Mysterious Songge Mani Stone Mound in Sichuan (3/10)

Songge Mani Stone Mound is located at Arizha township of Shiqu county in Ganzi Tibetan autonomous prefecture of southwest China's Sichuan province. The stone mound's width is 47 meters and length is 73 meters, with its highest point reaching 15 meters. When the mound was built and by whom are still riddles to be deciphered. Mani stones are stone plates, rocks and/or pebbles, inscribed with the six syllabledmantra of Avalokiteshvara (Om mani padme hum, hence the name "Mani stone"), as a form of prayer in Tibetan Buddhism. Images of deities and great adepts and sutra texts are also common themes. [Photo/Liu Zhongjun]