Colored Sand Forest

The Colored Sand Forest in Luliang of Qujing City is located in the eastern part of Yunnan Province. Thousands of years of wind and rain erosion have created the unique landform of the Colorful Sand Forest. Walking along the circling and tortuous path, you will also find the exquisite works of art left by the Sand Sculpture Festivals. They are dexterously built among the sand walls, pillars, and channels, making one feel like in a fantasy world.

Luliang Colored Sand Forest

 As the name suggests, there are sand works of many colors in the Forest. Till now, 12 colors have been discovered, mainly red, yellow, white, and gray & mixture of blue, green, and purple.

Artificial Sand Sculptures in the Forest

The sand would change its color with seasons, climate, temperature, the intensity of sunshine, and the angle of illumination, making it a well-known geological wonder. Another explanation about the variety of colors is related to the abilities of the sand to decompose, absorb, and obtain sunshine.
 There are more than 100 sand works in the Forest in the form of sand peaks, sand pillars, sand beaches, sand holes, and sand channels. For example, in the valley of the Forest, there is a grand sand peak looking like a camel taking firm steps on the land and its head looking forward. Another vivid sand work is “King Cuan on an Expedition” – a towering dune in the shape of the ancient general wearing a golden robe. Or, you can see “King Cuan educates his child”. The scene composes a sand peak like a leader in the Cuan Clan. The leader sits upright, with a hat on his head, and is looking at his “child” next to him.

Other sand works include “Unearthed Spring Bamboo Shoots”, and “Four Season Valley”, “Scholar Check Ranking List”, “Wife of Cuan Clan Wishes Her Husband Back”. From different angles or positions, these sand works would also appear in more shapes. 
 Luliang Colored Sand Forest held 5 sand sculpture competitions and won the titles like “Sand Sculpture Global Promotion Center” and “World Sand Sculptures Expo Park”. In the Forest, you can still see those wonderful sand works by global artists.

"Running Horse" in Sand Forest

Sand Forest's Sand Human

 Cuan civilization can date back to the Three Kingdom Period (220 – 280 AD) and lasted for about 500 years. Luliang, once the political, economic, and cultural center in the southwest of China, is the cradle of Cuan Culture and preserves many related historical heritages. 

 Stone Gate
It’s at the entrance of Colored Sand Forest. On the top of the gate, you can see 4 Chinese characters written in Cuan style calligraphy – Cuan Fu Xuan Men.

 Embossment Works 
In Embossment Square, you can see huge embossment works on the walls. They are both ancient and delicate.
 With complex terrain and scenic mountains and lakes nearby, Luliang Colored Sand Forest is chosen as the shooting location for the Chinese TV series “Three Kingdom” and “Journey to the West”, both adapted from the great novels of the same name. For example, the spot is surrounded by Wufeng Mountain, Zhongnan Mountain, and 5 lakes including Xichong and Yongfeng. The TV series crew left many classic scenes like the battle between Lv Bu and the other three Men (Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei). If interested, go to see it.
 Bus from Kunming East Coach Station to Luliang Bus Station:
Bus Schedule: 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 18:00
Distance: 130 km (80 mi)
Duration: 2 hours
Fare: CNY 51

From Luliang Bus Station, you can walk 5 minutes northwest to take bus line 5 from Tongleqiao Station, get off at Shiguancun Station, and then walk 20 minutes south to the scenic area. The whole trip takes about 1.5 hours. To save time, you can take a taxi, which takes 35 minutes and costs CNY 50.
 Train from Kunming Railway Station to Luliang Railway Station:
Train Nos.: 7452 (7:48 – 11:52); K6148 (10:36 – 13:33)
Duration: about 3 – 4 hours
Fare: CNY 17.5 for 7452 / CNY23.5 for K6184

Note that these 2 trains only have hard-seat tickets or standing tickets.

From Luliang Railway Station, hire a taxi to get to the Colorful Sand Forest in 15 minutes at a cost of CNY 20.
 9:00 – 17:00
 3 hours
 CNY 100