Thien Cung Cave - Heaven Cave
Halong Bay, Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam
Thanks to the hands of the Creator, Thien Cung Cave is one of Halong attractions having the impressive natural beauty. Along with Sung Sot Cave, Thien Cung Cave is one of the largest and most beautiful caves in Halong Bay.
Thien Cung Cave (Heaven Cave) is located in the north of Dau Go Cave. The cave has numerous stalactites and stalagmites with special and strange shapes. Due to having the narrow cave door and the strongly development of the flora surrounding, the entrance of Thien Cung cave was hidden. Therefore, the cave was discovered quite late. In 1993, in a big storm, fishermen came here to avoid the storm and accidentally explored a large cave. Because stalactites inside had the shapes of dragon, phoenix, and Four Pillars which made those people think about an imperial palace. The cave was named as Thien Cung Cave (Heaven Cave). Indeed, visiting Thien Cung Cave, tourists may have the feeling of entering into a heavenly palace with the magic and magnificent system of stalactites.
Thien Cung Cave is related to a legend about an ancient Dragon King. Accordingly, after the Dragon King helped people defeating invaders, he returned to his cave. In that year, the severe drought happened, which greatly affected crops, therefore, people had to ask for the help of the Dragon King. One day, there was a young couple determining to seek the Dragon King. They had a daughter named May. When May grew up, she was fall in love with Dragon Prince. Later on, their wedding was held during 7 days in the center of the cave. It took place in a happy and boisterous atmosphere with dragons flying in the clouds, baby elephants and lions dancing, huge pythons slithering around old banyan tree, and giant eagles outstretching their wings.
Thien Cung Cave has the beauty like a palace of the heaven. Located in the South of Halong Bay, about 4 kilometers from cruise ship port of Dau Go Island; Thien Cung Cave has the altitude of 25m above the sea level. The road to the cave is luxuriantly covered by trees. Passing through a narrow crack in the door, tourists will enter inside the cave and be surprised by the vivid and stunning beauty of stalactites. In the east cliff of Thien Cung Cave, there is a huge and monumental picture of ancient characters in fairy tales with smooth and exquisite lines created by nature.
In the center of the cave, there are four large pillars. From the bottom to the top of these pillars, many strange shapes such as birds, fishes, scenes of human activities, flowers, leaves, etc. On the north cliff of the cave, there is an image of celestial maidens dancing to congratulate the wedding of May and Dragon Prince. Under the arch of Thien Cung Cave, a cluster of stalactites hang down creating a natural stone curtain. Somewhere in the Cave has the sound of drum like in a festival of an old village. Actually, it is a sound of wind blowing through holes among stones. Looking up at the arch of the Cave, tourists can see the green color of stalactites as they are in Penglai scene.
In the last area of the cave, the white, red and blue lights create a magnificent shot. In addition, this area has three ponds with clean water. According to the legend, this was a place where May bathed her 100 children and grew them. A winding path was a place witnessing May and 50 children left the cave to explore a new land, the rest stayed with his father to build and develop their homeland.
Getting out of Thien Cung, tourists may feel like they have seen a unique and meticulous art museum, which was created under hands of the Creator beyond the imagination of human. Having the marvelous beauty, Thien Cung Cave is one of attractions in Halong should not be missed.
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- Halong Bay
- Halong tourism
- Halong
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- Halong Bay caves
- Halong Bay tourism
- caves in Halong Bay
- attractions in Halong
- Thien Cung Cave
- Heaven Cave
