Region: China and Tibet

Duncan Collis with Johan Bengt, Si Flower, David Haskel, Martin Laverty, Fleur Loveridge, Matt Ryan, Lenik anak Saymo, Andy Sewel, Pete Talling, Jon Telling, Yvo Weidmann and Sarah White (July-August 2006)

Topographical and geological maps of southern Sichuan show a large area over 3000m in the Da Bing Shan (Big Ice Mountains) west of Leibo. Unfortunately, a few days reconnaissance by jeep showed that although mainly limestone, it was seemed with insoluble rocks, making the presence of deep caves unlikely. The team therefore moved west to Yanyuan County where they found high karst plateaux between 2400m and 3500m with limestone extending to peaks c.4000m, and logged over 80 caves and shafts, with entrances up to 3686m. Finally, a splinter group made a quick trip to Wudu County in Gansu Province where they found an impressive limestone gorge containing a large show cave at 1200m and obvious potential for deep caves. No doubt they will be returning to investigate further.