Hechi City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, south China - Jan 12-20, 2018
1. Various of scientists doing expedition in cave
2. Various of blind fishes
3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Jean Bottazzi, French caver:
"We found blind fishes at three different areas, and there were many of them. At one area, we saw blind fishes and other fishes, which were preying on the blind fishes. So it is really safe to say that there are many blind fishes in the cave water here."
4. Various of blind fishes
5. Researchers in cave
6. Various of interior of cave
7. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Chen Lixin, Chinese caver:
"We found many special deposited sediments and spectacular halls in karst caves here, as well as underground river, clean water and small cave creatures. These are all great natural resources."
8. Various of interior of cave

Scientists from China and France have found rare aquatic creatures including blind fishes as well as special karst topographies during a nine-day cave expedition in city of Hechi, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

During the expedition, which started on January 12, the scientists found golden-line barbell, also known as the Sinocyclocheilus grahami, which is the rarest blind cave fish species mostly living in unpolluted water of deep caves.

"We found blind fishes at three different areas, and there were many of them. At one area, we saw blind fishes and other fishes, which were preying on the blind fishes. So it is really safe to say that there are many blind fishes in the cave water here," said Jean Bottazzi, a French caver who has lived in China for several years to explore the country's underground caves.

The experts said the expedition is of great scientific value as they acquired deeper understanding of local karst formation.

"We found many special deposited sediments and spectacular halls in karst caves here, as well as underground river, clean water and small cave creatures. These are all great natural resources," said Chen Lixin, a Chinese caver in the expedition.

China has one of the world's largest areas of karst topographies, mostly found in Guangxi as well as Yunnan and Guizhou provinces in southwest China.