Independent travel guide
Stone Forest Scenic Area
石林风景区Stone Forest Scenic Area
A UNESCO-listed karst landscape of towering limestone pinnacles in Shilin County. The listed Allow 3-5 hours; round-trip from Kunming city needs a full day (about 78 km away) suits a strenuous-paced visit. Start from the named entrance and keep the return connection in view.
Free exterior / paid elements · Checked 2026-08-12
Verified ticket prices
Official pricesOfficial page states CNY 130 admission plus separate electric vehicle transport.
Adult admission
CNY 130 adult admission on the official price page; recheck current validityElectric sightseeing vehicle
CNY 25 per person on the official pageThe full price for the Stonewood Landscape.
130 yuan per personHalf vote (minors/old persons aged 60-70 years/full-time students)
65 yuan per personTourist vehicle (mainline, inner/outlink)
25 yuan per personCar A line (Tourist Centre - Lotus Pool, approximately 4.5 km)
15 yuan per personCar B (return station - Ashma Cultural Tourism City, approximately 2.2 km)
10 yuan per personGuided tours in foreign languages
$200 per trip♪ The scenery dances ♪
Free of charge (10-10:30, 11-11.30 per day)- The venue's official price page is dated 2023-10-11; it is retained as an official reference but not treated as a freshly confirmed 2026 amount.
- Officially priced scenic area. Full ticket ¥130/person (confirmed by the 2025-04-15 official fare table), covering the Great Stone Forest, Small Stone Forest, Bushao Mountain, Liziyuanqing and Wannian Lingzhi, plus the Shilin Karst Geology Museum. Concession ¥65 (ages 7–18, ages 60–70, and full-time undergraduates and below). Sightseeing cart ¥25/person (2026-04 notice confirms unchanged price, route extended to about 6.7 km). From 2026-04-24, cart Line A ¥15 (about 4.5 km) and Line B ¥10 (return stop to Ashima Cultural City, about 2.2 km). Chinese guide ¥160/trip, foreign-language guide ¥200/trip. In-park song-and-dance shows are free (daily 10:00–10:30, 11:00–11:30).
Imported official ticket note
Officially priced scenic area. Full ticket ¥130/person (confirmed by the 2025-04-15 official fare table), covering the Great Stone Forest, Small Stone Forest, Bushao Mountain, Liziyuanqing and Wannian Lingzhi, plus the Shilin Karst Geology Museum. Concession ¥65 (ages 7–18, ages 60–70, and full-time undergraduates and below). Sightseeing cart ¥25/person (2026-04 notice confirms unchanged price, route extended to about 6.7 km). From 2026-04-24, cart Line A ¥15 (about 4.5 km) and Line B ¥10 (return stop to Ashima Cultural City, about 2.2 km). Chinese guide ¥160/trip, foreign-language guide ¥200/trip. In-park song-and-dance shows are free (daily 10:00–10:30, 11:00–11:30).
Research checked 2026-08-12Book ahead
How to book
Stone Forest official website and ticket system
Use the date and lead time shown by the official system; no foreign-passport lead time is published.
Booking steps
- 1
Open the official Stone Forest website and its current ticket guide.
- 2
Select the official ticket product and date only when the page accepts your identity document.
- 3
If the form does not show a passport route, do not substitute another identity number; ask the official staffed service point.
- 4
Save the official order or confirmation and carry the original passport to the entrance.
Original passport; the official online passport workflow is not confirmed.
If the official system cannot complete a passport booking, stop and use only the venue's staffed guidance; do not rely on third-party listings.
Imported official reservation note
A real-name e-ticketing system began at 00:00 on 2025-01-24. Individual visitors buy via the WeChat/Alipay '石林旅游' mini-program or the '石林旅游' WeChat account's 'buy now — individual tickets', or at the on-site ticket windows, filling in visitor and contact info truthfully. The official notice recommends booking online ahead to skip queues. Entry verification uses 2nd-gen ID, e-QR code or facial recognition; 'ticket + sightseeing-car' buyers enter via gates 1–2, while ticket-only visitors walk in via gate 3. Foreign guests and discount-eligible visitors must complete formalities at the offline ticket-service points (visitor centre, scenic parking, Asima tourism-culture city).
Research checked 2026-08-12Allow 3-5 hours; round-trip from Kunming city needs a full day (about 78 km away)
How to visit
Shilin Scenic Area visitor centre (navigate to 'Shilin Scenic Area car park'); by car, leave the Kunshi Expressway at the Shilin Scenic Area toll exit and drive about 1 km to the visitor centre.
Leave Stone Forest Scenic Area from the side closest to the next stop; check the transport note: Confirm the named gate and return transport; remote sites need an early start. Keep the final section easy enough for a calm return.
- 1Stop 1Shilin Scenic Area visitor centre
Buy tickets, board the sightseeing cart, and use small-item storage.
- 2Stop 2Ticket gates 1 and 2
For combined tickets use checkpoint ①/②; with admission only, walk in through checkpoint ③.
- 3Stop 3Big Stone Forest
Core area: Jianfeng Pool, Lotus Peak and Wangfeng Pavilion among dense stone peaks; about 1.5–2.5 hours of walking with many stone steps.
- 4Stop 4Little Stone Forest
The Ashima stone, lawns and flatter terrain; venue for Sani song-and-dance performances.
- 5Stop 5Lion Pool / 'Layered Green Peaks'
Sightseeing-car Line A stop / viewpoints.
- 6Stop 6Wannian Lingzhi, Liziyuanqing, Bushao Mountain
Areas along the sightseeing-cart route that need more walking.
- 7Stop 7Return stop — Ashima Tourism Cultural City
End of cart Line B with shopping and dining; return coaches depart here.
Best time
Enter as early as possible after the weekday opening (the area is large with many stone steps and strong afternoon sun); avoid peak days like holidays and the Torch Festival.
Foreigner notes
WeChat/Alipay QR payment is the main method; cash generally works at window ticket purchases. International-card use on site is unverified.
The official site offers English/French/Japanese versions; foreign-language guides cost ¥200/trip. English signage and audio guides are unverified.
Use the full Chinese name and address for Stone Forest Scenic Area, then check the final walk from the drop-off point to the gate.
Official real-name ticketing is documented, but passport acceptance and phone requirements are not published in the cited official material.
The quiet window listed for Stone Forest Scenic Area can shift with events and weather. Recheck the official notice before committing the route.
Avoid these mistakes
Concession/free-policy visitors may be asked to show a mainland ID, which foreign guests can't produce. Passport holders should contact customer service 0871-67711439 in advance to confirm the process; concession verification must be done on site at the offline ticket-service point.
Continue nearby
Jiuxiang Scenic AreaHalf a day.Dounan Flower Market1–3 hoursGuandu Ancient Town1–2 hoursKunming seasonal itinerary guideKunming itinerary and seasonal travel guide for a 3 days first visit.Kunming food guideIncludes spice, ingredient, allergen and ordering notes for independent travelers.Kunming Travel Guide & MapKunming travel guide and interactive map for independent travelers.
Sources and evidence
Published by China Trip Primer · Read the editorial and verification methodology
Items to reconfirm
- The official site doesn't publish unified opening hours; 07:30–18:00 is an existing lead and an old English page said 17:30—no current official time found. — Before travelling, confirm via the 'Shilin Tourism' mini-program ticket page or customer service 0871-67711278/67711439.
- The real-name notice lists entry via mainland ID, e-QR code or facial recognition but doesn't say whether foreign passports can be entered in the mini-program or used to swipe in; concessions for foreign visitors are processed offline. — Contact customer service 0871-67711439 (weekdays 9:00–17:00) or ticket tech support 13888268368 to confirm passport online purchase and entry.
- The notice requires visitor and contact information but doesn't specify whether foreign phone numbers work. — Ask customer service about the phone-number requirement for mini-program registration and order contacts.
Official
OfficialStone Forest Scenic Area official ticket and visitor informationPublisher · Stone Forest Scenic Area
Used forThe venue publishes its own ticketing system, ticket guidance, and admission information.
Verified 2026-08-02OfficialStone Forest scenic-area ticket detailsPublisher · Stone Forest Scenic AreaUsed forThe official page gives the scenic-area ticket product and admission information; it does not document a foreign-passport online workflow.
Verified 2026-08-02Official石林风景名胜区管理局关于启动实名制票务系统试运行的公告Publisher · Official or venue publisherUsed forOfficial visitor context or venue information; confirm that the page names this venue before relying on it for booking
Verified 2026-08-02Official2025年石林风景名胜区景区票务Publisher · Official or venue publisherUsed forOfficial visitor context or venue information; confirm that the page names this venue before relying on it for booking
Verified 2026-08-02Official关于优化石林风景区观光车线路的公告Publisher · Official or venue publisherUsed forOfficial visitor context or venue information; confirm that the page names this venue before relying on it for booking
Verified 2026-08-02Official《石林景区游客最大承载量》公告Publisher · Official or venue publisherUsed forOfficial visitor context or venue information; confirm that the page names this venue before relying on it for booking
Verified 2026-08-02Official石林外文网(英文页面,含自驾与旅游专线交通信息)Publisher · Official or venue publisherUsed forOfficial visitor context or venue information; confirm that the page names this venue before relying on it for booking
Verified 2026-08-02OfficialOfficial or venue referencePublisher · Official or venue publisherUsed forOfficial visitor context or venue information; confirm that the page names this venue before relying on it for booking
Verified 2026-08-02OfficialShilin Scenic Area Administration notice on piloting the real-name ticketing systemPublisher · Stone Forest Scenic Area AdministrationUsed forUsed to verify the imported ticketing, booking, opening-hours or visitor-guidance fields.
Verified 2026-08-12Official2025 Shilin Scenic Area ticketingPublisher · Stone Forest Scenic AreaUsed forUsed to verify the imported ticketing, booking, opening-hours or visitor-guidance fields.
Verified 2026-08-12OfficialNotice on optimizing Shilin Scenic Area sightseeing-cart routesPublisher · Stone Forest Scenic Electric Vehicle Tour Co., Ltd.Used forUsed to verify the imported ticketing, booking, opening-hours or visitor-guidance fields.
Verified 2026-08-12OfficialShilin Scenic Area sightseeing ticket pricesPublisher · Stone Forest Scenic AreaUsed forUsed to verify the imported ticketing, booking, opening-hours or visitor-guidance fields.
Verified 2026-08-12Official'Maximum visitor capacity of Shilin Scenic Area' noticePublisher · Stone Forest Scenic Area AdministrationUsed forUsed to verify the imported ticketing, booking, opening-hours or visitor-guidance fields.
Verified 2026-08-12OfficialShilin foreign-language site (English page with self-driving and tour-bus transport info)Publisher · Yunnan Stone Forest Scenic Area AdministrationUsed forUsed to verify the imported ticketing, booking, opening-hours or visitor-guidance fields.
Verified 2026-08-12Professional guide
Venue-specific official pages are used where available. City-level official references provide context and are not booking confirmation; editorial and community sources are used only for route choices, pacing and first-hand experience.
石林风景区石林街道