Kunming Stone Forest, in the east plateau of Yuannan Province is located in Yi nationality autonomous county, which is 70 kilometers away from Kunming city. It is like spring all the year round with no freezing winter or hot summer. It is a comprehensive tourist area which integrates natural landscape, ethic customs, relaxation for holidays and scientific expedition into one together. Stone Forest has the world’s most unique Karst phenomena, which is famous for “magnificence, rarity, danger, grace, deepness, profundity and wideness”, therefore it enjoys great popularity in the field of geology.
The Stone Forest in Kunming came into being 270million years ago. After a long period of geological evolution and transitions, it became today’s precious geological heritage, which concludes many styles of Karst landform as if the stone forests spread all over the world came together here. The stone teeth, peak cluster, karst caves, waterfalls and buried water are all well-spaced. The
Stone Forest in Kunming is typical plateau Karst ecosystem and the richest solid picture of the overall view.
When yon enter into the Stone Forest, you will feel like stepping into cosmic tunnel and fully experience the masterpiece of nature. As if walking around the maze under the sea, you can see the all kinds of stone forests: some are like hordes of troops and horses; some are like ancient castles; some are like birds and animals as well as everything on the earth, which are all really true to life.
The charm of Stone Forest not only lies the natural landscape, but also lies in the unique customs of the original Sani inhabitants. The most influencing are “one poem”, “one film”, “one song” and “one festival”. The old narrative poem Asthma which is recorded in words of Yi nationality has been translated into more than 20 languages and published in and out of China. The first colorful solid film Asthma is well known overseas. Every year on June 24 in the lunar calendar, Sani people of Yi nationality will celebrate their traditional Torch Festival. During the daytime, people hold activities like wrestling, jungle gym and bullfight while at night they hole campfire party, performing dragon and lion dance as well as ethic songs and dances. Asai dancing under the moon and dancing on three strings are the most popular traditional performances. Thousands of travelers revel in the pleasure all through the night. The combination of the magical natural landscape and beautiful human landscape adds brilliance to Stone Forest’s present splendor.
Stone Forest Attractions
Stone Forest Story
1. Legend of Asthma
There was girl of Yi nationality named Asthma in A Zhedi of Yunnan province. She was pretty and clever. She felt in love with young man A Hei, but the son of clan elder, A Zhi was avid for the beauty of Asthma and had malicious ideas towards her. Once at a traditional ball, A Zhi teased Asthma and was seriously chided. However, A Zhi did not give up his evil design and wanted to force marriage. This time he was refused firmly, so as A Hei went afar to graze, A Zhi hijacked Asthma. In order to escape, Asthma threw the camellia which represents the love between A Hei and her into the water, and immediately the water began to flow back forward. A Hei heard the news and came back to rescue but was blocked by mountains. He then used his magical arrows to shoot through the mountains and proceeded fast on a horse. A Zhi tried all means to threaten Asthma, but she never compromised. A Zhi turned angry from embarrassment and wanted to thrash Asthma. At this moment, A Hei came to her rescue, but A Zhi suggested to competing singing song with A Hei and decided who could win Asthma. A Zhi lost but he intended to injure A Hei with a secret arrow. To be angry, A Hei shot the door of the village and pillars in the hall. The arrow landed on the memorial tablet of saido. A Zhi ordered his servants to pull off the arrow, but the arrow did not turn a hair. A Zhi submitted because of fear and released Asthma. A Hei and Asthma rode a horse to go back home. When they had a rest alongside the creek, A Zhi stole the arrows of A Hei and drew off the flood to drawn Asthma. A Hei called her Asthma’s name furiously, but she had turned into a magnificent stone and remained there forever.
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