Tavertine is an English name and is also known as TuFa. It refers to sediments with calcium carbonate as its main composition in lakes, rivers or springs.

Because water in Jiuzhaigou contains Calcium ions and when flowing water gets blocked by trees, these ions will be appended onto the trees. Over a long period of time, more and more calcium ions are piled up over the trees and finally forming the calcified trees and coral-like trees.