Returning to Hai Duong and visiting Cao An Phu temple, a famous destination in Kinh Mon land, visitors will admire the unique features of the architecture, learn about spiritual culture and admire the amazing natural scenery.
Hai Duong land has always been a convergence of architectural works bearing cultural and historical imprints, coming to this land, visitors will have the opportunity to discover the unique cultural and architectural features of Hai Duong province. Imprinted with words and history, Cao An Phu Temple is one of the outstanding landmarks. Traveling to Hai Duong and checking-in Cao An Phu temple to look back on the long history and immerse in the sacred space imbued with Vietnamese cultural and spiritual identity will be a great experience for anyone.
Cao An Phu Temple is a famous spiritual destination in Hai Duong. Photo: baotintuc
History of Cao An Phu Temple in Hai Duong
Cao An Phu Temple is located at the highest peak of An Phu mountain in An Sinh commune, Kinh Mon district with a length of 17km and a height of 246m, is the place to worship An Sinh Vuong Tran Lieu, father of Hung Dao Dai Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan. . Tran Lieu was born in the first year of Kien Gia in 1211 and is the brother of King Tran Thai Tong. According to recorded history in the new era of building a career, facing the threat of foreign invasion, Tran Lieu and his son Hung Dai Vuong unified the court and united the people to defeat the invaders with 3 victory over the Mongol – Nguyen army.
The temple worships An Sinh Vuong Tran Lieu. Photo: baotintuc
In 1237, the court cut land in many communes such as An Phu, An Sinh, An Duong… to grant Tran Lieu to establish a fiefdom and crown him An Sinh Vuong. After he died in the first year of Nguyen Phong 1251, people built a temple to worship him at An Phu mountain, which is Cao An Phu temple today. In addition to the main Cao temple area located on the top of the mountain, around the majestic space of the An Phu mountain range, people also built many architectural works associated with the career of An Sinh Vuong Tran Lieu.
The temple is located on the An Phu mountain range with an altitude of 246m above sea level. Photo: Mekongsean.vn
Cao An Phu Temple – a wonderful destination that fascinates tourists
Located in the middle of a majestic space of mountains and forests, the temple possesses an impressive beauty that has been praised for a long time. From Cao An Phu temple, looking to the northeast is the majestic Yen Tu range, to the northwest is the south Thien De 6 Kinh Chu cave with the winding Kinh Thay river, to the southwest is the vast delta where straight fields of flying storks.
The scenery of An Phu mountain range is very beautiful and poetic. Photo: dulichhaiduong.vn
In this mountain range, the most prominent is An Phu peak with the shape of a conical hat located at an altitude of 246m above sea level. The mountain range with gravelly soil, challenging gentle shape is easy to climb, visitors can go up the mountain from any direction. There are many precious trees in the An Phu range, at the foot of the valley are forest trees and myrtle hills mixed with mountainside trails. The charming scenery on the mysterious mountain range makes this place always a favorite place for many people to come to the threshold.
View from Cao An Phu temple area. Photo:@kelly_vu_22296
Thanks to its impressive beauty and unique spiritual space, Cao An Phu Temple in Hai Duong has become a very attractive destination. This temple on the top of this mountain has the architectural style of “First money, after Dinh” with three front halls, three middle houses and one harem.
Especially in the harem, which is said to be the place to store the remains of An Sinh Vuong, this area will usually be restricted to people, only on the day of his death will it be opened for people to worship and offer incense.
The architecture of Cao Temple follows the most pre-modern, post-dining style. Photo: Nguyen Thuong
In the complex of Cao An Phu temple relics , there is also an area to place a statue of Hung Dao Dai Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan, 12.7 meters high, assembled from 65 stone slabs. The majestic worshiping statue is placed in a strategic position looking to the East, expressing the desire to remind posterity to keep the mountains, rivers, sea and sky of Vietnam. It is known that the person who laid the first stone to build this monument was General Vo Nguyen Giap.
Statue of Hung Dao Dai Vuong. Photo:Vietworld
Coming to Cao An Phu Temple in Hai Duong, visitors will have the opportunity to admire a bas-relief made of giant ceramic, the content of which represents the resistance against the Nguyen – Mong army of the ceiling. The painting is 45 meters long, 2.5 meters high and is assembled by 265 bricks with impressive beauty that will make you admire.
Close-up of the ceramic relief at Cao An Phu temple. Photo: m.baohaiduong
Experience going to Cao An Phu temple for those who visit for the first time
Although Cao An Phu Temple is located on the top of a high mountain, the roads here have been cleared very easily. From Hanoi, if you want to go to Cao An Phu temple, you can travel by car or motorbike in about 2 hours. With motorbikes and cars, visitors can follow the route of Vinh Tuy Bridge Hanoi, turn into Co Linh Street to Thach Ban, then turn right onto Hanoi – Bac Giang Expressway/ National Highway 5 to DT388, turn onto Tran Hung Dao Street DDT189 /DT 389 then take the shortcut for another 1km to reach Cao An Phu temple road.
The way to Cao An Phu temple is very convenient. Photo: Dung Cao Pho
With passenger cars, visitors to Gia Lam, My Dinh or Giaps Bat bus stations take the bus to Kinh Mon for 50,000 VND/ticket/person. From Kinh Mon bus station, you take the bus to Cao An Phu temple about 7km.
Every year, on the 1-4 day of the lunar calendar, which is the anniversary of An Sinh Vuong’s death, Cao An Phu Temple will be crowded with tourists to offer incense, worship as well as visit the relic complex. At this time, there will be many cultural activities and special calendars, so you can visit to learn about the beauty of the indigenous culture of the local people. From Cao An Phu temple, you can combine visiting Kinh Chu cave or Con Son Kiep Bac scenic area because they are quite close to each other.
If you visit the temple on the 1st day of the lunar calendar, you will be able to participate in special cultural activities. Photo: Tran Anh Dung
Cao An Phu Temple is a great spiritual place for you to come back to worship and discover more architectural and spiritual beauties as well as the majestic natural scenery on An Phu mountain. If you have the opportunity to return to Hai Duong, do not forget to visit this attractive destination.
Source: Collected internet.