Grottes et karsts de Chine
Sur les traces de Xu Xiake

Fairy Maidan Palace Cave: This cave is approx. 225.5 m in length and is located on the lava plateau about 1000 m north of the Loaheishan cone. It was formed in the lava fan that had developed at the north- west outflow from the crater and its entrance is at the end of a boardwalk trail from the visitor car park at the base of the cone wall. The entrance occurs in a collapse pit. Inside, just beyond the entrance, the cave branches into two sub-parallel passages, lying 15-30 m apart, with the east branch being about 5 m lower than the more easterly one. A connecting passage with sub-branches occurs between a point 93.5 m down the west branch and 69 m down the east branch.

The western branch is about 103.5 m long, trends generally 330°N, and has a slope of 2-5°. This branch is 3-6 m wide, rising to a maximum width of 7.8 m, and 1.5-4 m high, rising to a maximum of 6 m. About 36 m in from the entrance there is a small hole in the roof, allowing daylight into the cave. The east passage is about 106 m long, and initially has a width of 3-4 m, and a height of 1 -12 m, although about 32 m in the width changes to 5 m and height 3-5 m. This passage divides with one branch connecting to the west passage and the other to the surface through a small portal. The sub-branch connecting to the east passage makes the connection via a circular pit, about 3.5 m deep, represented by a hole in the roof of the western branch, The cave has minimal breakdown and a clinkery floor, in winter covered by sheet ice. Lava sags and drapes and conical stalactites decorate the roof and walls.