“Stone forest” is probably the earliest recorded karst term in the world.

As an unusual and special landscape, stone forest attracted people's attention long ago, the term “ stone forest ” appeared for the first time in a famous poem Ask Heaven written by ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan 300 B.C. It was questioned in the poem“ Are there really stone forest in the south?”

There was description about the Naigu Stone Forest in Yuan Dynasty, 14th Century. In 17th Century, late Ming Dynasty and early Qing Dynasty, there had already been plenty of poems and prose, such as Stone Forest Song，eulogizing the enchanting stone forest landscape. The Annual of Lunan Prefecture compiled in early Qing Dynasty (1712) contains vivid description about the stone forest landscape: “Stone forests, comprising of stone pillars and peaks, are tens of meters high and can't be reached unless arduous climber. Amongst the stone forest numerous grotesque stones stand densely, looks like magnificent mounted troops, suspension rocks and notches are breathtaking. With delicate structure and in dark gray color, the stone forests are endless. Underground there are subterranean rivers, cool and tranquil.”

Paul Vial, a French missionary, lived in Shilin area for 31 years around the turn of 19th-20th centuries. He was the first westerner introducing the stone forest landform to the western world. His articles about the Yi people's culture and lifestyle as well as stone forest landform published in a French Journal.

In 1931, former Yunnan provincial governor Long Yun visited Shilin in his inspection tour, greatly enchanted by the exceptional beauty of the stone forest karst scenery, he wrote two Chinese characters “Shi Lin” (Stone Forest) to name the forest-like landscape.

Hence after, “Stone Forest” became the formal name of this spectacular karst landform, and Long Yun's calligraphy was later inscribed in a giant stone pillar, one of the well- known symbols of the Stone Forest. It was also in 1931 that the Stone Forest Park was formally established.

From 1940s to 1990s, many celebrated domestic and international geologists, geographers, karst experts and botanists came to the Stone Forest to carry out studies, among them are academician Zhongjian Yang, academician Meier Ren, academician Dauxian Yuan, academician Yaoru Lu, Dr. w.w. Sweeting (Britain), Dr. D.Ford (Canada), Dr. P.Williams (New Zealand), Dr. H.Trimmel (Austria), Dr. J. N. Salommon (France), Dr. Tony Waltham (Britain), Dr. Julia James (Australia), etc. in particular, Hungarian karst specialist Denes Balzs made detailed study and description of the stone forest karst. All these have contributed a great deal to the scientific understanding of the stone forest.