Baishuitai

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Overview

Baishuitai is a natural wonder formed by calcium carbonate dissolved in water. The spring water containing calcium bicarbonate slowly flows down, the carbonates gradually precipitate, and finally makes the platform looks like terraces

Brief

Baishuitai is at a village between Lijiang and Shangri-La County, located in the bottom of the valley of Ha-Ba Snow Mountain, it becomes well-known for its Natural Mineral Terraces. It is even thought to be the “Source” of the Dongba culture of Naxi minority people. It is about 110 kilometers south of Shangri La city, it is one of the biggest limestone terraces among China, measuring 140 meters from its bottom to the top, and 160 meters wide; with size of 3 square kilometers or so. There is one other well-known limestone terraces Nationak Reserve, which is also World Nature heritage site, the Huang Long National Reserve that located in the east edge of Kham of Sichuan province.

Baishui Terraces is composed by the sediments of high Calcium Carbonate in the spring waters which flows downwards from Ha Ba Snow Mountain to semicircular-shaped limestone steps. After hundreds of thousands of years, it eventually forms up the natural terraces look as the white marbles.

There is a legend to say that the founder of Dongba religion on his way back from Tibet settled here to spread his beliefs, teaching local Naxi minority people how to adapt the region’s hillsides for agriculture. As such they are an important local pilgrimage site, and there are several shrines in and around the terraces. The date 8th February of Chinese Lunar calendar is believed the day that the Dongba culture founder held his founding ceremony. Hence, every year on the same day local villagers gather together to celebrate in order to memorize the founder, gradually, the festival has been formed up and named after the date for this festival as “Er-Yue-Ba”, which literally means “Festival February 8th”

Baishuitai Data

Baishuitai Festival

Name : “Er-Yue-Ba Festival”

The festival dates in different years

March 10, 2022
February 27, 2023
March 17, 2024
March 07, 2025

Fesitval Programs: Naxi people and local Tibetan whom live in the region of Ha-Ba Snow mountain, some of those are from further places; They gather together in Baishuitai to sing, dance in their customs. Roosters are slaughtered in sacrifice to the gods according to the custom, which was thought to be to create Baishui Terrace land in order to teach the people how to transform the area’s mountainous terrain into arable land.

How to Get There

By Bus Departing from Shangri La City Two departures: 09:30 am, 14:00 pm, Bus ticket rate: RMB 26.00 one way, get off at “Bai-Di-Village-Stop”

By Bus Departing from Tiger Leaping Gorge Town one bus with departure 12:00 at noon, Bus ticket rate: RMB 55.00 one way, get off at “Bai-Di-Village-Stop”

By Taxi Departing from Shangri La City to rent a vehicle or TAXI it usually cost RMB 500.00 – 600.00 round trip, get off at “Bai-Di-Village”