With its massive scale and rugged terrain, Ai Chi Lang is considered a wall to protect Thang Long from the invasions of the Northern invaders. The battles at Ai Chi Lang demonstrated the strategy and wisdom of his father in the defense of the country.
The famous image of Ai Chi Lang in Vietnamese history (Photo: collection)
Chi Lang district, Lang Son city is famous for having Ai Chi Lang with majestic mountain scenery associated with the resounding and heroic feats of the nation. If you have the opportunity to travel to Lang Son , you should not miss the opportunity to visit this historical site.
1. Where is Ai Chi Lang Gate in Lang Son?
Ai Chi Lang relic site is located about 150km from Hanoi city , in Chi Lang district. In the past, this place was the gate of Khau On town, Lang Son and marked many historical battles, preserving many heroic feats for the country. Now the pass has a length of 20km, a width of 3km and is the connection point between Chi Lang and Huu Lung districts of Lang Son.
Tourists visit and take photos at the informational stone board (Photo: collectibles)
To visit Ai Chi Lang, visitors can go in the direction of National Highway 1A towards Hanoi – Lang Son and on the journey can take advantage of visiting other attractive Lang Son tourist sites .
2. History of the battle of Ai Chi Lang
Ai Chi Lang is not only a beautiful place standing in the middle of heaven and earth, but hidden deep in it is also the once fierce vitality of Dong A’s spirit. In the past, it was thanks to the unique terrain with high mountain ranges, Covered with trees, Ai Chi Lang created a dangerous formation and became a wall to protect the ancient Thang Long citadel from the invasions of the Northern invaders. The history of this border area is associated with many great heroes such as Tran Quoc Tuan, Ly Thuong Kiet, Hoang Dai Hue…
Ai Chi Lang, seen from above, deserves the title of “a dangerous road comparable to the sky” (Photo: Thuan Bui)
Chi Lang marked the nation’s heroic victories with historical layers, layers of feats of his father with 2 times against the invading Song army (in 981 and 1077), 2 times of resistance against the Nguyen invaders. (in 1285 and 1287), the resistance against the Manchu invaders (1788 – 1789), and the resistance war against the French colonialists and the American empire in the years 1882 – 1888.
Historically, this border area was the place where strategic battles continuously took place in Vietnam’s military history, culminating in the victory over Chi Lang (October 10, 1427). So a resounding victory destroyed the reinforcement army of more than 100,000 Minh troops led by Lieu Thang, contributing to the end of the long resistance war, overthrowing the Ming dynasty’s domination and regaining the whole country and country.
It can be said that the victories at Ai Chi Lang Son confirmed the will to fight to protect the mountains and rivers of the people of the South and smashed the invasion intentions of all enemies.
A peaceful corner of Ai Chi Lang today (Photo: collectibles)
3. Explore Ai Chi Lang Son Mausoleum
Today, Ai Chi Lang has become a historical relic with majestic natural scenery attracting many tourists. Visiting Ai Chi Lang, visitors will witness the peaceful Thuong River and the mountains leaning on each other like a charming painting, both majestic, majestic and poetic.
Ai Chi Lang complex is called “The largest open-air history museum” with 52 relics (including relics, vestiges, existing landmarks and oral stories in folklore). However, there are only 46 official monuments left, the site is still recorded and the other 6 sites have disappeared.
Map of Ai Chi Lang and places in the relic site (Photo: collectibles)
Spreading throughout the valley and along the road, there are scattered many low mountains such as: Ma Yen, Ham Quy, Ky Lan, Phuong Hoang, Na Nong, Na San…
3.1. Cai Kinh mountain range
Cai Kinh mountain range (also known as Mo Nhai mountain) is located to the west of Ai Chi Lang. The name of the mountain is named after the leader of the Tay ethnic group named Hoang Dinh Kinh (Cai Kinh) who led the insurgent army to fight the French colonialists when they first set foot on Lang Son land. Thanks to his great merit and extraordinary loyalty, the people of all ethnic groups in the region greatly admired him, so they named the mountain range that he once established as the Cai Kinh range.
Cai Kinh mountain range is associated with the name of the indomitable hero of Lang (Photo: collectibles)
3.2. Demon Gate – Devil’s Face Mountain
Ai Chi Lang has 2 gates: in the north is the mandarin gate and in the south is the Alley. About 100m from Ai Chi Lang is a mountain with a very unique name: Devil Face Mountain. The reason is so named because on the cliffs there are cliffs forming a face shape that people think resembles a demon’s face. Interestingly, the local people do not consider the mountain a symbol of evil and fear, but on the contrary as a guardian deity, protecting the peaceful life here.
Devil’s Face Mountain is considered as a guardian god protecting people’s lives (Photo: collectibles)
Visiting Ai Chi Lang – Demon Gate, visitors can register to listen to the narrator of the Chi Lang Victory Gallery to know more about the history and courage of the Vietnamese army and people during thousands of years of construction and keep water.
3.3. Enjoy famous specialties in Chi Lang
Visiting Chi Lang, in addition to enjoying the beautiful scenery and learning more about the nation’s history, visitors also have the opportunity to enjoy the famous specialty fruit here, which is na Chi Lang. Also with ecstatic aroma, sweet taste like Bac Son tangerine, Mau Son peach, Bao Lam persimmon…, Chi Lang na Chi Lang is always appreciated and exported everywhere because the taste is not available everywhere.
Na Chi Lang is a famous specialty in Lang Son (Photo: Thuan Bui)
The na season lasts from July to the end of September , visitors can visit the na garden to see how people transport each load of na from the mountain to the ground through a very unique homemade pulley system.
In addition, visitors can also enjoy Lang Son specialties with unique processing and flavors such as: roasted duck , roasted pork with honey, humiliation , sour pho , banh bao, Huu Lung spring rolls, cakes Lang Son wormwood …
The dish of humiliation with extremely sophisticated and unique processing (Photo: collectibles)
In addition to Ai Chi Lang, visitors to Lang Son can also visit the Mac Dynasty citadel, To Thi rocky mountain, Mau Son tourist area , Bac Son valley, Ky Lua market, Tam Thanh pagoda … Famous landmarks here, visitors will need about 2 days.
Source: Collected internet.