Grottes et karsts de Chine
Sur les traces de Xu Xiake

C3-1 Shui Lian Dong (Water Curtain Cave)

(Entry updated from 2002.)

Location: Nearest road point is at 0551649 3056206, alt. 1963m. The entrance is located approximately 30m above the road level, and is reached by a series of flights of steps to the right hand side of the water.

Description: Resurgence cave, with an estimated water outflow of four cubic metres per second. The cave has two entrances, one carrying the water, the other fossil, located close together. The active entrance was too dangerous to enter under the water conditions of August 2003 (which were reported to be typical for August). The fossil passage is 10m wide by 6m high, with large boulders at the entrance, and continues as a tube of roughly the same size with an uphill incline, in a south-easterly direction. After 200m the fossil passage rejoins the streamway. Safe progress can be made for a further 15m by following the right hand wall at varying heights. Beyond this, fast flowing water meant that further safe progress at this time of year would require bolt traversing. Water levels are reported to be significantly lower in January and February.