor. This story is commemorated annually during the Torch Festival, held on the 24th day of the sixth lunar month, featuring folk dances and wrestling. The Stone Forest thus stands as a significant example of karst geology, a refuge for diverse plant communities, and a living part of Yi heritage.

Did You Know?

• The Stone Forest covers an area of about 500 km² in Yunnan, China.
• It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007 as part of the South China Karst.
• According to Yi legend, the forest is the birthplace of Ashima, who turned into stone.