Sheepskin rafts in Yellow River Stone Forest [Photo/ Chinaculture.org]

Sheepskin rafts in Yellow River Stone Forest [Photo/ Chinaculture.org]

Yellow River Stone Forest

Yellow River Stone Forest Geological Park is located in Jingtai Town, about 100 kilometers northeast of Lanzhou, capital of Gansu. Many rock pillars formed approximately 210 million years ago can be found here along the Yellow River. People enter the park in a boat called a“sheepskin raft”, an old-time water craft made by binding together a dozen sheepskins under a raft. It is an example of typical intangible cultural heritage with complicated craftsmanship.

However, the craft of raft-making is facing the challenge of handing down the skill to future generations, as young villagers mostly study in the county and will never return to make a living with the rafts. As one villager, Aunt Xuan, said, “now the young people are yearning for the outside world.”

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