On May 18th, after the successful construction and application of the Visitor Center, the new parking lot and the new tour transportation network, the inauguration of the new gate of the Stone Forest opened. Simultaneously, the 40,000-square kilometer-huge leisure park in front of the Stone Forest and the tourists distributed square was applies as well.

The new gate and the leisure park, tourist hub put into use this time is an essential part of the transform and upgrade works in the Stone Forest. Since the beginning of 2011, the Stone Forest Scenic Spot has launched the largest-scaled spot transform and upgrade work than the past 18 years. This aimed at fulfilling the commitments China’s government mad during the application to the World Natural Heritage to protect the Stone Forest World Natural Heritage better than before, to implement low-carbon development model to achieve the sustainable development in the Stone Forest. The work fully prepared the Stone Forest for the forthcoming reevaluation from the IUCN experts.

In recent years, the Stone Forest has carried out the important transformation and enhancement projects as follows:

Major spots enhancement work. As a whole relocation project worthy of 390 million yuan of the Stone Forest Five Trees Village, the Yi nationality major village was accomplished and 85% of the relocation work was also fulfilled. From July 2011 until now, the Stone Forest has invested more than 95 million yuan on the Major Stone Forest and Minor Stone Forest Scenic Spot transformation and environmental reservation work project, relocating the gate to the outer area, adapting the drainage facilities, building up the minor tourist hub covering an area of 355 square kilometers equipped with leisure park in front of the spot and major tourist hub. In the April the same year, the first lightning disaster prevention system was put into use in the Stone Forest Scenic Spot earlier than the other spots.

Infrastructure constructions. In 2011, the Stone Forest government invested 140 million yuan on the movement of the Stone Forest heritage region parking lot and the improvement of tourism communications network. The new parking lot and the tourist communication network project covered about 490 acres equipped with 238 parking spaces for tourist coaches, 418 for cars and 344 for scooters. The 5000 meters long lane for tourist battery vehicles only was constructed. There were 2 LED screens. Sorts of infrastructures were newly built up like the 1200 meters long integral communication pipe network to provide the high-voltage and low-voltage electric, water and communications.    During the new year of 2012, the new Visitor center, ticketing service center, guide service center, eco-toilets, new parking lot, tourist hub and the battery cars tourism lines and other facilities were fully commissioned, which achieved the separation of the scenic spots and service regions, which also contributed to the higher quality on service and more effective protection on the Stone Forest World Natural Heritage.

As the World Natural Heritage, the World Geo Park, first AAAAA Scenic Spot, National Civilized Tourism Area, the next step the Stone Forest will take is to improve the touristy essence under the demands of the worldwide best scenic spot claimed by the municipal party committee and the government, to promote the construction of tourism service facilities, and to generate a high-class tourism service system with complete essences, assorted service and considerate services in the Stone Forest. They also target to service both the domestic and foreign visitors with better, faster, more comfortable, safer, more considerate tourism service climate.

What is worth mentioning particularly is that after the transformation construction of the tourism battery car lanes in the Stone Forest in June, it will take less 5 minutes for the visitors to walk into the spot, which is more humanized tourism than ever before. 

 
Qinxun Zhang, the Deputy County Secretary and County Magistrate addressed the keynote
 

 The new gate inauguration ceremony spot in the Stone Forest Scenic Spot

The new gate inauguration ceremony spot in the Stone Forest Scenic Spot

 Chaofeng Luo, the County Secretary gave away the gifts to the first group of the visitors
 

Linchun Zhou, the Director of the Stone Forest Administration Bureau is preparing the gifts for the first group of visitors 

 Smiles of joy from the visitors

 Smiles of joy from the visitors 

  Smiles of joy from the visitors