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Yuanmou County, located in Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, borders the Jinsha River to the north. Most people first learned about Yuanmou through the "Yuanmou Man" mentioned in history textbooks. This is the site of the discovery of my country's earliest known hominin, the Yuanmou Ape-Man. Yuanmou is known as the "Homeland of Humankind in the East."
Today, Yuanmou not only holds an important position in the historical community, but is also well-known in the photography circle. The large and small, diverse earth forests have attracted countless photography enthusiasts to show off their skills.
The Yuanmou Earth Forest Landscape, Lunan Stone Forest and Luliang Sand Forest form the three wonders of Yunnan Geopark. It not only has landscape features with extremely high ornamental value, but is also a natural science school with the most typical red sand clay zone and flowing water landforms.
The Yuanmou Earth Forest is a water-eroded landform. Through 5,000 years of natural evolution, a unique combination of lithologic features, tectonic movements, climate, hydrodynamics, and ecological conditions have shaped this vibrant and magnificent wonder. As a unique natural geographical phenomenon, the Yuanmou Earth Forest, a unique geological landscape renowned for its grandeur, wondrous forms, and vibrant colors, is a rare world-class geopark. The Yuanmou Earth Forest, a cluster of columnar formations carved by earthy deposits, derives its name from its forest-like appearance from a distance. It is divided into three main areas: the largest, most spectacular, and most beautifully preserved are the Wumao Earth Forest (Tiger Leaping Beach Earth Forest) in Wumao Township, the Banguo Earth Forest in Pingtian Township, and the Langbapu Earth Forest in Xinhua Township (the most beautiful). Both the Wumao and Langbapu Earth Forests are now open to the public. The two scenic areas are 28 kilometers apart and each has its own unique characteristics: the Wumao is large and unique, while the Langbapu is rich in color and perfect for sunset photography.
The earth forest is not only a magnificent and majestic landscape, but also a geological history book documenting the evolution of the Earth. The rich soil here contains numerous fossils of prehistoric plants and animals, including saber-toothed tigers and Chinese rhinoceroses. Due to geological processes, the soil constantly absorbs, expands, loses, and evaporates water, causing the ground to crack. Rainwater continuously washes through these cracks, deepening, widening, and extending them over time. The earth forest is shaped by the flowing water. In recent years, the beauty of the earth forest has been increasingly recognized. Blockbuster films such as "The Promise," "A Thousand Miles Alone," and "Beautiful Yuanmou" were filmed here. The earth forest has become a creative base for the China Photographers Association and a key location for Chinese and international films.
Tips: 1. June to October is the rainy season. The earth forest is soaked by rainfall, causing the surface to swell and soften. The river channels and gullies are eroded by rain, making it difficult to navigate. It is best to avoid this season. 2. Navigating the earth forest is crucial, so it is best to carry a compass. If you get lost, walk from narrow to wide areas to easily find the main gully. 3. The earth forest is dusty, so be careful with your camera. Additionally, the terrain is complex, so be mindful of your step when taking photos.
Xinhua Earth Forest, also known as the Xinhua Earth Forest, is a key component of the Yuanmou Earth Forest. The scenic area covers a total area of 8 square kilometers and comprises three earth forests: Huafeng, Langbapu, and Hewei. The Xinhua Earth Forest is tall, dense, and diverse in type. Its conical forms range from 8 to 25 meters in height, with the tallest reaching 42.8 meters. The Xinhua Earth Forest boasts a rich color palette, with the tops of the earth pillars primarily purple-red, the middles grayish-white, and the lower portions dominated by yellow. From a distance, the Xinhua Earth Forest resembles a magnificent palace, while stepping inside is like stepping into the gallery of an ancient castle. While the most common imagery for photographing the earth forests is to focus on the earth forests, accentuated by clouds and light, this technique is often overly common. Different angles can be used to capture the forest's quality and momentum. Several reservoirs of varying sizes surround the Xinhua Earth Forest. The Langbapu Reservoir boasts a mirror-like clarity, reflecting the earth forests in a picturesque scene. The earth forest boasts several gurgling streams and a thriving vegetation system. Bamboo, pine trees, shrubs, and flowers dot the clusters of earth pillars, and small animals such as rabbits and birds can be spotted. Following development, the Langbapu Earth Forest was divided into four scenic areas: Area 1, Area 2, Area 3, and Area 4. Area 1 is a five-minute walk to the right (inner loop) from the main entrance. It stretches in a straight line. Area 1 is relatively uninteresting, while Area 2 is somewhat interesting. Areas 3 and 4 are the most spectacular. Areas 3 and 4 are ideal for photography both morning and evening. Areas 1 and 2 are not suitable for morning photography due to backlighting. Areas 1 and 2 are best enjoyed in the afternoon, when panoramic views can be taken from outside the main entrance.
This is the largest earth forest, covering a total area of 14 square kilometers, making it the largest of the Yuanmou earth forest landscapes. As the Banguo Earth Forest represents an advanced residual hill stage, its height generally ranges from 3 to 8 meters, with a maximum height of 12 meters. The Banguo Earth Forest's earth pillars are primarily distributed along the banks of Dashajing and its tributaries, with a sparse and orderly distribution and diverse shapes. The earth forests are primarily columnar or solitary peak-like, with some resembling pagodas, others fortresses, and even arhats. The earth pillars are sparsely distributed, with relatively few groups. Within each small area, the color of the earth forests is relatively uniform, ranging from white, brown-red, brown-yellow, and pale yellow. The surface of the Banguo Earth Forest's earth pillars is interspersed with shimmering quartz sand and agate flakes, resembling gemstones, and shimmering in the sunlight. Due to water scarcity within the scenic area, vegetation is sparse, with only a few grasses. However, this also allows the Banguo Earth Forest to maintain its original appearance, showcasing its majestic grandeur. Banguotulin is also the main location for filming the movie "The Promise".
Because it's close to Wumao Township, it's also known as the "Wumao Earth Forest." It covers a total area of 2.3 square kilometers. The Hutiaotan Earth Forest's shapes are primarily castle-like, screen-like, and curtain-like, reaching heights of 10-15 meters. Scenic spots are primarily located along the main and branch gullies. The earth forests here offer the highest quality, richest colors, and most striking layering, making them a photographer's paradise. The "trees" within the earth forest range from dozens of meters in height, creating a diverse and captivating scene. From a distance, the Hutiaotan Earth Forest appears crisscrossed with ravines and a desolate, rugged landscape, resembling a weathered castle. From up close, it resembles a massive, unconventional artistic sculpture. When photographing, employ techniques such as side lighting and low-angle shots, allowing the light to gradually decrease as the height of the earth forest rises, highlighting the unfathomable depths of the sunken ground. Slightly lowered light can also be allowed to filter through, minimizing the overall effect of the overwhelming atmosphere. The Eurasian Wonders are the most spectacular sights of the Tiger Leaping Beach Earth Forest. The towering earth forests here, often resembling ancient palaces, offer a vibrant blend of Eastern and Western influences. The Marshal's Mansion Earth Forest features animal figures, including pandas, lions, tigers, eagles, and eagles, all remarkably lifelike. The Ancient Castle Earth Forest is renowned for its red, brown, and black earth caps. 600 meters southeast of the Tiger Leaping Beach Earth Forest lies the Tiger Leaping Beach Waterfall, a three-tiered cascade with a gentle drop that adds an endlessly dynamic beauty to the earth forest. The paths through the earth forest are muddy during the rainy season, while the sun is intense during the off-season, so sun protection is essential. Dawn and dusk are ideal for photography, offering exceptional natural light, soft tones, and fresh air. About 100 meters from the Tiger Leaping Beach Earth Forest lies the Tiger Leaping Beach Canyon, which is open to the public free of charge. The canyon is 300 meters deep, with ravines and cliffs crisscrossing the valley floor. The canyon is full of streams and the scenery is naturally beautiful. When you come out of the yellow sand and mysterious earth forest and reach the canyon, you will suddenly see clear streams and Longtan waterfalls, just like "a village after a dark period".
Tips: Tickets: 80 yuan for the Hutiaotan Earth Forest and 70 yuan for the Xinhua Earth Forest. The Banguo Earth Forest is undeveloped. Opening hours: 6:00 AM - 7:00 PM. Best time to visit: November to May is the dry season, ideal for visiting the earth forests. From November to March, the weather is warm and comfortable; from April to May, the weather is hot and dry, with bright sunshine, making for excellent photography, but sun protection is recommended.
Equipment recommendations: Wide-angle lens is essential, professional bracket, filter
Best time to shoot: in the summer morning when the sun is above the horizon or around 7pm, when the sunlight intensity is most suitable. Against the backdrop of the light red sunlight, the earth forest reflects the vicissitudes of natural evolution, the heavy sense of history, the tranquility of nature and the special loess landform outside the Great Wall.
Shooting Tips: 1. What is the theme of the larger environment? Many online photos of earthen forests feature isolated pillars of earth, accentuated by clouds or light. This is a common approach. Personally, I believe that the theme of large-scale earthen forest photography should reflect and reflect the earthen forest from an environmental perspective. 2. Focus on aesthetic expression. Unique lighting, the use of clouds, and various shooting techniques are essential. A earthen forest without light is too bland and underwhelming. However, when using specific shooting techniques, in the absence of light, we should focus on highlighting the texture of the earthen forest. Focus on small, close-up shots, using composition, lighting, and primary and secondary subjects to achieve different effects based on our appreciation of the subject. 3. When photographing the various earthen forests in Yuanmou, capture their momentum from a distance and their quality from close up. 4. If you have enough time, photographing the starry sky at night is also a great option. The majestic earthen forest paired with the tranquility of the starry sky creates a beautiful subject. 5. The earth forest is also very suitable for taking portraits. With a good angle, you may be able to capture the beautiful scenery of the ancient city’s rock walls.
Public Transportation: You can reach Yuanmou County from Kunming by train or bus. There are several train lines from Kunming to Yuanmou. The fastest is the K114 train from Kunming to Chengdu, which departs Kunming at 12:38 PM and arrives in Yuanmou at 4:32 PM. The fare is approximately 40 yuan. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Kunming Northwest Passenger Station to Yuanmou County Bus Station in just over three hours. The fare is approximately 50 yuan.
(Data from Ctrip.com, for reference only)
(Data from Ctrip.com, for reference only)
There are direct buses from Yuanmou Central Bus Station to Wumao Earth Forest (about a 1-hour drive) and Langbapu Earth Forest (about a 1.5-hour drive), but there are no regular buses between the two places, so you will need to charter a car to visit these places. Wumao Earth Forest and Banguo Earth Forest are very close and can be reached on foot.
Wumao Earth Forest is located in Wumao Township, Yuanmou County, 36 kilometers from the county seat. Take the regular bus to the earth forest from the Yuanmou County Bus Station. The journey takes about 40 minutes and costs 7.5 yuan. There are two buses daily: at 9:20 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. A single ticket to Wumao Earth Forest costs 80 yuan per person, while a package ticket costs 100 yuan per person, which includes access to both earth forests (Wumao and Langbapu).
Langbapu Earth Forest is located in Xinhua Township, Yuanmou County, and is named after the Langbapu Village where it is located. It is 59 kilometers from the county seat. Take the regular bus to Xinhua from the Yuanmou County Bus Station. The journey takes just over an hour and costs 10 yuan. There are currently only two buses daily: at 8:20 a.m. and at 12:40 p.m. Please note that although there are two buses, the morning bus does not stop at the scenic area, while the lunch bus does. A single ticket to Langbapu Earth Forest costs 70 yuan per person, and the package ticket is the same.
①Yuanmou Hotel: Located at No. 1 Shengli Street, Yuanmou County, the hotel is very close to the Laohutan Earth Forest and there is a special car at the door.
② Donkey Flying Inn: near the Xinhua Earth Forest Scenic Area.
③Heishaowu Photography House, in Langbapu Village.
④There are cave hotels and youth hostels outside the Wumao scenic area.
(Room pictures are for reference only)
Yuanmou Earth Forest has a tropical savanna climate with an average annual temperature of 21.9°C. It has a dry season and a rainy season. The rainy season, from June to October, softens the earthen soil due to rain, affecting the landscape and making navigable roads difficult, making it unsuitable for visiting the forest. The dry season, from November to May, is ideal for visiting the forest. For example, visiting Yuanmou from November to March offers warm and comfortable weather. April and May are hot and dry, with exceptional sunshine, making for excellent photography. However, please be prepared for sun protection (the temperature in the scenic area is often about 10°C higher than in Kunming).
The most famous festival is the Torch Festival of the Yi people. The majority of people living here are the White Yi and Black Yi. Every year on the 24th or 25th day of the sixth lunar month, a large torch carnival is held here.
Yuanmou's cuisine is not only diverse but also nutritious and delicious. Buckwheat cakes are refreshingly cool, sweet, and fragrant, roasted in ashes and served with a honey dip. Lamb lovers should definitely try the local mutton hotpot. This delicacy uses fat black goats, with the blood and tripe simmered in a pot. The broth is white, rich, and free of mutton flavor, making it a local favorite. Air-dried chicken, made with tender chicken, can be stewed, braised, or roasted, offering a unique and unforgettable aroma. Local specialties available for takeaway include Yao'an air-dried chicken, Yuanmou's pao guo (piao guo), preserved tamarind fruit, and a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Strolling through the landscape, the towering earth forests, each in a myriad of forms, create a sense of entering a new and extraordinary world. Some pillars pierce the air like long swords, reaching straight for the blue sky; others stand proudly like generals, majestic and imposing; some resemble graceful young girls, gazing into the distance; and some, connected together, resemble vast palaces left behind by prehistoric civilizations, towering and awe-inspiring. Some pillars are crowned with weeds, dotted with wildflowers, resembling a delightful hanging garden from afar. Some earthen forts, piled high with sand and gravel, their exposed forms revealing the vicissitudes of time.
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