Kim Sơn - National Scenic Complex (Vĩnh Lộc District)

21/12/2024 35 0

Ngọc Uyển Flower Garden – Kim Sơn Scenic Area

Kim Sơn Mountain is a mountain range known for its beautiful landscapes and fascinating caves, where numerous poems written by scholars and poets are still preserved, etched onto the cave walls. The Đại Nam Nhất Thống Chí (Great Annals of the Unified Kingdom of Đại Nam), a historical record of the Nguyễn Dynasty, mentions: “Kim Sơn Mountain, also known as Biện Mountain or Bông Mountain, stretches from the east of Hùng Lĩnh Mountain, following the Mã River, and rises into 29 peaks. A stele, inscribed with the three large characters 'Trú Quân Sơn,' remains to this day..”

The cave system in Kim Sơn Mountain is extensive, with notable caves such as Ngọc Kiều Cave, Kim Sơn Cave, and the recently discovered Tiên Sơn Cave, forming a stunning cluster. In 2009, the Kim Sơn Scenic Area was designated as a national scenic site by the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism).

An Aerial View of the Kim Sơn Historical Site

Ngọc Kiều Cave is one of the seven large and beautiful caves in Kim Sơn. Inside the cave, many steles with Han-Nôm inscriptions praising the beauty of Ngọc Kiều Cave and Kim Sơn Cave are still preserved. The cave floor measures 54 meters in length and 17 meters in width, with its vaulted shape resembling a giant umbrella, allowing light to shine down from above. This site once served as a major military base during the resistance war against the French and American forces. This site was also where Nguyễn Văn Tố's military workshop was located to produce weapons for the front lines. From 1889 to 1907 (during the reign of Emperor Thành Thái), local people built a temple called Ngọc Sơn on the mountainside to honor the Jade Emperor for the blessings he had bestowed upon them.

To visit Kim Sơn Cave, visitors can take a 300 – meter boat from the village of Sen. As they approach the entrance, they notice a Han inscription on the rock face that reads 'Thanh Hoa Thắng Tích. This stele, measuring 1.5 meters in length and 0.5 meters in height and engraved in the year Nhâm Thìn, during the reign of Emperor Thành Thái (1892), was commissioned by the Governor of Thanh Hóa, Hà Đình Nguyễn Thuật. 

The cave stretches horizontally through the mountain, with an entrance about 30 meters wide. The vaulted ceiling is adorned with trees whose roots cling to the rocks, while stalactites hang down in various captivating shapes. As visitors venture deeper into the cave, they are greeted by large, flat stones that form a stunningly beautiful landscape. After traveling another 1.5 meters, they come upon two Chinese characters, 'Phong Môn' (风门 - Wind Gate), engraved on the rock wall. 

As the boat moves further along, visitors are immersed in the unique sensation of transitioning between realms of light and shadow. Looking upward, they behold a towering stone pillar stretching toward the sky, encircled by stalactites that resemble creatures such as whales, crocodiles, and more. A shaft of light illuminates the water below, creating the illusion of a gateway to the heavens. On the northern entrance of the cave, there is an inscribed poem in the traditional seven-character style, titled 'Quý Dậu Xuân,' written by District Magistrate Nguyễn, who also engraved the inscription 'Kim Sơn Cave.

Legend has it that, in ancient times, fairies often flew down to the beautiful Kim Sơn region to admire its stunning landscapes. They would enter a cave, where they bathed in the crystal-clear waters. After each bath, they noticed their hair growing longer, shinier, and emanating the fragrance of various flowers. Curious about this, the Jade Emperor ordered the mountain god to carve large stones and arrange them to create a safe space for the fairies to bathe.

Leaving the Kim Sơn Cave, if you journey north by boat across the shimmering waters of Au Tree Lake, you'll be treated to a breathtaking panoramic view of the Kim Sơn landscape — a rare and pristine ecological treasure in Vietnam. Alternatively, if you follow a road leading about 1 km north from the cave, you'll find yourself enveloped in a vibrant natural world, where an endless array of plants, flowers, and towering trees create a lush paradise. The air is alive with the sounds of playful monkeys, darting squirrels, and the cheerful calls of colorful birds. This enchanting sanctuary is home to Tiên Sơn Cave, nestled in the heart of the majestic Thung Vịnh mountain range. From within the cave, you can gaze upon the surrounding landscape and feel a profound connection with the untouched beauty of nature.

Stepping into the cave is like entering an otherworldly paradise. The shimmering stalactites and stalagmites form breathtaking shapes, with each visitor’s imagination bringing them to life in unique ways. At the cave’s entrance, there’s a serene image of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara (Quan Thế Âm) meditating on a lotus pedestal, evoking thoughts of the divine protector who frees all beings from suffering as they enter this magical realm. The crystal-clear droplets from the fairy’s well resemble the endless flow of milk from the breasts of fairies, flowing ceaselessly.

Moving further into the cave, you come upon the grand palace of the Water King, a majestic hall illuminated by a soft, mystical light. The atmosphere is enchanting, with features like a stone harp, the cool flowing water, the king’s royal bath, and the gentle clinking sounds of the stone harp’s strings when touched by visitors, creating a symphony of otherworldly music. As you journey deeper into the cave, your imagination can run wild, transforming the stalactites into images of celestial beings in the fairy palace, or strange and wondrous creatures like birds and mystical animals.

The cave system of the Kim Sơn scenic area holds not only historical significance but also immense value in terms of geography, geology, and natural formation. It serves as a valuable resource for the development of adventure tourism, ecotourism, and spiritual-cultural tourism in the region.

The ethereal beauty of Kim Sơn, resembling a paradise of immortals (Photo: Collected

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