The Xingwen Stone Sea is a world geological park that preserves carbonate strata from various eras dating back 490 to 250 million years ago

It has been selected by National Geographic China as one of the 'Top 100 Most Beautiful Scenic Spots' for photography. Driving from Changning County, a day's itinerary mainly includes visiting the three wonders of the scenic area: the surface stone sea, the sinkhole, and the Tianquan Cave, so I purchased a package ticket—admission + tour bus + boat ticket (a total of 115 yuan per person, the tour bus goes back and forth, you can get on and off at any time). The surface stone sea, also known as the surging waves of stones, is a limestone formation that has been tested by nature over the years, resulting in this stone sea that looks like a flock of sheep climbing a mountain. Remember to take photos here before buying a ticket to enter the park, especially on cloudy days to get the best effect. Husband and Wife Peaks: After buying the ticket, take the tour bus directly, which saves a lot of energy in the hot summer. The two standing peaks resemble a man and a woman, with a stone in the middle like their marriage certificate, leaning on each other, lifelike. We, who rarely take photos together, also left behind a standard tourist photo. Bo Wang Fort: The second stop of the tour bus brings you here, where the buildings are made of natural stones. There is a famous attraction here, the hanging coffins of the Bo people on the cliffs. In ancient times, when productivity was backward, it is incredible to think about how these were placed up there. As lunchtime approached, we ate at a local farmhouse here, with farmhouse smoked meat + bamboo fungus and chicken soup, reasonably priced. If you miss this place in the entire scenic area, the only other option is to buy snacks in the caves. The sinkhole: Commonly known as the giant funnel, it is currently the largest funnel-shaped sinkhole in the world. The grandeur of it cannot be fully captured by a phone camera; it must be seen with your own eyes. Tianquan Cave: Walking along the steps and admiring the view, when the sun is shining brightly, you come to the third wonder of the stone sea. The cave is an excellent summer retreat. A small opening at the top of the huge cave lets sunlight stream through, and combined with the rainwater accumulated from the previous rainy days, it creates a wonderful visual experience of cascading light and water, with stones on both sides resembling tortoises facing Buddha. Going deeper, there are various stone columns, stone peaks, stone drapes... in thousands of charming forms. Under the colorful lights, you continue forward on a boat, feeling a bit like going through dangerous caves in a tomb-raiding novel. After the boat docks, it's the back exit of the cave, which usually leads out to the county town. The actual scenery is far more stunning than what photos can convey. No matter how high the resolution, how clever the composition, or how good the technology, it cannot convey the shock of nature's masterful creation.