Shilin - It Rocks.
Trip Start
Mar 03, 2005
1
9
235
Trip End
Ongoing
Shilin,
China
Tuesday, April 5, 2005
The Stone Forest is not some giant marijuana plantation in the countryside. As the name suggests, there are skinny limestone rock formations poking up and down all over the place, like giant trees. It is somewhat mystical and almost 'moonly'.
Alas when you and 280 million chinese tourists are in one area together, it gets frustrating beyond belief. The major characteristic of the chinese tourist is one of a person who must push through at all costs, regardless of who is in front of them. They have no concept of space nor manners. They will elbow you, prod you out of the way, demand you move so they can take a photo even if you are already trying to take a photo. In my words, they clearly don't give a fat rats clacker about those around them. So my first hour there was nearly enough for me to want to hijack a minibus, and get the hell outta Shilin.
Thankfully, another of the characteristics of the chinese tourist is that they tend to give up by lunchtime, and they also tend not to get off-the-beaten track. Hence by 1pm, and after a walk of a few kilometres into the forest area, I was completely on my own. Its a little unnerving going into the forest of 20 metre rock pillars on your own - a little like 'Picnic At Hanging Rock' without the calls of "Miranda, Miranda NOOOOOOO!". But it was quite spectacular once the crowds of chinese tourists had gone off to their buffet lunches in the village.
Shilin rocks, once the tourists roll out.
