Getu-River National Park in Guizhou Province, not far from Anshun is dotted by hundreds of mountains eroded by the force of water and wind. In a large cave live today 18 people (in 2007 they were about one hundred), all of the Miao ethnic minority group.

The villagers of Tajing have lived here for centuries. The largest cave is approximately 230 meters long, 115 wide and 50 high. In China they became famous after a China Daily articles of 2007, which depicted them as modern troglodytes. Other articles claimed they were the last tribe who lived in a cave in Asia (but that’s not true). They have developed into a quasi-tribal society. Inside the cave there are many houses, all without roof, a school and a basketball court. Most of the people left the village in search for money and job opportunities. However, many others refused to leave the village, and even refused new houses built by the local government. In Southwest China there is also another village in a cave, Fengyandong, in Yunnan province.

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The new houses built by the government and refused by the villagers

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The villagers in 2007

Source 1 , 2 , 3 , 4

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CHINA-UNDERGROUND. Matteo Damiani is an Italian sinologist, photographer, author and motion designer. Matteo lived and worked for ten years in China. Founder of CinaOggi.it and China-underground.com. china-underground.com