Monday 15th September - day 25 Kunming
 

We make our way to the bus station for the bus to the stone forest but wait over an hour for it to eventually fill up and set off. We arrive afternoon and it’s a little walk to the ticket office from the bus depot. Once there its 175rmb for the ticket and a further 25rmb for the electric car they insist you need as its 3ks to the entrance. We cough up and take the car to the entrance– on the drive daown we can see forests sprawling in the distance spotted with the characteristic limestone pillars. The bizarre formations - some as tall as 100ft have been given imaginative names such a 'rhinoceros gazing at the moon' and 'the golden pig'..which resemble nothing of the sort. It is also said the stones look like petrified trees – hence the name ‘the stone forest’. Weathering by wind and rain has enhanced the pillars into the weird, twisted shapes of today. The park is split into the central area where the pillars are dotted along pruned lawns, tropical trees and tranquil pools There are 3 forested areas, to the south - wannian lingzhi, east - liziyuanqing, and north - bushaoshan. Here the forest areas are dense with trees, and more jagged –giving off an eerie, spooky feel, 'the gate to hell', 'castle in afterglow' are some of the formation names here.
We start in central part making our way along the winding paths through the rocks and climb up to the central peak pavilion which gives a great panoramic view of the forest. Next we head to jianfeng chi (swords pool) which is an ornamental green pool ringed by jagged ridges.

We pass through the particularly impressive shi lin where the pillars appear more wavy indicating this part of the forest was previously underwater. Once we have made it through the centre we walk to the north area (bushaoshan)of the park and explore this, much quieter area, passing through the 'five gates of sentry hill' which is filled with tiny paths through cracks in the pillars and narrow archways. we finish in the lesser stone forest after a good few hours in the park and head to the exit. we take the same bus back to Kunming, mirroring the journey here. When we arrive back we eat in a place called mama fus, just a few minutes walk from the hostel and its one of the best meals we’ve had.