Explore Mount Shou's Limestone Caves

　Rugged coral-reef limestone terrain is a major feature of Kaohsiung's Mount Shou, which has more than 150 limestone caves. Shoushan National Nature Park Administration accepts applications for cave exploration between November 1 and April 30, when the weather is generally dry. 

　The curious and adventurous can apply for access to four caves: Orangutan Cave, Tianyu Tiancai Cave, Beifong Jile Cave, and Jingua Cave. Under the supervision of a cave guide, visitors can venture deep into these caverns to experience the park's geological wonders. 

　Of the four, Beifong Jile Cave is particularly challenging, as it boasts a four-story drop between the entrance and the bottom of the cave. Jingua Cave was named after a giant symmetrical flowstone inside which looks like an inverted pumpkin. It is often included as a side trip, due to its proximity to Beifong Jile Cave. It is recommended that first-time visitors start with Orangutan Cave and Tianyu Tiancai Cave.

Squeezing through a Narrow Gap in Orangutan Cave

　Under the guidance of cave guide Huang Huei-neng, we headed to our first stop, Orangutan Cave. Once we were in the cave, we could feel the coolness of the rock wall, which added to the cave's ethereal ambiance.

　Orangutan Cave got its name from the several ape-shaped rocks within. Another interesting point is that there are “caves” within the cave. Huang Huei-neng challenged the group to squeeze through a narrow crevice by bending down and climbing through it. Caught between the jagged rocks and the smooth ground, crawling forward, holding our breaths, twisting and crawling through, it felt as if we were breaking out of a cocoon.

‘Jesus Light': A Check-in Spot for Internet Celebrities

　Next on the agenda was Tianyu Tiancai Cave, which is in a secluded location. We crammed ourselves into a hole that could hold only one person at a time, while clinging to tree roots with our feet on the ground. Light streams down from the cave's top crack, and when it rains, it cascades down like a waterfall, hence its name (Tianyu means “sky rain”). Our guide kept an eye out for snakes, crickets, spiders, and other  potential threats.

　At noon, a “silver lining” appears at the end of the cave. Beams of light spread across the large, high cave, making it an optimum time to take photos. Although the “Jesus Light,” caused by the Tyndall Effect, was not visible on the day of our visit, the soft and diffused light nonetheless had a dream-like beauty. The Instagram crowd flocks to the site, as — in perfect conditions, at least — sunlight streaming through this hole generates a fantastic and heavenly glow of light. If you have yet to experience this, make an appointment for the next advanced cave exploration class!

壽山石灰岩洞 探索尋奇

　　崎嶇嶙峋的珊瑚礁石灰岩地形是壽山一大特色，壽山約有150多個石灰岩溶洞，壽山國家公園自然管理處每年11月1日至隔年4月30日開放探勘申請，開放「猩猩洞」、「天雨天財洞」、「北峰極樂洞」和「金瓜洞」4個石灰岩洞，在石灰岩洞保育巡守員帶領下，深入石灰岩洞探索尋奇。

　　4個石灰岩洞之中，「北峰極樂洞」最具挑戰性，洞口與洞底落差約達4層樓高；「金瓜洞」因形似金瓜的鐘乳石得名，鐘乳石持續生長中，因鄰近「北峰極樂洞」，常規劃順遊；若是石灰岩洞初體驗，建議走訪「猩猩洞」和「天雨天財洞」。

探洞 夾縫求生記

　　在石灰岩洞保育巡守員黃揮能的帶領下，前往探洞初階的「猩猩洞」。置身洞穴，岩壁傳來冰涼觸感，石灰岩洞有種清冷空靈的氣息。

　　「猩猩洞」名字來自於洞中形似猩猩的石筍，另一趣味點在於洞中有洞，黃揮能隨後帶著大夥挑戰從岩洞中一道狹窄裂縫鑽出來，大夥彎身爬進入口岩縫，夾在嶙峋岩石與平滑地面之間，匍匐前進，閉氣縮胸、扭轉身體，爬出那道岩縫剎那，有種破繭而出的悸動。

網美必拍「耶穌光」的美景

　　接著來到網美最愛拍照的壽山秘境「天雨天財洞」。緊抓著樹根，鑽進僅容一人通過的洞口，雙腳著地石，光線自岩洞頂端裂口灑落，下雨時如水濂落下，故稱為「天雨」。黃揮能一邊留意著洞穴中可能有蛇、灶馬、白額高腳蛛等生物出沒。

　　正午時刻，末端忽現柳暗花明。寬闊挑高的岩洞中，光束自天井灑落，是拍攝最好的時機。雖然造訪當日陽光不夠強烈，看不到「廷得耳效應」所形成的「耶穌光」，但柔和漫射的光線，有種如夢似幻之美。壽山探洞初體驗成就解鎖，讓人意猶未盡，預約下一回的探洞進階班。