Located along National Highway 318 in Mangkang (Markham) County, the Haitong Stone Forest is one of eastern Tibet’s most impressive karst landscapes. Just over 20 kilometers from Mangkang (Markham) county town, this natural wonder lies within a vast, forested region rich in wildlife, clear streams, and dramatic mountain scenery. Towering stone formations rise suddenly from the earth, creating a landscape that feels both ancient and otherworldly.
Surrounded by dense forests and untouched terrain, Haitong Stone Forest offers a rare blend of raw nature, geological beauty, and quiet wilderness, making it a hidden gem along the Sichuan–Tibet route.
A Landscape Shaped by Nature’s Imagination
The karst formations of Haitong Stone Forest vary greatly in shape and scale. Some resemble dense stone forests, while others appear as towering walls or solitary pillars. Under bright sunlight, the rocks appear grey-white, while rain transforms them into deep ink-black silhouettes, adding dramatic contrast to the scenery.
Scattered throughout the area are natural stone caves, stone bridges, and stone gates, each formed over countless years by water and wind erosion. These natural structures seem almost deliberately sculpted, inviting visitors to pause and imagine stories hidden within every rock.
Walking through the forest of stone feels like stepping into a fairy-tale kingdom, where nature’s creativity is on full display and every turn reveals a new visual surprise.
Doraje Zhui: Tibet’s Open-Air Stone Carving Museum
Located in Dzongshi Township, about 90 kilometers from Mangkang county seat, Dorje Zui is one of the most important stone carving sites in Tibet. Often referred to as Tibet’s “Open-Air Stone Carving Museum,” this extraordinary site contains more than 200 high-relief stone carvings, making it the largest known group of high-relief sculptures discovered in the region.
The carvings range in height from 49 centimeters to 150 centimeters and represent a remarkable artistic legacy preserved in the open landscape.
A Thousand Years of Stone Art
What makes Doraje Zhui especially valuable is its long historical span. The carvings date from the Tibet Empire, Sakya and Ganden Phodrang dynasties, covering nearly one thousand years of artistic development. Nowhere else in Tibet brings together stone carving works from so many historical periods in one location.
The collection includes:
- The 80 Great Achievers of Tibetan Buddhism
- The 16 Arhats
- Images of Mahavairocana and Amitabha Buddha
- Ancestor figures and religious inscriptions
Together, these sculptures provide rare insight into the evolution of Tibetan Buddhist art and belief across centuries.
The Legend of Princess Wencheng
Local tradition links Dorje Zui to Princess Wencheng of the Tang dynasty. According to legend, she once rested here during her journey to Tibet. That night, she dreamed of divine beings descending from the heavens. Upon waking, she prayed for the land to become sacred.
From that moment on, villagers believe, the rocks naturally began to take the form of Buddhas and sacred figures. Whether legend or symbolism, this story adds a deep sense of spiritual mystery to the site and strengthens its cultural significance.
Artistic Style and Craftsmanship
The stone carvings at Dorje Zui are known for their realistic and expressive style. Unlike rigid or symbolic figures, many faces resemble real people from everyday life. Emotions such as joy, sorrow, contemplation, and calm are captured with striking clarity.
Key artistic features include:
- Lifelike facial expressions
- Smooth, flowing lines
- Realistic carving of clothing folds
- Strong influence from Han Chinese stone carving techniques
The sculptures fall into five artistic categories:
line carvings, low reliefs, high reliefs, mixed techniques, and a small number of full round sculptures.
Despite the large number of figures, there is little repetition. Each carving reflects the imagination, individuality, and skill of Tibetan folk artisans, highlighting the depth of local artistic tradition.
A Living Gallery of Tibetan Heritage
Together, Haitong Stone Forest and Dorje Zui form a unique cultural and natural landscape in Mangkang (Markham) County. One showcases the power of geological forces over millions of years, while the other preserves a thousand-year legacy of faith, craftsmanship, and cultural exchange.
These sites stand as silent witnesses to Tibet’s artistic creativity, religious devotion, and enduring relationship between nature and human expression.