Grottes et karsts de Chine
Sur les traces de Xu Xiake

Luo Jia Bao Dong

In contrast to the surrounding caves, Luo Jia Bao Dong, (Figure 7) has an entrance smaller than most on Mendip. The dry streambed that enters Limo Dong is fed by a stream flowing from the shales to the west but also from a resurgence on the north side of the valley. Crafty poking around in boulders on the steep side of the streambed just prior to the resurgence reveals a small winding phreatic passage. 100m later it drops down a climb to a small deep pool that deterred previous Chinese visitors. Careful but somewhat extreme stretching avoids a wetting, but more pools follow. A boulder chamber is passed and the passage continues small but nicely sculptured. Just before the final long canal section, a passage leads off to the left. This ascends a ramp to a junction with several passages. One is blind, one enters a blind chamber and the last passage 'goes' but with a sense of deja vu as you enter the boulder chamber from above. Nevertheless, the high level continues to a complex area of sumps, undescended pitches to pools and mud. Flood debris adds to the impression reinforced by the survey, that you are close to the surface. A troglobitic carabid beetle was captured here together with a rich cave fauna _ a good site for any future collecting.