The Chinese miracle of nature: white water Terraces

Plateau Baishui, also known as the white water Terraces, is located to the South-East of Shangri-La, in the foothills of the snowy mountain Hub (Haba) at 2000 metres above sea level. This is one of the most attractive sights of the mysterious Shangri-La with a story from 200 000 to 300 000 years.

White terraces is situated on 140m in length and 160m in width and are among the largest carbonate-kaltsievyh terraces in China.

For thousands of years flowing down from the nearby mountains, the water accumulated dissolved calcium carbonate, and created limestone terraces, which currently look like they are made of white marble.

Running along the slope of mountain spring water seems to be carved from the green mountains of huge jade.

Carbonate-calcemia layers increased gradually, layer by layer, and that made them look like terraces, so the locals called their terraces left by the fairy.

Especially the beautiful terrace in the autumn, when their banks are covered with plants with bright yellow and red leaves, and the contrast with the surrounding mountains, the plateau becomes still more striking look.

The white water terraces are considered to be the cradle of Dongba religion of Naxi nationality and are the Holy place for the local population.

The Naxi language is "Biscuity" literally means "gradually grew flowers".

Legend has it that the local population passes from generation to generation, the founder of the religion Dongba after returning from Tibet, began to spread his teachings.

At present, every eighth day of the second month of the lunar calendar (the day when the founder of the religion Dongba opened its first ceremony), the locals gather around the terraces, sing, dance and perform rituals of sacrifice, scoring the chickens.