Stone Forest
Shilin County, Kunming
A forest of 270-million-year-old limestone pillars - one of China's first UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The Stone Forest is exactly what it sounds like: thousands of jagged karst pillars rising from the earth like a petrified forest. It has inspired Chinese poetry and mythology for centuries, and the Sani people still hold festivals here.
It is 90 minutes from Kunming by train. Go early, skip the main path crowds by following the quieter loops, and take the small electric bus back up.
Best for: One of China's most surreal landscapes, an easy day trip from Kunming.
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