A marvelous natural spectacle, a forest made of stones in various shapes, was recently discovered near the headstream of the Honghe River in southwest China's Yunnan Province.

The stone forest covers 200 hectares on a mountain ridge in the Yi-Hui Autonomous County of Weishan in Yunnan Province. It faces the Guajiang River with the Xishan Mountain behind.

The stones in the area are of various shapes including dragons, turtles, women, and roosters standing on one leg.

Geologists attribute the strange natural scene to an iron- earthen structure formed 200 million years ago and erosion by rain and winds for millions of years.

The county government plans to invest 20 million yuan (US$2.4 million) to make it a scenic spot. Construction on roads and other tourist facilities will soon be started.

(Xinhua 04/01/2001)