White Water Terrace



White Water (Baishui) Terrace lies snugly on a mountain slope 2,380 meters above sea level in Baidi
Village, Sanba Township, 101 kilometers southeast of the seat of Zhongdian County. 140 meters (about
459 feet) in length and 160 meters (about 525 feet) in width, is one of the biggest such terraces in
China.

The spring water runs down from the top row after row to the bottom, like a white terraced fields. The
cream color spring water leaves people a picture of " thousands of clouds tides and snow waves ". The
spring water reaches the rim of one shallow basin and silently trickles into another, leaving exquisitely
patterned tracks. Local people also call the terrace the "Paddy Fields created by the Fairies."

Previously, the spring water was carbonic acid spring water, containing great amount of pure calcium
carbonate elements. Accumulating over years, it has become the present extraordinary White Water Terrace.

Today, the White Water Terrace covers an area of three square kilometers (about 741 acres).The spring water runs down along the slope of the
mountain, leaving an impression of a large white jade carving among the green mountain.

To the left of the tableland, there is a pool and a moon-shaped platform that is said to be the dresser of the fairies. During the autumn, the
mountains around the White Water Terrace will be covered by various bright-colored flowers and leaves. Amid the mountains, the White Water
Terrace will form a spectacular white contrast.

Not only a place of beautiful scenery; it is also one of the birthplaces of Dongba Naxi culture, widely known
around the world. According to legend, the first saint of the Dongba Religion was attracted by the
fascinating scenery of this place on his way back from Tibet. He then stopped to missionize here. Later,
the Baishui Tableland became known as the Holy Land of the Dongba Religion. When the second saint
of the Dongba Religion came here, he created the Dongba pictograph. On the eighth day of the second
lunar month, when the mountains surrounding Baishui Terrace are festooned with flower blossoms, the
Naxi people come to worship this sacred site. Dressed in their holiday best, they sing and dance to
celebrate this ethnic festival.