Tu Thuc Cave

03/01/2025
Narration

The Tu Thuc Cave is located in Nga Thien commune, Nga Son district, approximately 50 kilometers from Thanh Hoa city, nestled within the sacred range of the Than Phu mountains. The cave, also known as the Bích Đào Cave, is closely associated with the fateful meeting and the romantic tale of love between the young man Tu Thuc and the fairy Giáng Hương.

The path leading to the cave follows a stone staircase, stretching for about 100 meters from the foot of the mountain. At the entrance to the cave, there stands the Temple of the Mountain God, and on the cliff's face is an inscription in classical Chinese—poetry penned by King Le Tháanh Tong and the eminent scholar Le Quy Đon, commemorating the beauty of the cave’s scenery.

The Bich Đao Cave was formed millions of years ago, during the geological upheavals that shaped the earth’s crust. The land of Nga Son was once created by the receding sea, and the mountain range that houses the cave still bears the marks of ancient shorelines, with numerous fossils of seashells and marine mollusks scattered throughout, revealing that this area was once an island amidst the vast ocean.

Inside  Tu Thuc Cave

The Journey Into the Cave

To enter the cave, visitors must follow a winding stone staircase that stretches 25 meters along the mountainside, with the entrance located about 7 meters above the base of the mountain. The main chamber of the cave consists of two parts. The outer section is spacious, with a vaulted ceiling resembling a giant, inverted bowl. Beneath the arch, a large stalactite hangs down, resembling the shape of a divine peach, which is why the cave is also known as the Bích Đào Cave.

The cave floor is flat and smooth, marked by the remnants of the shrine dedicated to Tu Thuc, which still endure today. Numerous large, glittering stalactites are imagined by the locals as treasures—vaults of money, gold, salt, and rice; a set of ritual offerings, including cows, goats, and pigs; and a tray of five fruits. Nearby, a cluster of stalactites rises in the form of a dragon lying in a coiled position, with hundreds of golden-hued stalactites resembling eggs, which the people have named “the dragon hatching golden eggs.”

The local imagination breathes life into these formations, linking them to the romantic tales of love between Tu Thuc and Giang Huong. The stories are brought to life with depictions of Giang Huong’s bathing room and garments, Từ Thức’s study, divine peach blossoms, the immortal peaches themselves, the moon, and even pairs of mandarin ducks formed from the stalactites. Beyond the first chamber, visitors cross a small wooden bridge over a stream and are met by the awe-inspiring third chamber, vast and high, shimmering with the colors of the stalactites, which resemble intricate paintings—chessboards, pairs of shoes, floral carpets, seals, and the clothing of Tu Thuc himself.

The cave also contains two deep, dark passageways, one leading to the heavens and the other to the underworld, which the locals refer to as the "path to the fairy realm" and the "road to the underworld." Striking the stone pillars of the cave produces different resonant tones, which are called the “orchestra of gongs and drums.” Many poets and scholars, moved by the scene, have visited and composed verses, leaving their literary legacy for future generations, such as Le Quy Đon and Huynh Thuc Khang. The famous work Truyen ky man luc (The Collection of Strange Stories) by Nguyen Du dedicates an entire section to describing the natural wonder of the Bich Dao Cave.
 

The Stone Tablet Engraved with Poetry on the Wall of Tu Thuc Cave


When visiting the Tu Thuc Cave, travelers can also explore several other renowned landmarks in the vicinity, such as the Than Phu Gate, Han Son Pagoda, Truc Lam Pagoda, and Luc Van Cave.

The Tu Thuc Cave was recognized as a national scenic heritage site under Decision No. 2015/QĐ-BTBDVH, dated December 16, 1993. On July 2, 2020, the Provincial People's Committee issued a decision (No. 2556/QĐ-UBND) officially designating it as a provincial-level tourist area. Từ Thức Cave is classified as a cultural tourism destination.

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