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2026.04.13 15:27 GMT+8

Yunnan Shilin: Exploring China's stone wonderland

Updated 2026.04.13 15:27 GMT+8
CGTN

Panoramic aerial view of the Stone Forest in Shilin Yi Autonomous County, Yunnan Province, taken on April 10, 2022. /Xinhua

Aerial perspective of the Stone Forest in Shilin Yi Autonomous County, Yunnan Province, showcasing its unique karst landscape on April 9, 2022. /Xinhua

Majestic limestone formations of the Stone Forest in Shilin Yi Autonomous County, Yunnan Province, seen from above on April 10, 2022. /Xinhua

The Stone Forest in Shilin Yi Autonomous County, Yunnan Province, stretches across the landscape in this aerial shot taken on April 10, 2022. /Xinhua

Aerial view captures the Stone Forest in Shilin Yi Autonomous County, Yunnan Province on April 10, 2022. /Xinhua

In the heart of southwest China lies Yunnan Shilin, a dramatic landscape sculpted over 270 million years. Towering limestone pillars twist and spiral into fantastical shapes, some resembling human figures, animals, and abstract forms, forming a surreal “forest” of stone.

Part of the South China Karst and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the area is often called the "Karst Museum" for its extraordinary variety of rock formations. The region is also home to the Yi people, whose ancient rock paintings and inscriptions tell stories etched in stone across the centuries.

From every angle, the Stone Forest reveals a maze of peaks and shadows that feels almost mystical—nature and history frozen in time.

As the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges unfolds, CGTN Africa invites you to experience China's natural wonders and cultural heritage.

 

WATCH Live: #ChinaNow — Discover the Stone Forest from above

X: https://x.com/cgtnafrica/status/2043586579533320537?s=20

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1GGtA32AAQ/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDWm5nGLVVU  

Wang Xi of CMG Yunnan Bureau also contributed to the show.

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