Special Landscapes in Yunnan

Colorful Sand Forest of Luliang Location: 130 km from KM; 18 km to the southeast of Luliang county( the biggest basin in YN) Status: 4A, national tourist attraction; China International Colorful Sand Sculpture Promoting Center

Colorful Sand Forest of Luliang

one of the “three forests” in Yunnan (the other two being the Stone Forest and the Earth Forest) located 130 km from KM, 18 km away from the seat of Luliang County. Size: an area of 6 km 2, with 108 scenic spots in a Y-shaped valley.

Formation: About 3 million years ago: movement of Hymlayas and earth crust fracture/a fault basin (Luliang) on the ancient land of Cattle Head Mountain/ rivers’ alluvial functions: to bring sand and earth to the downstream drainage areas/A large quartz sand delta in the south of thebasin+moments of earth crust, be naturally eroded and weathered =Colorful Sand Forest

Cuan Culture Area: the birthplace of Cuan Culture: one of the three great cultures in Yunnan 南昭 - 大理 Culture Bronze Culture 爨 Culture Cuan Culture

Bronze Culture: Ancient Dian Culture in central YN, the dominant local civilization during BC (from Warring States Period to Eastern Han Dynasty), prosperous for over 300 years 爨 Culture: originated in northeast YN, from 3rd century– to 8th century (Three Kingdoms Period --- Tang Dynasty), prosperous for over 500 years 南昭 - 大理 Culture: Originated in northwest YN, from 8th century to 13th century (Tang Dynasty--- Southern Song Dynasty), over 500 years

Cuan Bridge : the sculptures of the four treasures of Chinese calligraphy: writing brush, ink stick, paper and ink slab (symbolization: Chinese culture mingled with ethnic culture.)

The relief of Cuan Mansion: the ups and downs in the history of Cuan Family

Various patterns of the character:

Meaning: to cook on a stove ( to symbolize the wealthy and happy life) Prosperity (pot cover) food Stone slab, stove, tripod blazing fire

爨 Tablet significance in Chinese calligraphy

6 square km, sand peaks, sand pillars, sand screens, sand beaches and sand gullies scattering in the valleys

Chinese proverb “as loose as a heap of sand”, san generally lacks a cohesive force. the sand at the sand forest here coheres together, forming sand pillars, sand peaks, sand walls and sand screens of various shapes and heights (some are even scores of meters high).

Sand Peaks Sand Screen Sand Pillars

Sand gulliesSand beach

The formation of solidified sand > the sand not loose silicate ( 硅酸盐 ) Calcium carbonate ( 碳酸钙 ) water carbon dioxide a natural preservative the agglomerated sand views

Colorful Sand Major colors: yellow, red, white, grey, blue, black, brown, pink and purple brown

yellow Colorful Sand

grey and white Colorful Sand

black Colorful Sand

red Colorful Sand

pink Colorful Sand

Mostly quartz sand, contains 48 different microelements. In the sunshine, the forest will take on varied colors, with red, white and yellow as their dominant colors mixed with blue, black and gray colors. Observed in different conditions and in different perspectives, appear in different colors.

Strolling amid the sand forest, appreciate the colorful natural sand wonders of various shapes. Some look like mushrooms or ancient castles, while others like wild animals or generals going on an expedition.

Yuanmou Earth Forest

Location: in Wumao Township, 36 km away northwest of the seat of Yuanmou Size: an area of 2.17 km 2. Status: 4 A Forms: mainly in the form of castle, screen and post with heights ranging from 5 to 15 meters, and the highest being 27 meters.

Boasting a gully of 5,910 meters, including a main gully of 1,550 meters and a branch gully of 4,360 meters. Largely distributed in the branch gully, including Marshal Mansion, European and Asian wonders, Ancient Castle and Exquisite Feelings.

Formation: refer to the formation of Colorful Sand in Luliang Features of soil posts: soil bud, ancient castle, pointed bamboo shoot and iron cap.

Soil Bud

Pointed Bamboo Shoot

Ancient Castle

Iron Cap