Reed Flute Cave

Reed Flute Cave is to be found a short (7km, 20-30 minute) drive to the north-west of the town centre. Most tourists arrive in their own bus. If you are going privately then a taxi is probably the best option. These will wait, with meter running, and then take you back again. This is a fair way of reaching a price as the meter rate for the waiting taxi is set by the local authorities and means you are paying the same as anyone else. If you go for a fixed price then this will almost certainly be higher.

There are English-speaking guides at the caves but you may have to wait for other visitors to form a big enough group. You can enjoy the rock formations without detailed explanations so don't bother waiting. Follow a Chinese-speaking group around, and keep smiling.

You will spend about 40-60 minutes inside the caves depending on the number of groups going around and the size of the group you are with. Large groups always move more slowly.

Access is good with only a few steps to make it unsuitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs.

The caves are apparently over 600 000 years old, and have been visited by travellers as far back as the Tang and Song Dynasties.

The caves have always been lit up for tourists with a range of colourful flouroscent lights. This is not to everyone's taste but it does at least help you to get a grip on the scale and complexity of the cave systems.

Inside Reed Flute Caves you will see splendid stalactites and stalagmites as well as stone pillars, stone canopies and stone flowers. Names have been given to the main features; here's alist of some of the more interesting ones:

• Pagoda with a Coiling Dragon
• Primeval Forest
• Mountain of Flowers and Fruits (from Journey to the West)
  

One scene used to be 'New York' but has since been called Shanghai. It's good to go local but now the Statue of Liberty (and the stalagmite really looks just like that) is totally out of place.

On a recent visit we were amazed (perhaps that's an understatement ... totally gobsmacked) to find two recent innovations. There are now a couple of shows to entertain as you walk around: a laser show in one hall and bubbles in another. It was perhaps inevitable, and this perhaps rates as a great day for kids (of all ages). Go with the flow. Take pictures, have fun. It just another form of speleology after all.

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Alf