 | The Stone Forest
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. |
 | The Grand View Tower
It is located at the terminus of Daguan Road and is 6 km from the city center, near Dianchi Lake and facing Taihua Mountain which is on the other side of Dianchi Lake. Completed in 1690 during the Qing Dynasty, the park consists of hills, ponds, pavilions and rockeries in a style similar to that of the gardens of the Yangtze River Delta. |
 | The Dragon Gate on West Hill
The natural forest park in Kunming. The carvings on the cliff were made in 1751. Western Hills boasts an excellent environment with flourishing flowers and dense forest, providing tourists an excellent environment to enjoy the tranquility and marvelous scenery. No wonder that the place has gained a reputation as 'having the most pleasant environment in the world'.
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