Shilin
Discover Shilin
Shilin (石林, Shílín) karst region, the "Stone Forest", is a national park in Kunming Prefecture, Yunnan province in southern China. The huge pillars of stone, formed by erosion, look like something out of a fantasy film. The park is large, too big to see all of it in one day. It has several different areas and many interesting nooks and crannies, and you can easily lose yourself on the winding paths between the huge rocks. The park is one of Kunming's main attractions and has been listed as a UNESCO world heritage site since 2007. It makes a good weekend or day trip from Kunming—visit early to avoid crowds.
Taste of Shilin...
Inside the park are stands selling some food and drinks, especially fruit. Try the cucumber, which is cheap (¥5 in 2019) and refreshing. The park, including the Major Stone Forest, is scattered with stone tables here and there for a picnic. Bring water. Two liters per person should probably do it, though if you don't bring enough, you can buy more at the stands outside the Major Stone Forest. Lodging is available outside the park, and the Stone Forest is also doable as a day trip from Kunming. Very good Youth Hostel (¥160 for doubles) or can get room at the Summer Hotel inside the nature reserve for around ¥200 for good a/c double room. The last bus from the scenic area bus station leaves at around 18:00 for Kunming East Bus Station. Tickets back to Kunming East are ¥34. To get back to central Kunming from Kunming East Bus Station, take local bus K9 (¥2), the metro (¥3–4) or entertain yourself with negotiating a cheekily expensive fare with the taxi drivers at the stand.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsFrom Kunming you can take the bus from Kunming East bus station for ¥34 (2019) to the scenic area bus station (this will take around an hour and a half) or ¥35 to Shilin town. There are also around 8 minibuses per day from Kunming Changshui airport to the scenic area bus station, costing ¥45 and taking about an hour and a half. They leave from the Airport Long-Distance Passenger Bus Station (昆明长水机场长途汽车客运站)—walk out of the terminal and turn right. The 24.838611103.3319441 scenic area bus station is a short walk from the ticket office. This is not the same as Shilin Bus Station (石林客运站), which is some distance away. Local trains from Kunming station to Shilin cost ¥15-20 and take about 2 hours. High-speed D-class trains from Kunming South (subway line 1) to Shilin West: ¥18, 22 minutes, several per day mostly leaving in the morning or early afternoon and returning in the afternoon/evening....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
For the most part, walk. Parts of the park are very open, so it's easy to see where you're going, but in the Major Stone Forest (大石林) you can follow winding paths, mostly paved with steps, through a dense area of stone pillars. In this area it's surprisingly easy to lose the crowds and come across all kinds of interesting and beautiful stones. You may get a little lost, but don't worry—just keep wandering until you hear the sound of people. Unlike the golf buggy from the ticket office, the golf buggies within the park are free, but you may have a hard time figuring out where they'll take you. It's possible to visit the stone forest with a tour group, but this will restrict your movement somewhat, meaning that you'll miss the interesting views from areas that are too small for a big group.
Where to Stay
Lodging is available outside the park, and the Stone Forest is also doable as a day trip from Kunming. Very good Youth Hostel (¥160 for doubles) or can get room at the Summer Hotel inside the nature reserve for around ¥200 for good a/c double room. The last bus from the scenic area bus station leaves at around 18:00 for Kunming East Bus Station. Tickets back to Kunming East are ¥34. To get back to central Kunming from Kunming East Bus Station, take local bus K9 (¥2), the metro (¥3–4) or entertain yourself with negotiating a cheekily expensive fare with the taxi drivers at the stand.
Money & Budget
Lots of hats are for sale at inflated prices outside and inside the park to protect you from the sun. You should buy a hat if you didn't bring one—the altitude means that the sun is strong here. You can also find handicraft-style souvenirs, apparently in the style of the region's minority ethnic groups. It is not possible to change currency at the sole local bank and their ATM often does not work. Inside the park are stands selling some food and drinks, especially fruit. Try the cucumber, which is cheap (¥5 in 2019) and refreshing. The park, including the Major Stone Forest, is scattered with stone tables here and there for a picnic. Bring water. Two liters per person should probably do it, though if you don't bring enough, you can buy more at the stands outside the Major Stone Forest.
Safety Information
Glimpses of Shilin
A statue of buddha in black and white.
red petaled flowers
Chinese garden in Taipei Shuangxi river Fuzhi park
red petaled flower
A board game set up in a dark room
selective focus photography of red tulip flower
A tall tower with a clock on top of it
brown wooden chairs inside church
a field full of orange and purple flowers
black and brown fish on white textile
A statue of buddha in black and white.
red petaled flowers
Chinese garden in Taipei Shuangxi river Fuzhi park