Chapter 4: CAVES OF SANGZHI COUNTY (HUNAN).

Résumé - Abstract - Zusammenfassung :In the north of Hunan province, the Sangzhi area is rich in karst caves. To the south of the Sangzhi town, we have explored and mapped 10,6 km of passages in hot and dry fossil tunnel caves occurring in Triassic and Permian limestones between altitudes of 350 and 500 m a.s.l. At the right bank of Lishuihe river, the beginning of a vast underground network is compromised of the caves Shuangdong / Zhangjiadong (6 km) and Xiadong (1,1 km), which are separated only by an irrelevant doline. In the same area the beautiful show cave Jiutiangdong (5,7 km long) is developed in Lower Permian limestones. It is one of the two most beautiful show-caves of China.

Keywords: Karst, tunnel-cave, Trias, Perm, Hunan, Sangzhi, Shuangdong.