Two lim trees over 700 years old, evidence of Bach Dang victory in Quang Yen

TPO – According to historical records, two Gieng Rung trees located in the center of Quang Yen town, Quang Ninh province, over 700 years old, are the remaining evidence in the forest that was cut down by the Tran Dynasty army and people to make Bach Dang stakes in the naval battle that defeated the invading Yuan-Mongol army in 1288.

10/01/2025 | 15:26

TPO – According to historical records, two Gieng Rung trees located in the center of Quang Yen town, Quang Ninh province, over 700 years old, are the remaining evidence in the forest that was cut down by the Tran Dynasty army and people to make Bach Dang stakes in the naval battle that defeated the invading Yuan-Mongol army in 1288.

Two Gieng Rung lim trees are located at the foot of Tien Son mountain, in zone 5, Quang Yen ward, Quang Yen town, Quang Ninh province.

According to many elders in the area, the two lim trees over 700 years old are the remaining relics of the vast lim forests of the past, stretching from Chi Linh City (Hai Duong province) through Dong Trieu to Quang Yen in Quang Ninh province, including 54 lim "old" trees in Cao Temple - Hai Duong.

The two ironwood trees are about 30 m high, with a base circumference of 5.5-7.2 m, and the main trunk is about 6 m high.

The trees have lush, green branches and leaves, with canopies reaching up to 20-25 m long, providing shade for the entire surrounding neighborhood. The two lim trees are a testament to the heroic history of the Tran Dynasty’s army and people on the Bach Dang River.

According to legend, in 1288, during the resistance war against the Yuan-Mongol army, Tran Hung Dao and the generals of the Tran Dynasty cut down large lim trees in the lim forest from Hai Duong to Quang Ninh, with an average length of 2m-2.8m, some trees were up to 3.2m long, with a diameter of 20-25cm, sharpened at the top, covered with iron, then planted in the Bach Dang River to defeat the powerful army from the North.

These two lim trees are the remaining evidence of the lim forest of the past. Located about 2 km from the Yen Giang and Bach Dang stake sites and the Bach Dang Giang special national historical site, the two lim trees are evidence of the Dong A spirit, demonstrating the solidarity of the entire Dai Viet nation.

Next to the two ancient lim trees are two wells built during the French colonial period, closely associated with the daily life of the local people. Currently, the two wells are surrounded by clean bricks and covered. “The water from the two wells is sweet and clean, and used to serve the entire residential area. But now every house has tap water, so few people still use well water. The two lim trees grow well thanks to the two wells that provide water for watering the plants,” said a resident living nearby.

The two Lim Gieng Rung trees were recognized by the Ministry of Culture as national monuments in 1998 and belong to the Bach Dang Victory Historical Relic Complex. With the special historical, cultural and scientific values ​​of the relic site, on September 27, 2012, the Prime Minister decided to rank the Bach Dang Victory Historical Relic Site in 1288 as a special national monument.

Through the changes of nature and many devastating wars, the two Gieng Rung lim trees still grow strongly.

In 2008 and 2011, two lim trees showed signs of dry leaves due to a record cold spell. Quang Yen town invited experts to save the trees by pruning dry branches, watering with growth chemicals and adding nutrients. After that, the two lim trees miraculously recovered, with lush branches and leaves.

In 2024, on the occasion of the 93rd anniversary of the founding of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and welcoming the Congress of the Vietnam Youth Union, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of Quang Yen town coordinated with the Management Board of the Bach Dang Special National Historical Site to renovate the area around the two lim trees and install a QR code board to introduce to the people and tourists about the national historical site of the two Gieng Rung lim trees.

Along with the People's Committee of Quang Yen town, the surrounding area was renovated into a green park. Thanks to the shade of the trees, this place has become a place for community activities, children's play and a place for the elderly to exercise every afternoon.

Visiting the Bach Dang stake field, the relics associated with the Bach Dang victory such as Tran Hung Dao Temple, Vua Ba Temple, Yen Giang stake field... and two ancient lim trees, visitors will see the historical story of more than 700 years ago closer to reality, the shadow of the ancient people still seems to be here.

Quoc Nam

Source: https://tienphong.vn/hai-cay-lim-hon-700-tuoi-chung-tich-chien-thang-bach-dang-tai-quang-yen-post1708407.tpo