Simple pleasures in Guangxi

Part of the karst formations at the Crystal Palace in Bama Yao autonomous county. [Photo By Yang Feiyue / China Daily]

On the 45 - minute trip, the breeze caressed my skin as the raft glided along, and the green water I trailed my fingers in had a silky texture.

Passing through each naturally formed rock arch, some running as long as 90 meters, one is first enclosed beneath an unknowable weight of solid rock, before the light ahead becomes a view of blue skies overhead and green - clad mountains on all sides. The air is intoxicating and makes you spontaneously take a deep breath.

Wanshou Valley, which is actually another cave, is just several minutes drive from the Sanmen Sea, and shuttle buses are available to carry visitors between the two.

The cave was discovered and opened after Yuanyang Cave, and is endowed with similar karst terrain. Wanshou is much bigger than Yuanyang and it takes about one and a half hours to walk through it.

The middle section is a huge cave well - lit by sunshine streaming from a natural skylight high above. Once used as an arsenal for a red army division, the cave contains a natural stone bridge that spans 150 meters and is 75 meters above the ground. The vastness of the cave made me feel the full force of nature, against which I seemed insignificant.

Fengshan's tourism resources are relatively close to each other, making it convenient for tourists to savor the essence of the local culture.