Yuanmou Earth Forest is a wonderland area of clay formations which developed in the past 1.5 million years. This scenic area is located 210 km northwest of Kunming.Yuanmou Earth Forest is rock, a kind of sand rock mixed with clay. It has yellow color and loose texture. The rocks are seriously weathered thus their surface looks very much like earth. The yellow rocks gleam under the sunlight as if they are built with gold. Larger ones are like castle while smaller ones are like pylon, in various shapes. Really magnificent! The earth forest is widespread in Yuanmou Basin. Different areas have different features due to extent they have been weathered and eroded. The three notable scenic sites are Tiger Leaping Sands, Ban Guo and Xin Hua. Each of them has its own distinguishing feature.
The Tiger Leaping Sands is considered as the most spectacular site of the earth forests in Yuanmou. Seen from beyond, the rocks are like a deserted ancient castle. The forceful tall and straight rock pillar appears to be remains of a shrine. And the range of rock wall seems to be the enclosure wall of the ancient palace. What is the most peculiar is on the top of the 'castle', there is a three-color 'roof' - in red, brown and black. That is because after the rock was permeated by the rain, the ferum and calcium substances coagulated into a impermeable layer; when the other parts was eroded, this layer naturally protruded and became un 'umbrella' of the rocks below. Just because of this umbrella, the 'castle' has been well preserved.
Plunging into this hidden world, you will be bewitched by the spectacular clay formations, which project from the ground abruptly and glisten like yellow crystals. Coming in overwhelming quantities, they vary in shapes, heights and volumes. Seen separately, each is a piece of artwork with indescribable charm.
Viewed as a whole, they form an intricate maze imbued with mysterious air and sublime beauty. From those ingenious minds, they prefer to picture Yuanmou Earth Forest as a dilapidated golden monastery, a desolate gothic church or a giant shrine impaired by fierce bombardments.
When bathed in the sunshine, these clay columns will dash out sparkling rays, which is a rare phenomenon. Hence, locals tend to compare it to China’s clay version of Parthenon. At twilight, these cute columns will define the skyline with gothic silhouettes, which look like ghostly phantoms and the fairyland will be reduced to a hellish territory. Great courage is needed to observe and even walk along them.
To enjoy the zenith of Yuanmou Earth Forest’s beauty, you need to go up high. Take a bird’s-eye view, you will see the meandering Longchuan river, a tributary of Jinsha river (one upstream of Yangtze River), flows by like a silver ribbon, with its west bank embellished with attention-grabbing golden patchworks, among which the Earth Forests of Banguo, Tiger Leaping Shoal, Wanbao, Xiaoleizai and Xinhua, are main quarters. In no exception, they span more than 5km2.
According to shapes and formation process, Yuanmou Earth Forest’s clay formations fall into four categories: Earth Bud Style, Castle Style, Bamboo Shoot Style and Mushroom Style. Small in size, Earth Bud Style clay formations serve as the forerunner of other types. Those of Castle Style are larger and usually measure 2 to 5 meters high.
