I was mesmerized by the Silver Cave.

As usual, we were invited by a group of students to play tourist and visit a popular attraction. They called it 'Silver Cave' and in my mind, I was thinking of a shallow glittery cave where you stay mostly on the outside looking in on a display of Chinese aborginal artworks (Is that even the proper description?) or even a silver mine (the name has to come from somewhere, right?) that's been closed for an age and converted into a tourist trap. But, for want of something better to do on a Saturday, there we were on rented van, heading to the "Silver Cave."

 

Even as we got there, I wasn't  sure if it was a real cave we were going to see or if it was just one of those quirky Chinese misnomers. The entrance to the attraction was not even impressive, it was just one of those typical tourist entrances with red banners and flyers hanging about which meant nothing to me as I can't read Chinese. (I think if you've been to enough tourist attractions in China, you'll understand what I mean.)  So, up the stairs we went and to my surprise, we actually did enter a cave.






It took a few moments for my eyes to adjust to the dim lighting and my body to get used to the cooler temperatures after having been outside and being exposed to the bright sunny day and the warmth that goes with it.   

 

But wow! Having no expectations, I was amazed by what I saw. It was to me, wonder after wonder. As we did the 2 kilometer walk that spans the inside of the cave, moving from one formation to the next, I was just awed and dare I say it again...mesmerized by the sight. I couldn't keep myself from exclaiming "Wow!" at every stop. Eventually, I just shut up because I got sick of hearing my voice echoing the same word over and over again. Of course each formation was named with something distinctly Chinese. (Don't ask! lol!) I can't even begin to describe how overwhelming the sights were, I won't even try. I hope the photos are able to do them some justice though.

I don't doubt that there are even more wondrous sights out there that I have yet to see. But in that moment, at that place, I was impressed and humbled all over again by the wonders of nature, only half knowing of those other amazing places that await. 

 

(Note: Though I wish I could take credit for the photos, they are not mine. I just cropped and edited some details out for composition. Many thanks to Yong who took most of these photos. :))