Cave Village

Go back to China.
Go back to Pussa Yan.

Getu

Cave village.

Ola had mentioned a cave village within a hiking distance of Getu, apparently something worthy of a BBC travel special from many years earlier. We were intrigued and more than willing to spend a day hiking, especially since day 3 was quite rainy. A multi-hour trek through the mountains and a couple of relatively unspoiled villages (wood as opposed to concrete structures) as well as a stunning natural arch brought us to the village of Zhong Dong. Pretty incredible really – a dozen or so of roofless houses and even a basketball court all contained within a huge natural limestone cave. Shot a ton of photos and enjoyed a lunch courtesy of some enterprising villagers.

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Clean Heel

Clean Heel.

On the final day in Getu, we climbed a short (~80 meter) but 4-pitch line called Clean Heel (6b) on the Left Of Red Wall. OK if somewhat forgettable climbing. The most memorable part was finding a snake skin in a pocket on the final pitch. Did a lot of knocking and checking before putting my hands where I couldn’t see them after that. On that final evening in Getu we got a nice surprise back at the hotel when the owners decided to turn on the water for us – not only could we take a shower but it was also surprisingly warm. A going away present!

Photos

Getu

A farmer walking his bird and his cattle in Getu (Sept. 2016).

Getu

A girl trying to board the ferry with her scooter (Sept. 2016).

Getu

A girl and her scooter (Sept. 2016).

Getu

Trying to be gentlemanly (Sept. 2016).

Getu

Ola and Shirley on our hike up to the cave village above Getu (Sept. 2016).

Getu

Entering the first Miao village (Sept. 2016).

Getu

A Miao woman in a village we passed through (Sept. 2016).

Getu

Good looking mutts in the village (Sept. 2016).

Getu

A man and his bird (Sept. 2016).

Getu

A woman with her piglets and dogs (Sept. 2016).

Getu

A beehive in the village (Sept. 2016).

Getu

Another resident of the village (Sept. 2016).

Getu

A youngin’ in the same Miao village (Sept. 2016).

Getu

Wildlife (Sept. 2016).

Getu

Hiking through the semitropical landscape (Sept. 2016).

Getu

Admiring the village (across the valley) we had just left (Sept. 2016).

Getu

Continuing the hike (Sept. 2016).

Getu

Corn and peppers drying (Sept. 2016).

Getu

Traditional villages and stunning natural landscapes – a great hike! Photo by Ola (Sept. 2016).

Getu

The already scenic hike goes through this amazing arch (Sept. 2016).

Getu

Two wankers posing in the same arch. Very cool photo by Ola!

Getu

Shirley and Ola on the final stretch of our hike to the cave village (the obvious one in the photo).

Getu

Arriving in the cave village of Zhong Dong (Sept. 2016).

Getu

Village life. Click for a video panoramic (Sept. 2016).

Getu

From the inside looking out. The building on the left is the village school (Sept. 2016).

Getu

Ola and the artist behind those wood carvings (Sept. 2016).

Getu

A Miao couple and their home inside the cave village (Sept. 2016).

Getu

Shirley, Ola and some corn (Sept. 2016).

Getu

Happy times! Enjoying some beers in the cave village. What a great day (Sept. 2016).

Getu

…and even a light lunch was served (Sept. 2016).

Getu

More lunch scenes because frankly that’s way more interesting than climbing photos. Photo by Ola (Sept. 2016).

Getu

Junior is rocking split crotch pants…all the rage among many toddlers in China apparently. Photo by Ola (Sept. 2016).

Getu

Shirley and I on the basketball court in the center of the cave village…pretty surreal. Photo credit goes to Ola (Sept. 2016).

Getu

Village inhabitants (Sept. 2016).

Getu

A curious kid in the cave village (Sept. 2016).

Getu

Ola and Shirley hiking out of the village (Sept. 2016).

Getu

Beautiful Guizhou province (Sept. 2016).

Getu

Hiking back to Getu (Sept. 2016).

Getu

A farmer and his cow tilling a small field (Sept. 2016).

Getu

Village kids (Sept. 2016).

Getu

Ola called us a ride for the final road section of the hike back to Getu. The kid behind the wheel was like 12 years old…

Getu

Hiking up to the Left Of Red Wall with CMDI Wall (left) and the beautiful Pussa Yan in the background. Who damaged the road? Shirley? Ola?

Getu

Cannot have a vacation without at least some bushwhacking (Sept. 2016).

Clean Heel

Shirley on pitch 2 of Clean Heel (Sept. 2016).

Clean Heel

Pitch 2 top out (Sept. 2016).

Clean Heel

Starting up the 4th and final pitch of Clean Heel (Sept. 2016).

Clean Heel

A bit of a surprise in a pocket on pitch 4 of Clean Heel (Sept. 2016).

Left Of Red Wall

Muggy views from high on the climb (Sept. 2016).

Clean Heel

Shirley on the fourth and final pitch of Clean Heel (Sept. 2016).

Clean Heel

An interesting boulder near the base of Left Of Red Wall (Sept. 2016).

Clean Heel

Left Of Red Wall (Sept. 2016).

Clean Heel

Hiking back (Sept. 2016).

Getu

Pussa Yan (center), CMDI Wall, and Oliver’s Crag (in foreground) on the left in profile (Sept. 2016).

Getu

Graffiti (?) at the base of Oliver’s Crag (Sept. 2016).

Go to Yangshuo.
Go back to China.