[2025 Shilin Attraction] Travel Guide for Stone Forest Lake (Updated Jun)

#yunnanguide Enjoy the sunset in #shilinstoneforest ， a UNESCO geopark! Getting There - We booked a train ride 🚅 from Kunming South Railway station to Shilin Xi as the ticket to Shilin station were sold out. We stayed in hampton by hilton 🏨which is a short walk to the station. Shilin Xi station to the park is a long ride, It took about 40mins by Didi.🚕 Tip: Book early for the train ticket. Visit in the later afternoon for lesser crowd Attraction : Visit Shilin park in the later afternoon for lesser people. Interesting rock formation 🪨🪨and engraving. Be prepared to climb a lot. Admire the beautiful sunset🌅 in the evening. Do take note of the time and dont miss the train back to Kunming! There was not much food choice nearby. However, you can explore the town if you have time =) #summervacay #shilinstoneforest #kunming #yunnanguide

I leave my foot print at these places.... Bravo!!

"Mountains are stones, stones are mountains"—think this is a sci-fi scene? No! This is the true portrayal of Kunming's Stone Forest! A 350-square-kilometer cluster of sword-like limestone peaks, resembling chess pieces casually scattered by giants or an armory left behind by deities. Premier Zhou's remark, "Where there are mountains, there should be water," led to the creation of the shimmering "Stone Forest Lake" amidst the karst peaks, where ruggedness and grace collide in an epic spectacle! 【Must-Visit Hidden Gems】 1️⃣ Ashima Stone Deep in the Lesser Stone Forest stands a slender maiden-like peak—legend says it's Ashima, a Yi girl swept away by a flood. Visit at dawn when backlighting transforms the silhouette, as if echoing her millennia-long sigh of waiting. 2️⃣ Wangfeng Pavilion Sky Theater At 1,768 meters atop Bushao Mountain, the 360° viewing deck offers a "God's-eye view." Post-rain mist turns the peaks into a fleet breaking waves, straight out of *Avatar*'s Pandora! 3️⃣ Jianfeng Pool's Gate of Life and Death A natural stone gate under Lotus Peak, crowned by a 40-ton boulder with a gap just wide enough for one person sideways. Locals believe passing through brings luck—but tread carefully, as this 270-million-year-old geological wonder was once the ocean floor! 🚶【Explorer’s Route】 🔥 Route C (Highlights): Stone Forest Lake → Stone Screen → Shilin Scenic Area → Jianfeng Pool → Wangfeng Pavilion → Ashima 🕒 Duration: 3 hours (includes photo time) ⚠️ Pro tip: The ¥25 shuttle saves 3 km of hiking—don’t waste energy on unnecessary walks! 🍜【Local Flavors】 1️⃣ Yi Ethnic "Eight Bowls" A feast featuring 4-hour slow-cooked Guishan black goat soup, braised free-range chicken, peppery goat cheese (rubing!), and red bean stew with cured pork. ¥60/person for a feast! 2️⃣ Banqiao Liangjuanfen Chenji Laoyan’s handmade rice noodles drenched in peanut sauce and tangy chili dressing (¥10/bowl). Locals swear by pairing it with pea jelly for a texture explosion! 3️⃣ Three Ways to Eat Rubing A 300-year tradition: pan-fried (crispy outside, tender inside), ham-stuffed (savory bliss), or peppered with Sichuan pepper. Vacuum-packed as souvenirs—Shilin Hengsheng Dairy’s version is the gold standard! 📸【Photography Guide】 1️⃣ Stone Forest Lake Reflections Arrive before 7 AM for mirror-like water creating "sky peaks." Drones banned—use telephoto for compressed shots. 2️⃣ Jianfeng Pool Lightplay At noon, sunlight pierces crevices, casting sword-shaped reflections. Wear red to channel *Chinese Paladin*’s Zhao Ling’er! 3️⃣ Bushao Mountain Stargazing A no-light-pollution zone! Summer Milky Way frames the peaks—bring a tripod + wide lens. Stay overnight for midnight shots. 🚗【Transport Hacks】 ❌ Mistake: Taxi from Kunming Station (¥200+) ✅ Smart move: Direct bus from Kunming East Coach Station (¥34, 1.5 hrs to parking lot) 🎫【Ticket Perks】 ▪️ Free: Kids under 1.2m / Seniors 70+ / Military ▪️ Half-price: Teens 6-18 / Students / Seniors 60-70 ⚠️ Heads-up: No restaurants inside! Pack snacks or grab ¥15 grilled corn (cheaper than outside!) at the visitor center. 💡【Deep Cuts】 🔸 Rock age: 270 million years (180 million older than dinosaurs!) 🔸 Fossil code: Every pillar hides marine fossils—find 270M-year-old gastropods on Bushao Mountain! 🔸 Cultural easter egg: Li Ziyuanqing’s ancient Yi cliff paintings predate Dunhuang murals by 2,000 years! #StoneForestScenicArea

impressive stone forest

#aprilblooms Wandering through the surreal landscape of the shilin Stone Forest feels like stepping onto another planet. Towering limestone pillars twist and spike into the sky, forming a natural labyrinth sculpted over millions of years. Every corner holds a surprise — from narrow stone paths and hidden caves to panoramic viewpoints that leave you speechless. Located in Yunnan, this lesser-known gem is a dream for photographers, nature lovers, and curious explorers alike. The rock formations seem to tell stories — shaped by wind, rain, and time itself. If you’re looking for somewhere truly unique, raw, and awe-inspiring… this is it. #StoneForest #YunnanTravel #ChinaNature #HiddenChina #KarstLandscape #NatureLovers #TravelChina #ExploreYunnan #NaturalWonder #GeologyRocks #RockFormations #EpicViews #ScenicChina #WanderlustChina #OffTheBeatenPath #DiscoverYunnan #ChinaAdventure #NaturePhotography #BucketListChina #EarthsArt #IncredibleLandscapes #MountainMagic #TravelGoals #OutdoorExplorer #discoverchina

Kunming Stone Forest Scenic Area, also known as Yunnan Stone Forest, is located in Kunming Shilin Yi Autonomous County, about 80 kilometers from Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province. The natural wonder of Stone Forest is a national 5A-level tourist scenic spot, as famous as the Forbidden City in Beijing, the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an, and the Guilin landscape. This is China's 6th World Natural Heritage Site, the 34th World Heritage Site, the 3rd World Heritage Site in Yunnan and the 1st World Heritage Site in Kunming. Just looking at the daily flow of people to Shilin and the ticket revenue alone, Shilin's contribution to Yunnan tourism is extremely huge. ❥ The Stone Forest is a rare scenic spot in the world and a masterpiece of nature. In an area of ​​400 square kilometers in Yunnan, there are hundreds of huge rock formations that look like a huge black forest. Some are independent landscapes, while others are crisscrossed and connected into one, covering an area of ​​dozens or even hundreds of acres. The strange rocks rise from the ground, jagged and rugged, with various shapes and forms, and are so ingenious that they are known as the number one wonder in the world. ❥ The main tourist area of ​​the Stone Forest, Liziqing Stone Forest, covers an area of ​​about 12 square kilometers, with a tourist area of ​​about 1,200 acres. It is mainly composed of Stone Forest Lake, Big Stone Forest, Small Stone Forest and Lizi Garden, with a tourist route of more than 5,000 meters. It is the largest, most concentrated and most beautiful single site in the Stone Forest Scenic Area. The Stone Forest is a typical karst formation, with limestone columns, caves, stalactites, karst lakes, natural bridges, cliff waterfalls, conical peaks, etc. Almost all the karst formations in the world can be seen here, which is an experience completely different from ordinary landforms. ❥ The main ethnic minority living in Shilin is the Yi people, who are good at singing and dancing. During traditional festivals, they celebrate with singing and dancing. People of all ethnic groups, including the Yi and Han people, who live around Shilin, gather from all directions to celebrate the festival together in Shilin. Dragon and lion dances, and performances of folk songs and dances. 👇Travel guide 📍Location: Shilin Middle Road, Shilin Yi Autonomous County, Kunming City, Yunnan Province ⏰Opening hours: 07:30 - 17:30 all year round 🎫Adult ticket: 130 yuan, sightseeing bus ticket: 25 yuan/round trip 🕑Visiting time: 3 - 4 hours 🌟Must-check-in points: Shilin Lake ~ Dapeng Spreading Wings ~ Shilin Scenic Spots ~ Critical Moment ~ Jianfeng Pool ~ Overwhelming ~ Wangfeng Pavilion ~ Lotus Pond ~ Small Stone Forest ~ Ashima's Incarnation Stone 👇Warm tips: 1. Tickets sold are not refundable and are valid on the day. They will be invalid after expiration. 2. The electric car ticket is a round trip ticket. Remember not to lose it once you get on it. Keep the ticket well. 3. You can purchase the tour guide service at a price of RMB 100 per group. 4. Yunnan has strong ultraviolet rays, so please take good sun protection; Yunnan has a changeable climate, with a large temperature difference between day and night, so please bring enough clothes to cope with sudden weather changes. 5. There is a food street opposite the electric car outside the scenic area, which sells stir-fried dishes, rice noodles, milk tea, fruits, etc. They are also sold inside the scenic area. I personally feel that the prices are a bit expensive. 6. There are many stairs in the scenic area, so it is important to wear comfortable shoes.

❥ Shilin Lake is one of the main attractions of the Kunming Stone Forest Scenic Area. Upon entering the gate of the Stone Forest Scenic Area, you will see a long lake in the Stone Forest. The long lake is surrounded by mountains, and the scenery in the lake is also very beautiful. The lake's surface shape is like a slender girl, which is the hometown of Ashima according to local legend. Because the lake is hidden among the green hills and lush ridges, it was rarely visited by tourists in the past, hence it is also known as the 'Hidden Lake'. ❥ The long lake is a lava lake, with water supplied by underground sources, ensuring the water is clear and unpolluted. It is surrounded by green mountains, with a high coverage of vegetation, fresh and clean air, and good transparency. There are small islands in the lake, and the lakeshore is forested mainly with Yunnan pine, with gentle terrain, consisting of many small lakes, creating a quiet and beautiful environment. ➠ Geographic location: Inside the Kunming Stone Forest Scenic Area.