The Stone Forest is about 120 km from Kunming City and requires only a three-hour drive. It covers an area of 400 square kilometers and includes both a large and a small forest as well as many other scenic spots. It has been known since the Ming Dynasty as the First Wonder of the World. 

The magnificent, strange and steep landscape of the Stone Forest creates countless labyrinthine vistas, all of which feature huge stones in various formations. Formations resembling animals, plants, and even human figures can be found here. Some are elegant, some are rugged, and each is lifelike with its own distinguishing characteristics.

Geologists say that the Stone Forest is a typical example of karst topography. Approximately 270 million years ago, during the Carboniferous period of the Paleozoic era, the region was a vast expanse of sea. Over the millions of years of earth movements, the lithosphere gradually caused a retreat of the waters and the rise of the limestone landscapes. Due to constant erosion by the elements, the area finally developed into the present-day Stone Forest.