Monks Cave

China Caves Project

Monks cave was visited by accident since we had planned to visit a completely different site, in completely the opposite direction. This is the nature of cave exploration in China. At this stage of the expedition the primary objective was to prospect for cave sites so survey equipment was, unfortunately, not carried. Much of our underground equipment was also left at the hotel, so this trip was performed in sunhats and Petzl Zooms. Monks Cave was certainly worth a couple of days work, but unfortunately time constraints made this the only visit to this more distant area.

Easy going along sandy floored passage follows a well worn path passing through some larger chambers and over sediment banks. After walking for approximately 300 metres a climb into a chamber reveals the reason behind the path. The passage from this chamber is littered with the smashed remains of stalagmites and other forms of decoration. What once would have been an outstandingly beautiful set of formations is now in ruins. Monks cave has over the centuries provided a source of stalagmites for decoration in local villagers homes. Indeed whilst in the cave we passed a large group of children carrying baskets full of freshly broken formations.

A small hole in the floor emitting a powerful draught after 500 metres provided the unexpected entrance to a lower section of cave. Climbing down the hole a short but very awkward climb gained a 50 metre section of once decorated passage ending at a platform overlooking blackness. we assumed that this was at last unentered passage, but our rubber shoed followers, numbering about 10 by now, showed us a novel method of descent. To the left of the platform a short climb down between boulders appears at the top of a 15 metre circular shaft. Smiling and pointing vigorously at rotting stemples the locals showed us their descent method. We made our excuses putting a rope from the edge of the platform reaching the bottom of the 15 metre pitch alive.

At the base a boulder and sediment floored 30 metre square chamber with a small misfit stream seemed to hold out great hopes of progress. A small waterfall on the west of the chamber appeared through blocks from a tiny holes metres up the wall of the chamber but the stream it produced left the chamber in a larger passage trending south. The stream flows between huge banks of mud, filling much of what would have been a 10 metre square trunk passage. Eventually after 100 metres the way on became too low for sensible progress.

Returning to the chamber a passage to the north entered through a climb over boulders to the north looked inviting. Easy going for 300 metres over sand floors with the occasional climb up the passage side to avoid fallen blocks lead past numerous formations and high avens to a flat roofed 3 metre high section. Much of this was filled with columns and brilliant white gour flows. Progress was made for 30 metres through the columns to a huge boulder choke heading upwards into blackness. Climbs up the boulders confirmed our suspicions and no way was found over the top. Exploration on the west side of the choke did find one lead in packed boulders that was not pushed to conclusion.

Monks Cave appears to be an abandoned high level trunk route draining from the south, as indicated by scalloping. The passage size suggests that it was certainly a major drainage route but its height and isolation probably gives little chance for finding further large remnants of this system. However the vertical potential is self apparent with over 500 metres of limestone directly above. Much of the cave is in a state of decay, the result being that the true size of the passage is masked by boulder and sediment infill. Needless to say the destruction of the formations by locals in this cave was not unique; evidence was found in most of the accessible caves of this naive vandalism.

The Wulong Show caves and Fu Lin Dong near Fuling illustrate the fact that caves are seen as an important potential source of revenue in this area. The success of Furong Dong at Jiang Kou has perhaps encouraged other villages into opening their caves to the public. Many of these caves have been 'developed' in a most insensitive way with absolutely no appreciation of conservation and many caves are simply so poor that they should never have developed in the first place. The development of Furong Dong which is probably the most impressive show cave in China has been performed with more sensitivity, but the cave management do not seem to be aware that huge numbers of tourists will destroy the cave unless very strict controls are in place to prevent damage.

The expedition wrote a 'Cave Conservation Guide' for Wulong county and Furong Dong Show Cave suggesting a series of steps which should be taken to protect the cave (and therefore the income from the cave) for the future.

Jiang Kou Area Map

Yangtze 94 Index

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