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Kinh Chu Cave in Pham Su Manh Ward, Hai Phong City, is home to unusual rock caves and wells, as well as mysterious legends, offering visitors an opportunity to explore the mountainous area of Duong Nham.
From a suspended skeleton to a well halfway up the mountain
For most visitors who come to Kinh Chu Cave to attend festivals and enjoy spring outings, the journey usually involves climbing Thach Mon Mountain or taking photos beside its fascinating rock formations.
For Nguyen Van Anh, who has worked with the Con Son - Kiep Bac Relic Management Board for 19 years, this area also conceals a pristine, mysterious world that few people know about. To explore and fully experience the “soul” of Kinh Chu, visitors must venture deeper into its less-traveled corners.
The first unusual sight that astonishes anyone who hears about it is a skeleton suspended inside a small cave halfway up Duong Nham Mountain. Nguyen Van Anh said the remains were discovered by local residents around 1982-1983 at the foot of the mountain. They belong to an unidentified man with unusually large bones. What makes them particularly strange is that, from the time they were discovered, the remains had been placed in a suspended burial position on the rock face rather than buried underground. “To this day, no one has determined which historical period the skeleton dates back to,” said Van Anh.
About 12-15 m north of the skeleton, following the path uphill toward the mountain peak, visitors will come across Co Chin Well, a remarkable natural formation. Unlike ordinary wells that lie deep underground, Co Chin Well is perched precariously on a sheer rock face. Its opening is circular, and the well is only about 90 cm deep. Yet, remarkably, it remains full of clear water throughout the year.
Fairy Chessboard and unusual caves
Beyond its spiritual atmosphere, Kinh Chu Cave also preserves mysterious legends. In the Bat Bo Son Trang area, right in front of the altar dedicated to male and female immortals, a flat stone engraved with a chessboard measuring 45 cm by 60 cm has stood there through the ages. This is the Fairy Chessboard.
Legend has it that the ancient Kinh Mon area, with the gently flowing Kinh Thay River beneath the picturesque Duong Nham Mountain, captivated not only ordinary people but also immortals. On moonlit nights or days when mist shrouded the paths, the immortals would descend onto this smooth stone slab to play music, enjoy tea and play chess. One day, hearing the footsteps of a woodcutter carrying firewood, the immortals hurriedly mounted their clouds and returned to heaven, leaving their chess game unfinished.
The legend of the Fairy Chessboard at Kinh Chu bears a striking resemblance to the tale of the Fairy Chessboard atop Con Son Mountain in Chi Linh, creating an intriguing cultural and spiritual connection between two scenic sites in the eastern region.
While the Fairy Chessboard transports visitors into a dreamlike world, Bo Le and Nuoc caves offer an enchanting exploration experience. Bo Le Cave lies to the east of the relic site, beyond Mu Nuoc Cave, and was discovered by Nguyen Van Anh himself in 2008. Its name comes from the shape of its entrance: the opening is extremely narrow and low, so visitors cannot stand upright and must crawl along the rocky surface to get inside.
Beyond the narrow entrance lies a dazzling “paradise,” where droplets seeping from the limestone walls have crystallized into shimmering stalactites resembling diamonds.
About 20 m behind the shrine dedicated to King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong is Nuoc Cave. It once served as a precious source of domestic water for local villagers. After venturing 13 m into the cave, visitors will find a natural well with crystal-clear water that remains full and cool throughout the year.
Hidden within the Duong Nham mountain range are also the Valley of Love, a romantic meeting place for generations of young people from the mountain communities, and the Bamboo Valley, home to old bamboo groves with golden trunks and brilliantly golden nodes, quite unlike the bamboo found in the lowlands.
“To fully discover the pristine caves and valleys, visitors should choose the dry season, roughly from the eighth to the twelfth lunar month. The weather then is dry and cool, making it suitable for climbing the limestone mountains. Visitors should also have a local guide who knows the terrain well, and prepare protective clothing, sports shoes, light snacks and drinking water,” recommended Nguyen Van Anh.
Kinh Chu Cave is more than just lively festivals and familiar photo spots. The quiet cliffs of Duong Nham still conceal deep caves, precariously perched wells and legendary stories waiting for visitors to come and discover them.
THU HUONG
