Grottes et karsts de Chine
Sur les traces de Xu Xiake

From Houping, take the main road east then take the third left (the first road off that goes any distance), just before the first farmhouse. Follow this road until it ends at a farmhouse then continue in the same direction on a good path, up the valley to the left of the stream. This path continues, contouring above an aqueduct and passing a waterfall on the right. Turn right off this path shortly after the waterfall, heading up the first valley on the right after the waterfall on a more minor path. This path continues to the head of the valley where it meets a path going left and right. Go straight ahead at this junction, into a small valley. Pass what appears to be a pit with the sound of falling water on the left and head for the obvious cave entrance ahead. This is around 150m from the junction of the paths.

Okke

Miner's steps on the right lead down from the entrance to a nitrate pit and hearths in the middle of massive trunk passage (30m wide x 10m high). This trunk passage continues at the same scale and almost straight for 700m until it pops out of the far side of the hill. Both entrances can be seen for most of this distance. A miner's path generally keeps to the right wall and there is another nitrate pit about midway and a final pair near the far entrance. After about 500m, a major inlet brings in a small stream from low on the left. This is Maestro.

Maestro

This huge inlet is initially confusing since massive ceiling blocks have fallen, blocking the floor. It is easiest to enter it by walking along the top of these ceiling blocks, following a miner's path. Once the inlet proper has been entered, the going is easy walking along a small stream with steep mud banks. This continues straight for over 200m then wiggles right then left before reaching a junction. Straight ahead appears to close down and is close to an entrance [QM C]. Left continues for a short distance in still sizeable walking passage to a dripping aven. The easiest exit is up via miner's steps into a sizeable chamber though there are other routes into this chamber through boulders. There is a stone seat in the chamber.From the chamber there is daylight from two gorgeous, highly photogenic fluted shafts. The only obvious, walking exit from this chamber is on the left and is Boundless Optimism.

Boundless Optimism

This is an area of narrow rift passage with many junctions and 90 degree turns and a good, cold draft in most areas. From the chamber at the end of Maestro, this narrow rift soon turns a corner to the right. Climbing up at this point leads to a walking exit into a big bamboo patch. Continuing down the rift, the water comes from a continuation of the narrow rift [QM C] but left is slightly larger. This turns sharply right and then comes to a junction. To the right is a narrow passage leading to a low wet crawl [QM C] which is probably the other end of the wet narrow rift just passed. The main way on leads left to another junction. Right soon closes down and ahead is daylight (not pushed, [QM C]). Left leads past an aven and a right leading to another entrance. Shortly after, two parallel passages on the right both lead to a larger passage with nitrate pits and other signs of miners. Right in this passage is a boulder choke but left, past a [QM C] small passage on the right, heads to a main junction. From here, left is fairly narrow rift passage with a good draft in [QM A]. Right drafts out and a further junction with both ahead [QM A] and on the left [QM A] remaining to be pushed.