The Zecha Stone Forest, hidden deep in Gannan, is a place worth traversing mountains and valleys to visit

The Zecha Stone Forest is located 52 kilometers southeast of Luqu County in Laren Guan Township's Zecha Village. It is a siliceous limestone landscape formed by the uplift of the Earth's crust, and it is a national 4A-level tourist attraction. Zecha, in Tibetan, is called 'Ze Cang,' where 'Ze' means antelope and 'Cang' means home (also implying a nest or den). Thus, it translates to the homeland of antelopes. This area was once a dense primeval forest, home to countless rare birds and animals, and the antelopes, considered as spirits and symbols of good fortune on the plateau, were found everywhere, hence the name 'Ze Cang' (Zecha). Entering Zecha is like stepping into a grand natural landscape of the plateau. The air is fresh, the mountains are uniquely shaped, the forests are dense, and birds sing all around. The Requ River valley flows gently, wildflowers bloom, and bees and butterflies dance in the air. Especially the scattered peaks and strange rocks, which stand tall with their thousands of postures as if carved by nature's own chisel, are truly awe-inspiring. The Zecha Stone Forest is a karst landscape formed by the action of dissolution, also known as a karst topography. It was formed by the limestone from the Lower Carboniferous period about 300 million years ago through geological actions like dissolution. On the side slopes of the gullies, especially where vertical joints in the rock layers are well-developed, the landscape was shaped by dissolution and water erosion into countless cone-shaped, tower-shaped, or other uniquely independent peaks. After subsequent uplifts, the peaks were rounded, standing proudly as variously shaped strange rocks. Continuing forward, one reaches the 'Stone Gate Skyline,' a narrow pass as high as several dozen meters, which is so strategically important that it is said to be impassable even by a large army if guarded by a single man. The murmuring stream flows through the stone gate, which is the essential path to enter the stone forest. Walking along the wooden plank road through the Skyline, the path winds, and suddenly in front of you appear a waterfall and the Yangsu Lake, which, according to legend, is where King Gesar subdued the water monster. Returning to the visitor center through the dense forest valley, one can take a small train to the observation deck at an altitude of 3500 meters. The train ride takes 20 minutes, and along the way, you can enjoy the wildflowers that cover the slopes and the changing perspectives of the stone forest landscape. From a distance, you can see the stone forest landscapes such as 'Spirit Monkey Watching the Moon,' 'Tang Monk and Disciples,' 'Camel Peak,' 'Snow Leopard,' 'Potala Palace,' and so on. They are vivid and lifelike, each infused with the legendary stories of the Tibetan hero King Gesar, truly breathtaking. The Zecha Stone Forest is not only known for its towering cliffs, naturally sculpted rocks, and unique formations, as well as the dense forests and beautiful plateau grasslands, but also for its ancient and magical stories. It is a highly recommended tourist attraction that should not be missed on a trip to Gannan.