Stone Forest, Where Life Begins
79Before the life begin, everything so empty. What can we see here? Only stones everywhere. Sorry this is just a short poem from me. But from this hub, I’ll take you in a beauty tour of stone forest. Wow…what kind of forest is it? This isn’t a usual forest. If before we can see the wood, leaves, fruit, grass in the forest. But in the stone forest we can see the beauty of the biggest stone formations, like a skyscraper. Nature gave us the beauty and I believe the earth looks so colorful by the existence of this forest. I can’t imagine, before the life begin and the world only filled with the stone. I’ll introduce about amazing stone forest. Curious…..please, continue to read.
Shilin Stone Forest
Shilin Stone Forest is one of China's greatest attractions. This forest presents breathtaking scenery. It is located in Shilin County or about 85 kilometres southeast of Kunming and requires only a three-hour drive. The exactly place is in the Lunan Autonomous Country of Yi Nationality, in the Yunan province. Shilin Stone Forest is known as one of earth's natural wonders, since the Ming Dynasty (about 1368-1644 AD). This natural wonder is well known by many to be the most fantastic place in China. Another beautiful attraction is Shilin Lake which is filled with underwater stalactites. Wow….this was amazing phenomenon created perfectly by the nature.
This place covers an area about 400 square kilometers (96,000 acres). From this place we can see a bunch of huge limestone pillars. With various figures, like: animals, pagodas, beasts, flowers, ancient fortresses, and even human figures. Each has own characteristic, whatever else one can imagine. All these beauty are inside the Greater Stone Forest. Other main attractions are "The Stone Singing Praises of Plums" and "The Cluster of Pinnacles Propping up the Sky" between large lawns and mountain flowers in spring and autumn. We can see all these beauty inside Lesser Stone Forest. Enough….don’t worry, we can find the Lion Hill in outer Stone Forest like a squatting male lion on a height. The attraction is near the “Lion Pool”. This pool called like this because this pool has a huge boulder in the shape of a squatting lion.
The geologist said that Shilin stone forest was formed 270 million years ago, during the carboniferous period of the Paleozoic era. The local says that nature creates a labyrinth that smashed from a mountain and there’s a legend in behind the formation of this forest. Even they guarantee if we have visited Kunming without seeing the Stone Forest, we have wasted our time. The legend began from a beautiful girl namely Ashima (even a clever and warm-hearted Sani girl). She tried to run away from the kidnapping of the son of an evil landlord. He chased until the Stone Forest, where a flood drowns Ashima. And now, she transforms into the famous Ashima Stone. We can see this stone as the main attractions in stone forest.
Ashima Rock
Walking through the Stone Forest, visitors will shown by the natural stone masterpieces and they are bewitched by the intricate formations. The magnificent scenery and strange landscape creates countless labyrinthine. Just information, the Chinese Government opened this stone forest in the 1950s as tourist attraction. It works!.... and now Shilin Stone Forest attract people from all over the world.
Lena’s stone forest
We can also call this as Lena’s pillars. This forest is located about 60 km upriver from Yakutsk, in Russia. It’s is a natural rock formation resembling towers or dry trees over 150 meters in height and stretches along the river about 80km. Lena’s Pillars have attracted tourist since the 17th century. I heard that getting there is not easy. The trip will start from Moscow city, where it will take about four day journey to the Siberian area of Yakutsk. The flight cost about $800. The journey will continue with the boat. It took only a half a day trip upriver. There’s another option, the locals offer a 3 day trip on a small boat for about $500. Finally after four day of trip, we will have arrived at Lena’s stone forest. All efforts can be paid after we can see the beauty of Lena's pillars in person.
Lena’s stone forest contains evidence of a remarkable population of the early history of life on earth, because of a number of fossils of ancient organisms are found here. All the evidence is preserved in a unique way by nature. We can learn the history of and diversity of organic biodiversity, which occurs in the lower Cambrian. At the same place, it was discovered many mega-fauna fossils. Such as: Bison (Bison Priscus Boj), Lena Horse (Eggus Lenensis Russ), Mammoth (Mammulhus Primigenius Blum), Reindeer (Rangifer Tarandus L), and Fleecy Rhinoceros (Coelodonta Antiguibatis Blum). All the evidence of human life can be seen at the manuscripts and the rock paintings from the area. That’s why Lena’s Pillar was recorded as a World Heritage site in 2006.
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Prasetio, Thank you for another beautiful tour. If I never make it to all the wonderful places that you write about I am thankful to have read your hubs. Hopefully some day I will be able to see all these places. Hope that you are having a nice weekend.
Oh my, what amazing wonders in our world! I haven't known of either place you have shared. It must be a beautiful experience to visit these places of natural wonder and beauty. I especially liked seeing the young woman singing on the first video, very enchanting! I always look forward to reading your hubs. You take us around the world! Thank you.
The Stone Forest looks like an incredible place to visit! I'm amazed at the size of the stone pillars and intrigued by the manicured look of the area around them. It must be quite an experience to walk among these pillars!
Hi Prasetio,
Wow, that place is weird. Thank you for sharing. I've never heard of a stone forest before. We don't get a whole lot of information from that part of the world. Great pictures!!
A powerful text accompanied by beautiful images. I will vote above and certainly beautiful. God bless you and your gift of writing!
You have put together another great hub. This loos like a fascinating plce to visit.
Thank you for sharing
Wow another incredible hub and unbelievable pictures too.
Hi, pras, what an amazing natural phenomena, looking at these it makes me feel as though I have stepped back in time thousands of years, fascinating, thanks! rated up! cheers nell
Your fine hubs allow me to travel all over the world without leaving my home. Up and awesome.
Another astounding one, Prasetio. I have heard about these, but I have never seen the stone forests. They are amazing! Can always learn a lot from you and travel to far-off places! Voted up.
With your sentiments on the Stone Forest brother pras. What a magnificent natural wonder! same for Lena's. Had no idea these places existed. Thank you a hundred times for bringing this to HP pras. Thumbs up, awesome, beaut, and interest, yes!
You have again brought me to places I never knew existed, to beauty I never dreamed of, and to the mysteries that surround us. Thank you so much. This is gorgeous. I would never get to see any of these places were it not for you. God surely made a beautiful world so full of variation as to be infinite in its array.
These forests made of stone are amazing, pras. Thank you for finding so many wonders of the world to share with your readers. You and your research provide us with so many interesting places to visit and photos as well. National Geographic cannot rest on their laurels - you are gaining on them, my friend. :)
This is really amazing Prasetio..The rock formations are beautiful, esp. Ashima's rock.I love the stories too..Thank you for another great scenic adventure..
Very impressive photos and an interesting hub, Prasetio. I enjoy exploring the world by reading your hubs!
Your hubs always present amazing pictures and stories that bring me traveling in imagination as if I were there. This is another awesome one and deserves voting up.
Amazing as always prasetio,what a great hub,and another for me to vote up and bookmark.
Take care and enjoy your day my friend.
Eddy.
These are really wonderful places and they indeed have beautiful rock formations. I would love to visit them someday.
Amazing place. Thanks for the photos and videos.
Brilliant.
You are my tour guide Pras! These magnificent stones are majestic and so beautiful. How I would love to go and visit. When I am in a place such as this, I am close to my spirit and my heart sings out loud. I have voted up and across except for funny.
Hi prasetio, I agree with vocalcoach you are the best tour guide, you've taken me to visit places I have never heard of or seen! This was a fascinating read and amazing pictures, thank you and voted up
Incredible stone forest. I would have never known. Beautiful hub. Thanks for sharing! Have a perfect day! God Bless!
Prasetio, you create some of the most interesting articles I have ever read. I find it amazing that you can find all these places and write such detailed articles. Great pics, great job! Voted up, awesome, useful, and interesting.
This is amazing.. wow and beautiful.. I never knew this. I would love to go see it for my self. but you brought the beauty to us. Thank you so much
love this hub
voted way up
Debbie
So beautiful, and so artistic, and wonderful God Bless You.
What amazing rock formations!!!!! Brilliant photographs.
This a very interesting hub. Thank you.
Prasetio, WOW! This is another amazing natural wonder you have shared with us! Fabulous breath taking photos! Nice informative and inspiring hub! Thank You! Peace & Blessings! God Bless You!
Fascinating story!! Thank you so much!!
Shillin, Kunming - 



































CMHypno Level 6 Commenter 4 months ago
Looks like these stone forests are amazing places to visit prasetio. It's great that our planet has so many different types of scenery and habitats to explore.