Xingwen Stone Forest (Xingwen Global Geopark)
兴文石海
The core area of a world geopark, where the Xiaoyanwan Great Sinkhole, Tianquan Cave, and the surface stone forest together form a complete karst trio.
Xingwen Stone Forest (Xingwen Global Geopark) lies in Shihai Town, Xingwen County, Yibin. It is the core scenic area of the Xingwen Global Geopark, which became a world geopark in 2005, and is known for its trio of stone sea, giant sinkholes, and caves. The Xiaoyanwan Great Sinkhole is about 650 meters long, 490 meters wide, and 208 meters deep, making it one of the largest sinkholes in the world. You can take a sightseeing elevator and walkways down to the bottom. Tianquan Cave is a large multi-level cave with underground rivers, stalactites, and stalagmites, and parts of it are toured by boat. On the surface, the strangely shaped stone forest, or “stone sea,” can be viewed from observation decks above the peaks. The area was also home to the ancient Bo people, and nearby are Bo hanging-coffin remains and Bowang Mountain. Admission starts at about CNY 80, plus a transport package covering the sightseeing bus, sinkhole elevator, and cave boat, which costs about CNY 35 to 50. Check the official notices for current prices. Allow 4 to 5 hours for your visit. It is about 2 hours by car from Yibin city, and Xingwen station has high-speed rail service. The county seat is about 30 minutes from the scenic area. Note that the caves are damp and only around 10-odd degrees Celsius, so bring a light jacket even in summer. The sinkhole path has many steps, so pace yourself.
Opening hours
About 08:30–17:30
Nearby sights
- Bowang Mountain
- Shunan Bamboo Sea
- Bo People Hanging Coffins, Matangba
- Xijiashan Traditional Residence
- Former Site of the Society for Research in Chinese Architecture
- Lizhuang Ancient Town
- Yibin Museum
- Hejiangmen & Three Rivers Confluence