Stone Forest is situated inside the state-class scenic area known as the 'home of Ashma' within the territory of the Lunan Yi Autonomous County southeast of Kunming.
About 86 kilometers away from Kunming City, barely a two-hour driving-distance, it is known as the 'First Wonder of the World' for its natural landscape.
'It is a waste of time without being in the Stone Forest while visting Kunming' is a local saying to express the deep love of the local people toward this world wonder. The quintessential karst landscape makes every tourist lost in wonder.
The scenic area is made of seven scenic spots. They are Greater Stone Forest, Lesser Stone Forest, Naigu Stone Forest, Da Die Shui, Long Lake, Moon Lake, Zhiyun Cave and Strange Wind Cave. The county's stone forests cover a total area of 400 square kilometers. The giant stalagmite clusters are like vast forests. Some constitute independent scenic spots; some are linked together, measuring several hectares or even dozens of hectares. The most typical is what is known as the Greater Stone Forest. It is noted as the 'No. l wonder of the world' for columns of grotesque stone shooting up into the sky, layer upon laver and in thousands of postures that are the creation of nature.
The scenery of 'Figure of Ashima', 'Shi Ba Xiang Song' (originnted from Chinese love story 'Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai') and 'Lotus peak' make people greatly admired; the spots of 'One Piece of Thread Sky', 'Close Call', 'Sword Peak Pond' are astonishing. Moreover, the colorful ethnic cultures and folkways in the Stone Forest and the ravishing legends of 'Ashima', the 'Torchlight Festival' of the Sani people on June 24 each year, and the warm and zestful Yi nationality dance ' Axi Dance Under Moonlight ' increase your enthusiasm in knowing more about the area.