Asakha Stone Forest Scenic Area

"Asakha " is a Mongolian term meaning "precipitous rocks". It is the most representative scenic area among the nine major parks of Keshiketeng World Geopark. The scenic area has an altitude ranging from 1,600 to 1,900 meters. The stone forest is a masterpiece left by the Quaternary glaciers and a unique granite geological wonder in the world. Asakha Stone Forest Scenic Area consists of five major scenic spots: Grassland Stone Forest, Grassland Sky Pillar, Grassland Kunpeng (a mythical giant bird), Grassland Stone City and Grassland Stone Fortress. Its main stone landscapes include Moon Castle, Riding the Waves, Seven Fairies, Balanced Stone, Oath of Brotherhood (referring to the story of three heroes swearing brotherhood), Tethering Post, Kunpeng Landing on the Grassland, and Flying Stone.

Highlights of Asakha Stone Forest Scenic Area

Unique Granite Stone Forest Landform

The Asakha Stone Forest is a kind of granite stone forest. It's a rare landform that's one of a kind in the world, and Quaternary glaciers carved it over a long time. Its relative height is usually 5 to 20 meters. Groups of the stone forest are connected at the bottom—they're square or strip-shaped—and their tops split into stone pillars of different looks. Some pillars are like tall towers. They have clear bases and bodies, stand straight up to the clouds, and seem to talk to the sky. Some look like people, with lively postures and expressions, as if they're going to tell old stories. Others are like animals, so real that they seem ready to run or jump right away. From far away, the stone forest looks like an old castle. It rises from the ground, steep and rough. Years have worn it a little, but that makes it more mysterious and heavy. When you're there, walk through the stone forest and touch the rocks that time has polished. You can almost feel hundreds of millions of years passing by and wonder at how amazing nature's work is.

Representative Pictographic Stones

Many amazing pictographic stones lie in the Asakha Stone Forest, and each has its own unique story and legend. One example is "Moon Castle" — it is a group of boulders that make a castle-like shape. Another one is "General's Bed," which looks like a natural stone bed. As the legend goes, a general once rested here. This stone bed is about 4 meters long, 2-3 meters wide and 0.5 meters high. Its horizontal joint surface is smooth, and two sets of vertical joints split it into a rhombus. Standing firmly between the blue sky and green grass, it makes people can't help but daydream about the past. "Balancing Stone" also catches the eye. It seems like it's going to fall, but it stands firmly in place — this challenges what people know about mechanics. Nature seems to have carefully placed it as a work of art, so tourists stop one after another to take photos of it.

Grassland and Forest Scenery Around

Vast grasslands and dense forests surround the Asakha Stone Forest, making a unique mix of landscapes. An endless grassland spreads at the mountain's foot, and winding rivers cut through it—like silver ribbons dancing on a green carpet. Summer brings Mongolian herdsmen's yurts, scattered like stars, and flocks of cattle and sheep grazing slowly. It's a peaceful picture of life on the grassland. Beida Mountain is where the Stone Forest sits, and big areas of trees (like birch forests) grow there. Autumn comes, and the birch forests turn golden. They look very different from the brown stone forest, so this place becomes a paradise for photographers. Walk through the woods: soft fallen leaves are under your feet, dappled sunlight filters through the branches above, birds sing near your ears, and the fresh air makes you feel happy. The grassland's vastness and the forest's calm go well with the special stone forest. When you admire the stone forest, you can also feel nature's rich, different charms. It's a great feast for your eyes and soul.

Educational Value

The Asakha Stone Forest is a typical geological landscape. It combines Quaternary glacial relics and granite landforms, and acts as a natural "geological laboratory" for studying glaciation, crustal movement and granite weathering. Learners can use it to intuitively understand how landforms form. It is also an ecological node in the transition zone between the Inner Mongolia Plateau and the Greater Khingan Range, which helps people learn about the features of regional ecosystems. Besides, it lies in Hexigten Banner—a place where multiple ethnic cultures mix. This lets people see the symbiotic relationship between ethnic cultures and the natural environment through its geographical landscape.

Activities to do at Asakha Stone Forest Scenic Area

Geoscape Viewing and Hiking Exploration: The scenic area boasts numerous fantastic granite stone forest landscapes such as "Moon Castle", "Twin Pillars Holding the Sky" and "Giant Roc Landing on the Grassland". Visitors can take sightseeing buses to different areas for viewing, or hike through the core area along the 5-kilometer wooden boardwalk to experience the amazing craftsmanship of nature up close.