The Stone Forest, also known as Shilin, is a natural wonder and tourist attraction located in the Yunnan Province of southwestern China. It is renowned for its unique limestone formations, which have been eroded over millions of years into towering stone pillars, pinnacles, and other unusual shapes, creating a landscape that resembles a dense forest made of stone.
It was formed by the dissolution of soluble limestone over time, followed by erosion and other geological processes. Rainwater, underground rivers, and the chemical weathering of the limestone contributed to the creation of these distinctive formations.
The Ashima Stone, a prominent rock formation in the Stone Forest, is named after a famous figure in the local Sani people's folklore. According to legend, Ashima was a beautiful Sani girl who was turned into stone to save her from an unwanted marriage.