World’s largest Mani stone pile
The Gyana Mani stone town in Yushu City, Yushu Prefecture, northwest China’s Qinghai province originated more than 300 years ago; it is formed through continuous efforts of generations of craftsmen and nearby residents to engrave and pile up the stones, forming a great stone scripture wall that is 283 meters long, 74 meters wide, and 2.5 meters high. It is known as “the world’s largest praying and wishing holy place”, and it has been included in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Mani stones represent the beliefs of the Tibetan people. People read the six-lettered scriptures engraved on the stones and pray. Now, the Gyana Mani Stone Town has transformed from a cultural pilgrimage site to a world-famous tourist attraction, providing a witness to the preservation and inheritance of Yushu Tibetans’ traditional culture.
The Mani stone scripture wall.