Guaishi Forest in Jingdezhen

A spellbinding karst wonderland tucked in Zhongbu Town, Leping City, on the border of Leping, Yiyang and Wannian counties—just a short drive from Water Curtain Cave and downtown Jingdezhen. Known as the Museum of Karst Landforms in the South of the Yangtze River, this 30+ km² wilderness boasts the largest, most concentrated and visually stunning stone forest in East China, defined by its iconic “Five Strangenesses” and surreal natural combinations of rocks, trees, caves and sky pits. It’s an unmissable stop for nature lovers, geology enthusiasts, and anyone craving an off-the-beaten-path adventure beyond the city’s porcelain workshops.

Core Highlights (The Famous “Five Strangenesses”)

• Stone Strange (Bizarre Rock Formations)
Thousands of lifelike 象形 stone landscapes—including the 50-meter-tall “Tathagata’s Divine Palm” (the park’s symbol), zodiac-shaped boulders, and musical stones that chime with metallic tones when tapped. Some rocks tower like ancient giants, others are delicate as carved art; every turn reveals a new natural sculpture.

・Tree Strange (Symbiotic Rock-Tree Wonders)
Primitive “rock-wrapped trees” and “tree-hugged rocks”—millennial vines coil around stone pillars like bridges, ancient trees break through solid rock to reach sunlight, creating a magical, intertwined ecosystem you won’t see elsewhere. April brings the blooming of purple Mucuna birdwoodiana (Hemp Sesbania) vines, their clusters hanging like thousands of resting birds.

• Water Strange (Mysterious Springs & Underground Rivers)
Tidal rocks that erupt irregularly into waterfalls (lasting 4–5 hours, a still-unexplained natural phenomenon) and over 20 springs feeding clear streams. It connects to the massive underground river system of nearby Water Curtain Cave, adding layers of hidden mystery.

• Pit Strange (Rare Sky Pit)
Fengmenkou Sky Pit—the only sky pit found in Jiangxi Province and one of just 78 globally recognized sky pits. Its steep cliffs and enclosed basin create a microclimate, with mist swirling at the bottom and unique plant communities thriving in seclusion.

• Climate Strange (Extreme Local Temperature Differences)
A bizarre weather feature: two villages just 600 meters apart can have a temperature gap of over 5°C, often leading to the surreal scene of “frost and snow in one village, spring blossoms in the other.”

Things to Do & Explore

• Hike the Stone Forest Trails
Traverse four themed zones (Scenic Ping, Rock-in-Wind, Garden Source, Fengmenkou) with well-maintained paths. Don’t miss the narrow “One-Line-Sky” gorges and the summit of Tongtian Peak for panoramic views of the entire stone sea.

• Explore Caves & Underground Rivers
Combine your visit with Water Curtain Cave to experience the linked underground passages, stalactite halls and calm underground river cruises.

• Photography & Seasonal Highlights
Autumn paints the surrounding hills golden, making the grey karst rocks pop; spring’s blooming vines add soft color; sunrise and sunset cast warm light on the stone pillars, creating dramatic shadows and postcard-perfect shots.

• Geology Learning & Nature Observation
Guided tours explain the millions of years of geological processes that shaped the karst landscape, while birdwatchers can spot rare forest birds in the dense vegetation.

Guaishi Forest is nature’s boldest masterpiece in the Jingdezhen area. Far from the polished porcelain exhibits, here you’ll find raw, untamed beauty—where rocks sing, trees embrace stone, and the earth reveals its most dramatic geological secrets. It’s not just a scenic spot; it’s an immersive journey into the ancient, ever-changing face of our planet.