The Stone Forest in Yunnan, China is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The stone formations were created as the limestone eroded.
The Stone Forest (South China Karst) area was a shallow sea some 270 million years ago (the Permian period) when the sandstone and limestone deposits were formed. The entire Shilin National Scenic Area (昆明市石林风景区) covers an area of 400 square km.
As with many tourist attractions in China many areas were packed with tourists. A 10 minute walk was enough to find much less populated areas. This is often the case in USA National Parks also – walk a bit on trails and you escape many of the hordes of tourists found at scenic overlooks.
The area of the forest I visited is known by several names the: Greater Stone Forest or Lizijing Stone Forest.
My guide is on the left of the photo.
The paths among the stone karsts were paved and in several places stairs wound between stone pillars.
The Stone Forest is approximately 90 km from Kunming, the provincial capital of Yunnan.
Related: Floating Down River in Yangshuo, China on a Bamboo Raft – Beautiful View of Limestone Karsts in Yangshuo, China – How to Frame Photos of People Well (photo of Bryce Canyon, USA) – Borobudur in Java, Indonesia
Thanks for the information, The landscapes and natural sites of China were amazing!