Whenever we talk about a forest, the first thought that comes to our mind is about trees and greenery. But have you ever heard of such a forest that is in existence even without trees? If not, then we are going to introduce you to an amazing forest that is made of stones instead of trees. Yes, it is absolutely true, there is a forest in China that is made of stones rather than trees. It is a spectacular set of limestone groups located in Shilin Yi Autonomous County, Yunnan Province. It is known as the Shilin Stone Forest and believed to be over 270 million years old. Covering an area of three-hundred square kilometers the stone forest is a massive stunning landscape of karst formations. It is said that it has been formed due to geological processes and erosion of water and wind.
Image Credit - Wikipedia
Some of the tallest rocks in the forest reaches a height of 30 meters. The high rocks seem to arise from the ground in a manner somewhat reminiscent of stalagmites, or with many looking like petrified trees, causing the illusion of a forest made of stone. This Stone Forest is home to many karst features that are only present in this area of the world. People from all over the world come to see this unique forest. However, it is not that this forest is only full of stone rocks, but it also contains some small trees and plants. But the existence of these small plants is nothing in front of the larger and pointed stone rocks, which have emerged from different parts of this forest.
Image Credit - Pixabay
There are some amazing features in the Shilin National Scenic Area which are divided into seven spectacular areas such as Naigu Stone Forest, Lake Chang, Dadieshui Waterfall, Zhiyun Cave, Lake Yue, Greater & Lesser Stone Forests (also known as the Lizijing Stone Forest) and Qifeng Cave. Two parts of the site, the Naigu Stone Forest and Suogeyi Village, have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites as part of the South China Karst since June 2007.
Image Credit - Pixabay
The Chinese Stone Forest also retains important cultural significance. According to legend, the forest is the birthplace of Ashima, a beautiful, clever and warm-hearted girl of the Yi people. It is believed that she was forced to marry a man she did not love. She was forbidden to marry her chosen lover and instead turned into a stone in the forest that still bears her name. The Yi people celebrate their national festival - the Torch Festival - every lunar year on June 24. They take part in traditional performances such as folk dances, wrestling competitions, and pole-climbing. This wonderful site is classified as a AAAAA-class (5A) tourist site, which is a standardized quality rating system and the highest level of honor of the tourism scenic spots in China.
Image Credit - Pixabay
Some of the tallest rocks in the forest reaches a height of 30 meters. The high rocks seem to arise from the ground in a manner somewhat reminiscent of stalagmites, or with many looking like petrified trees, causing the illusion of a forest made of stone. This Stone Forest is home to many karst features that are only present in this area of the world. People from all over the world come to see this unique forest. However, it is not that this forest is only full of stone rocks, but it also contains some small trees and plants. But the existence of these small plants is nothing in front of the larger and pointed stone rocks, which have emerged from different parts of this forest.
There are some amazing features in the Shilin National Scenic Area which are divided into seven spectacular areas such as Naigu Stone Forest, Lake Chang, Dadieshui Waterfall, Zhiyun Cave, Lake Yue, Greater & Lesser Stone Forests (also known as the Lizijing Stone Forest) and Qifeng Cave. Two parts of the site, the Naigu Stone Forest and Suogeyi Village, have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites as part of the South China Karst since June 2007.
The Chinese Stone Forest also retains important cultural significance. According to legend, the forest is the birthplace of Ashima, a beautiful, clever and warm-hearted girl of the Yi people. It is believed that she was forced to marry a man she did not love. She was forbidden to marry her chosen lover and instead turned into a stone in the forest that still bears her name. The Yi people celebrate their national festival - the Torch Festival - every lunar year on June 24. They take part in traditional performances such as folk dances, wrestling competitions, and pole-climbing. This wonderful site is classified as a AAAAA-class (5A) tourist site, which is a standardized quality rating system and the highest level of honor of the tourism scenic spots in China.
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