Experts discovered a naturally formed 400-meter-deep chasm (Tiankeng in Chinese) during a recent scientific investigation in Donglan county, Hechi, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

It was the first time for experts to discover a cave beetle in Guangxi and a chasm cluster in Donglan.

The team was divided into several groups to investigate 12 caves in Donglan county. The area was found to have abundant underground water resources connecting some sections of the caves.

According to Jean Bottazzi, leader of the scientific investigation team and secretary general of France Spelunk Alliance Association, the total preliminary detected length of the underground caverns reached 16.5 kilometers. The team found some protected wild animals and also some unknown flowers during the investigation.

Donglan county Party Secretary Huang Xianchang said that the scientific investigation would enhance the popularity of Donglan, to promote the protection and development of local subterranean rivers and karst caves as well as help promote the local ecological tourism industry.

The investigation lasted for eight days, from Feb 26 to March 4. It was the first expedition of its kind conducted jointly by Chinese and French experts in the area.

Donglan county is a main area of Bama Longevity International Tourist Area. It has abundant tourism resources and is famous for its typical karst landform. Below the other worldly topography that features sinkholes, limestone towers and forested spires is one of the planet's greatest concentrations of undocumented caves, which have become a magnet for cavers and scientists from home and abroad.

An expedition team member prepares to enter a naturally formed pit in Donglan county, Hechi on March 3. [Photo / Xinhua]