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Ashatu Stone Forest Scenic Area
赤峰阿斯哈图石林景区

The Ashatu Stone Forest Scenic Area is located in Bayanchagan苏木 Bayanulaga Village, northeastern Keshiketeng Banner, Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It is the most representative scenic area among the nine parks in the Keshiketeng Global Geopark. It is situated on the Beida Mountain, about 40 kilometers north of Huanggang Peak, the highest peak of the Greater Khingan Range. 

The Ashatu Stone Forest Scenic Area covers an area of approximately 15 square kilometers and has an average altitude of around 1,700 meters. The climate here belongs to the mid-temperate continental monsoon climate, with a short and cool summer, a long and cold winter, and a large diurnal temperature variation. The scenic area is lush with vegetation, home to large areas of primitive secondary mixed forests, with a vegetation coverage rate exceeding 80% and a diverse range of plant species. Meanwhile, it is also a habitat for various wild animals, such as the sika deer and roe deer, which are under second-class national protection, as well as carnivorous animals like wolves, badgers, and foxes.

 

Main Attractions and Characteristics

 

The Ashatu Stone Forest Scenic Area is renowned for its unique stone forest landscape, which is a masterpiece left by the Quaternary glaciers and a unique granite geological wonder in the world. The scenic area mainly consists of five scenic spots: Grassland Stone Forest, Grassland Sky Column, Grassland Kunpeng, Grassland Stone City, and Grassland Stone Castle, each with distinct characteristics:

 

  • Grassland Stone Forest Scenic Spot: It combines the beauty, elegance, spirit, and shape of the stone forest and is a representative scenic spot among them. The stone forests here are of various shapes, resembling towers, humans, and animals, lifelike and breathtaking.

  • Grassland Sky Column Scenic Spot: It is mainly characterized by its grandeur and tallness, consisting of primitive secondary birch forests, alpine meadow plant systems, and granite residual rock columns.

  • Grassland Kunpeng Scenic Spot: It mainly highlights the towering and massive aspect of the stone forest, giving people a sense of grandeur and magnificence.

  • Grassland Stone City and Stone Castle Scenic Spot: It mainly showcases the aesthetic appeal of the stone array and the combined beauty of plant landscapes and stone scenery, making people feel as if they are in natural stone cities and castles.

 

Geological Wonders and Formation Causes

 

The Ashatu Stone Forest is a new type that combines granite landform and stone forest landform, representing a unique and peculiar landform landscape in the world. According to expert investigations and certifications, since the Quaternary Ice Age, the Greater Khingan Range has undergone multiple ancient glacial actions. After the Beida Mountain in the Ashatu area was eroded by glaciers, it developed into ridge crests and horn peaks, arranged in rows or singly distributed along the ridge line, forming the prototype of the stone forest. Through the effects of glaciers, frost, weathering, and water erosion, the stone forest landscape we see today was eventually formed.

 

Tourism Activities and Seasonal Features

 

The Ashatu Stone Forest Scenic Area offers various landscapes throughout the four seasons, each with its own charm:

 

  • Spring: Everything comes to life, with blossoms everywhere. The stone forest, which has slept through the winter, presents a vigorous northern spring scenery amidst the new green leaves.

  • Summer: Flowers are in full bloom, and the grass is lush, adorning the stone forest scenic area beautifully. This is also the best season to visit the scenic area.

  • Autumn: The forests are tinted with autumn colors, and the withered grass is flourishing. In the autumn winds, the stone forest exudes a lonely and proud demeanor.

  • Winter: Snow covers the ground, and the whole place is dressed in white. The stone forest, the blue sky, and the snow complement each other, forming a beautiful winter scenery. Additionally, in winter, you can also admire the wonder of rime ice.

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