We started from our hotel at around 09:00 am, taking a taxi to Kunming Eastern Bus Station (昆明东部汽车客运站), then you can see the big sign at the entrance "Stone Forest Express Bus Ticket Hall". Make sure to buy the ticket to the new Stone Forest Bus Terminal (which is only 300m away to the Stone forest ticket entrance). Normally you need to wait for around 10 - 30 minutes to catch the bus.
The bus ticket is RMB34/person. Travel time from Kunming to Stone Forest is about 1 and half hour (depend on traffic).
Stone Forest
Known since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 A.D.) as the 'First Wonder of the World. An old local saying says that 'If you have visited Kunming without seeing the Stone Forest, you have wasted your time.' Truly, the site is one of the most important attractions of Yunnan.
Major Stone Forest, Minor Stone Forest and Naigu Stone Forest, all of which feature stones in various formations. 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.
In the heart of the Stone Forest, there is a very special stone called the Ashima stone. Legend has it that this stone was once a beautiful woman named Ashima, which literally translates as “more precious than gold”.
Many beautiful legends originate in this magical place, passed along by the native people known as Sani, a branch of the Yi ethnic group. Yi people were one of 56 of the nationalities in China. One particular story about the faithful love of Ashima, a beautiful, clever and warm-hearted Sani girl, is the most popular and has been told for thousands of years. The Sani people celebrate their national festival - the Torch Festival - every lunar year on June 24.
Ashima, Folktale from the Yi people of Yunnan
Once upon a time, a girl was born in a poor Yi family. The parents hoped the girl would be as beautiful as flowers and as shiny as gold. They named her Ashima.
When Ashima grew up, she was very beautiful. Many young Chinese men were attracted by her singing and dancing. But Ashima was in love with Ahei, who was a brave and wise young man. They were engaged to each other at one of the torch festivals for Yi people.
One day, when Ashima was on the market, she met the son (Azhi) of the village leader. Azhi thought Ashima was very pretty. He wanted Ashima to marry him instead of Ahei. Azhi was very rich, and Ahei was very poor. Still, Ashima loved only Ahei and wanted to marry him.
When the fall came, Ahei had to leave the village to work in the field. When he was gone, Azhi kidnapped Ashima and forced her to marry him. Ashima cried and insisted she loved only Ahei. This made Azhi very angry. He whipped Ashima until her whole body hurt. Still, Ashima believed Ahei would come to rescue her.
When Ahei heard about Ashima’s kidnapping, he rode his horse home without delay. When he got to Azhi’s door, Azhi would not let him in to see Ashima. Then, Azhi proposed a song contest with Ahei. The contest lasted for three days and three nights. Ahei won the contest, and Azhi had to open the door for him.
After the contest, Azhi asked Ahei to stay overnight in his house. He promised to let Ahei leave the next morning and take Ashima with him. However, it was a trick. During the night, Azhi unleashed three tigers to kill Ahei. But Ahei was ready for the attack, and killed the three tigers with three arrows. The next morning, when Azhi found all the dead tigers, he allowed Ashima and Ahei to leave together.
But Azhi did not give up. He wanted to kill Ashima since he could not keep her. When Ashima and Ahei were playing by a river, Azhi used his power to flood the river. Ashima was drowned. Ahei could not find her. He kept calling Ashima’s name, but he heard only his echo.
Ashima was turned into the river stones. Later, whenever Ahei missed Ashima, he would face the stones and call out Ashima’s name and talk to her. He always heard the echo of a response. In this way, Ahei lived with his beloved Ashima forever.
