Chinese Miracle of Nature (16 photos)

Plateau Baixa, also known as White Water Terrace, located to the south-east of the county of Shangri-La, in the foothills of the Haba Snow Mountain (Haba) at 2000 meters above sea level. This is one of the most attractive sights of the mysterious Shangri-ly with a history of 200 000 to 300 000 years.



 
White terraces spread to 140m in length and 160m in width and are one of the biggest carbonate kaltseevyh terraces in China.















For thousands of years flowing from the nearby mountains water accumulated dissolved therein calcium carbonate, and created limestone terraces, which now looks as if they are made of white marble.



Running along the mountainside spring water seems carved out of jade green mountains great.



Calcium carbonate layers increases gradually, layer by layer, and that made them look like terraces, so the locals have nicknamed their terraces left fairy.



The most beautiful terraces in the autumn, when their banks are covered with plants with bright yellow and red leaves, and in contrast with the surrounding mountains plateau becomes even more spectacular views.



Terraces of white water is considered the cradle of religion ethnic Naxi Dongba symbols and a holy place for the local population.



In the language of the Naxi "Bayshuytay" literally means "gradually grown flowers».



According to legend, that the local population is passed from generation to generation, the founder of the religion Dongba symbols after returning from Tibet, began to spread his teachings here.



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



Source: belorys-kh.livejournal.com