Kunming
Stone Forest tickets: price, hours and how to get there
A UNESCO-listed field of limestone pillars about 78 km southeast of Kunming, in the homeland of the Sani, a branch of the Yi people. It suits anyone with a free day, and it works best at opening time, before tour groups fill the main paths.
- Entry
- US$19 ¥130
- Extras
- Battery car (outer/inner loop) US$3.5 (¥25)
- Opening hours
- Mar–Oct 07:30–18:30; Nov–Feb 08:00–18:00
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- How to book
- Real-name tickets on Ctrip/Meituan or the scenic area's WeChat channel, or at the window with passport
- Children
- Free under 1.2 m; half price (65) ages 6–18
- Seniors
- Half price (65) ages 60–69; free 70+
- Other discounts
- Full-time students (undergraduate and below) half price with ID; free for active military, disabled veterans and people with disabilities
Same price all year. Ticket covers Major & Minor Stone Forest, Bushao Hill, Liziyuan Gully, Wannian Lingzhi and the Karst Geology Museum. Ticket + battery car bundle is 155.
Prices checked October 2026. You pay in yuan at the gate.
How to get there
- Direct tourist bus from Kunming East Bus Station (昆明东部客运站), about 1.5 hours. The scenic area lists departures from 07:20 to 16:30 and return buses until 18:00. Metro Line 3 runs to East Bus Station.
- Bullet train from Kunming South Station to Shilin West (石林西站), a little over 20 minutes, then bus 99 to the scenic area, about 40 to 50 minutes. Check that your train stops at Shilin West.
- By car, about 1.5 hours on the Kunming-Shilin expressway. Set your map to 石林风景区停车场. The visitor center is about 1 km from the entrance.
Before you go
- Which gate depends on your ticket. A bundle with the battery car uses checkpoints 1 and 2. A gate ticket alone uses checkpoint 3, and you walk in.
- Walk the Major Stone Forest first, about 1.5 to 2 hours, then the Minor Stone Forest, which is more open and holds the Ashima rock.
- Online tickets are sold through the 石林旅游 mini program on WeChat or Alipay. The scenic area says foreign guests claiming a reduction must go to an on-site ticket point with their documents.
- Naigu Stone Forest, about 8 km north, needs its own ticket and a taxi. It is much quieter, so add it if you still have energy.
Who should skip it
Skip it on Chinese public holidays, when the paths are packed.
Going to several of these?
Tell us which sights and when. We’ll tell you what needs booking ahead and what’s worth skipping, and book the tickets that need a Chinese app.