4 NOVEMBER 2006

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Bruce, Tony and Eddie decided to get a complete picture of Shen Nong Dong so set aside a day to survey the existing showcave limits. We headed towards the far end of the showcave, a little way beyond the last fixed lighting where a fine formation known as "The Lion" was illuminated. Here a pinch point between the left wall and a hanging flowstone dome marks the start of the aqueous part of the cave. An inflatable dinghy suggested that this was a good starting point for the survey and the team measured back out towards the entrance. The small streamway is traced back towards a boulder slope from under which it emerges. The path zig zags steeply up this between green netting to gain a chamber. There are rugged paths running on both sides of this which run high and low over the rocky terrain. The streamway picks its way through the boulders and rocks down in the valley below but is re-encountered at a flowstone pavement at the other end of the chamber. The chamber reduces in size and shows signs of becoming more decorated. A billboad and concrete terrace and shelves of caving lights and other equipment mark the start of the adventure course from which we had come.

At this point metal steps and a gangway lead into the formally lit showcave area which has pebble-edge sett footpaths throughout that must have taken much time to lay. Images of the showcave can be found by clicking on the Shen Nong Showcave link on the Jiangxi page.

The showcave was busy with Chinese tourists and we ended up getting in each others way to a degree. The tours through the cave are in small groups and the more attractive formations are drawn to the eye by the guides who like to attach an imaginative story to each one. Hidden buttons allow music, lighting and sound effects to be activated to accomapany the tour.

As we reached the incoming entrance tunnel we were all a bit weary. It had been a little difficult communicating over the noise of the frequent tourist parties but we were glad that we had not been restricted in our movements by the management and had nearly achieved our objective for the day.

We emerged into the warm sunlight as the evening approached and Celine and Li Juan were there to greet us. It was suggested that we should run off for a shower then return quickly for dinner. We cheekily replied to this by suggesting that a cold beer sitting in the sun was by far the most important priority at that point in time.


A quick freshen-up in the kitchen. Turtle soup starter perhaps?


Eddie's larder does not have this variety of fresh local produce


Celine and Li Juan lay on supper outside for Tony, Bruce, Zhanghai and Chen Lixin in the evening sun

To accomodate our wishes, our kind hosts set up a table and chairs outside on the terrace and we sat down in outr caving overalls to a welcome meal. Later that evening after most of the tourists had disappeared, Bruce accompanied by Celine returned to the showcave to sketch the short section of cave between the two entrances and save a bit of time on the following day.

Zanghai and Chen also went in after dinner and made film footage in the showcave to support the Provincial Geo Park application (without the lights and the tourists)

In the evening, we gathered in the manger's room to watch the regional news and see TV footage of the showcave and some of our recent activities within the cave.