Yehai Lake

　　Introduction Located at the border between Bajiao Township and Yeliguan Township in Lintan County, there is a high-altitude alpine lake called Yehai, also known locally as Changye Pool. The lake covers a total area of 750 mu and is situated in a mountain valley at an elevation of 2,610 meters. Its water source comes from the Shimen River in Bajiao Township, and there is no visible outlet. However, underground streams emerge from the mountainside in the northern part of Yeliguan Township.

　　The lake water is deep green and clear as a mirror. Its water level neither decreases during severe droughts nor overflows during heavy rains. Small salamanders can be found in the shallow waters near the shore, but no other aquatic life exists. Since ancient times, local residents have regarded this lake as a sacred body of water. With reverence, they perform smoke offerings (burning juniper) and toss copper and silver coins into the lake to test their sincerity: if the coin sinks, it signifies a sincere heart; if the coin floats, it means the offering is rejected by the deities, indicating unforgivable sins.

　　The most miraculous phenomenon is the ice patterns on Yehai. Every winter, when the lake freezes over like a mirror, the ice surface displays a myriad of intricate patterns. There are abstract designs rich in meaning as well as lifelike realistic images. Virtually anything in the world—mountains, rivers, trees, exotic flowers, figures, cattle, sheep, rare birds, and animals—can be discerned if you have the patience to find them. It's as if nature’s artistry or the divine’s casual brushstrokes have created these ethereal, transcendent, and indescribably marvelous scenes.

　　 Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province