Grottes et karsts de Chine
Sur les traces de Xu Xiake

30m NE of C3-78. At edge of a small bowl among the undulating ground NE of Ye Kang. Entrance is a 10m vertical shaft, 2m diameter at the top and belling out lower down, that lands in a horizontal passage. [The horizontal passage can be followed in either direction from the base of the entrance pitch. Following the passage in a south-east direction from the base of the pitch takes you along 3m wide descending passage for 15m, before the roof drops almost to meet the rocky floor; it is possible to crawl a further 5m before meeting a total choke. Following the passage north from the base of the entrance pitch takes you along easy, 4m wide walking passage, for 20m to a T-junction. Left at the T-junction is (immediately) a chamber with no ways on. Right at the T-junction is a passage which closes down after a further 15m.] 5m north of the base of the entrance pitch is the main way on: a small slot in the left-hand wall which gains a narrow, vertical rift section. The rift feels draughty, and can be descended for 30m (in several hangs, all of which can be rigged from naturals), but eventually lands on a choked floor. The floor at the downhill end of the passage has been dug for several hours; space between rocks was frequently encountered, but no breakthrough was made. A very small trickle of water trickles into the dig. RB, HG