China Travel Forum

[KIMBRA]

I was in China in 1995. Around Yangshou I came across this young guy that had opened what he called the New Water Cave. At the time it was just opened to the public. You had to ride bikes to get there and then take a boat made out of oil drums cut in half and climb over a wall. Then take a second boat made out of some inter tubes and a latter. The cave was amazing for its formations and its WWII artifacts.
Does anyone know if it is still up and running and if it is still “off the beaten path.?”

[Davy]

I also haven't been back there since 1995, but several reports recently indicated that there is a fairly new mud cave that is being used by many tourists and sounds like it may be the same cave and now it is more accessable. You might see if you can find out more in the archives.1
You didn't by any chance go through with an Israeli girl that was also visiting at the time?

[kamal]

I'm recently back from Yangshuo tour where we visited the Buddha Water Cave, don't know if that's the same one you mention. I believe there are a few "water caves" around the area.
We first caught a mini-bus out of Yangshuo and down a pot-holey dirt road till we got to the shack where we bought our tickets and then caught another mini-bus down and even dodgier road until we got to the cave. At the cave you get into your bathers (or clothes you don't mind getting wet and dirty), swap your shoes for some rubber thongs they supply and get into a low little boat. Duck your head (practically lie flat in the boat) as the boat enters the cave under a rock overhang, then as the cave opens up you can sit up again and float along until you reach a bamboo jetty. From there its out and hiking until you reach the mud pool. About half a meter deep and like swimming in melted chocolate. You can't sink in this stuff, and there is a bit of a natural slippery slide as well to add to the fun. After getting completely coated in the stuff you keep walking through the cave, criss-crossing the stream that runs through it, until you get to another pool of clear water where you can wash off the mud (that stuff really sticks and it will take you weeks to get it out of your bathers). After that you can walk back the way you came, get back in the boat and exit the cave. They have set up toilets and showers outside so you can change.
I've been in a lot of caves around the world and, like a lot of ones in Asia, you wouldn't visit it to see startling rock formations - most have been damaged long ago. But the mud pool is novel and kind of fun if you're into the sort of thing. Of course there is a photographer lurking in the dark to take your photo and sell you a copy once you are on the outside, but take it from me, there is no way you would want to take your own camera anywhere near that mud pool!

[HOfran]

I did have a guy with me but I can not remember much about him.
Speedyturtle - sounds very cool but it is different than the one I was in. Like you I had to duck to get into the cave but then we had to climb over a very large rock to get to a second part of the river and take a second boat. It was used during WWII to hide from Japan and much of the stuff is still around. When you get deep enough into the cave it is very nice.