Fairy tale for the ages

Aura of a classic love story lingers today in the Stone Forest of Kunming, Erik Nilsson discovers.

It's a legendary love story of rocky romance literally set in stone.

The ethnic Yi fable of Kunming's Stone Forest tells of the gorgeous and glib Ashima, and the poor but kindhearted herder Ahei, who fall in love. But a landlord's covetous son abducts Ashima and hides her in the limestone labyrinth.