Kunming
Kunming Stone Forest
About an hour east of Kunming, the Stone Forest (Shilin) is a 350-square-kilometer maze of grey limestone pinnacles that rise out of the ground like petrified trees. The rock began as a seabed some 270 million years ago; rain and groundwater then dissolved the softer stone and left these blades and towers standing. It is the most famous karst landscape in China and part of the UNESCO South China Karst World Heritage Site.
Limestone pinnacles of the Stone Forest under a blue sky
What you see here
The ticketed core is the Greater and Lesser Stone Forest, where paved paths weave between pillars up to 30 meters tall, through slot canyons and past a small lake reflecting the rock. The site belongs to the Sani branch of the Yi people, and you will hear the legend of Ashima, a Sani girl said to have turned to stone here; a pillar near the lake is named after her.
Tickets and hours
Adult entry costs noticeably more than the discounted rate for seniors (60 and over) and visitors under 18, and a shuttle buggy around the large site is a small add-on fare on top; check current rates when you book, as of 2026 both tend to shift by season. The park opens roughly 07:30 to 18:00 from March to October and a little later, closing earlier, in winter. Plan on three to four hours to walk the main loop.
Getting there, and a common mistake
Two different train stations serve Shilin, and mixing them up costs travelers real time. The high-speed line from Kunming South Railway Station reaches Shilin West Station in well under an hour, but that station sits a good distance from the park itself, so budget another 30 to 60 minutes for a connecting bus or taxi. The older, slower regional train from central Kunming Railway Station instead arrives at plain Shilin Station, which is only a few kilometers from the entrance, walkable or a short taxi ride away. If your priority is door-to-door speed rather than train speed, the slower train can actually get you into the park sooner. Drivers and day tours take a comparable hour or so by expressway either way. Go early: tour groups arrive mid-morning, and the maze feels very different when you have a quiet path to yourself.
Stone Forest rock formations with green pines
Kunming Stone Forest day trip
Round-trip transport included, skip the station mix-up,compact
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Make a day of it
Pair the Stone Forest with the nearby Naigu Stone Forest, a quieter black-limestone section, or simply head back to Kunming for an evening of Yunnan food. It is the classic day trip from the city and the single sight most visitors remember.
Highlights
- UNESCO-listed karst maze of limestone pinnacles up to 30 m tall
- Greater and Lesser Stone Forest with paved trails and a reflecting lake
- Home of the Sani (Yi) people and the legend of Ashima
- 270-million-year-old former seabed sculpted by water
- Easy day trip an hour east of Kunming, but pick the right train station
Travel Tips
Go early
Tour groups arrive mid-morning; the first hours after opening are quietest and best for photos.
Pick the slower train if you want the faster arrival
The high-speed line lands you far from the gate; the older regional train to plain Shilin Station drops you within walking distance instead.
Use the shuttle buggy
The site is large; the buggy costs a small add-on fare and saves your legs for the central maze.
Wear grippy shoes
Stone steps and slot canyons can be slick after rain; closed shoes beat sandals.
