VHO - The unique route with 1,000 stone steps in the south of Hoanh Son Quan, a vestige of the ancient "North-South Thien Ly" road, was discovered and restored by the people and authorities of Quang Trach district (Quang Binh province) to preserve and promote the historical and cultural values in the locality.
1,000 stone steps discovered south of Hoanh Son Quan
Mr. Tran Quang Trung, Vice Chairman of Quang Trach District People's Committee, shared that after receiving information from people in Quang Dong commune, the local government has organized a survey of a path made of stone steps, stacked on top of each other, just enough for footprints, connecting from Lieu Hanh Temple to Hoanh Son Quan relic.
This stone path has been covered by grass and trees for decades. This path is more than 1km long with more than 1,000 ancient stone steps, built during the Nguyen Dynasty, about 200 years ago.
The starting point of the ancient stone road is at Ha Ma stele, in front of the gate of Lieu Hanh Holy Mother Temple (Quang Dong commune, Quang Trach district). The road follows the mountainside, through the dense forest, leading to the top of Ngang Pass - where Hoanh Son Quan, an important historical structure, is located.
Along this stretch of road, there are also stone tombs to mark graves. These may be the graves of soldiers who guarded the Hoanh Son gate in the past and were buried on the spot and had stone tombs built, Mr. Trung added.
Going back in history, many centuries ago, on the "North-South Highway", when traveling from Ha Tinh province to Quang Binh province or vice versa, our ancestors had to follow the stone steps on this unique route to cross the dangerous Hoanh Son peak.
Later, when the modern road over Ngang Pass was built during the French colonial period, the road that our ancestors traveled in the past was rarely used and over time was buried by weeds.
The Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Trach district said that the restoration of the "Thien Ly Bac Nam" road has great significance in the work of preserving and promoting the cultural and historical values of the Lieu Hanh Holy Mother Temple relic to serve the beliefs of the people, creating an impressive destination for tourists from all over the country on their cultural, historical and spiritual tourism journey in the northern region of the province.
After visiting and worshiping the Lieu Hanh Holy Mother Temple, visitors can walk on the stone steps of the old road to experience and admire the majestic landscapes at Ngang Pass...
Restore the single route
Hoanh Son Gate is an important point guarding the “North-South Highway” with Hoanh Son Gate being over 4m high. The gate was built on the mountain, surrounded by stone. In front there is an open gate, on the left and right there are walls, and there are barracks.
At the same time, the “Thien ly Bac Nam” road was also built between the two mountain slopes of Ha Tinh and Quang Binh, with each side of the mountain slope having 1,000 stone steps for pedestrians to cross. The land on the Quang Binh side (south) belongs to Quang Dong commune, Quang Trach district, the land on the Ha Tinh side (north) belongs to Ky Nam commune, Ky Anh district.
According to historical records, in March 1833, King Minh Mang established a pass on the Hoanh Son mountain range to control the people and prevent criminals from passing through, called “Hoanh Son Quan” or Heaven’s Gate, located in Quang Dong commune, Quang Trach district (Quang Binh). Pedestrians traveling along the “Thien Ly Bac Nam” road had to pass through this only road across Hoanh Son.
The book Dai Nam Thuc Luc recorded: “In the 14th year of Minh Mang, the Ministry of War requested to place the gate at Hoanh Son, the king listened to the request and named it Hoanh Son… Later, because the Ministry of Public Works had a lot of work, he ordered the acting Minister of Bo Chinh, Quang Binh, Tran Van Tuan, to take charge of all matters, and summoned Phu (the acting Minister of Public Works, Doan Van Phu) back. After a month of work, he sent a captain and 20 soldiers from Quang Binh to guard it, taking turns once a month.”
During a working trip to Quang Trach (February 2024), Mr. Vu Dai Thang, Secretary of the Quang Binh Provincial Party Committee, proposed that the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Quang Trach district coordinate to restore the current status of the North-South highway connecting from Lieu Hanh Holy Mother Temple to Hoanh Son peak to serve the beliefs of the people, creating an impressive destination for tourists from all over the country on their cultural, historical and spiritual tourism journey in the northern region of Quang Binh.
Writing about the relic of Hoanh Son Quan, the book “ Quang Binh, Thang Tich Luc ” recorded: On the pass there was an old stone rampart of ancient Lam Ap and a brick door built in the 14th year of Minh Mang to serve as a mountain room. “In the 14th year of Minh Mang (1833), a door called Hoanh Son Quan was built on the top of the mountain, with stone statues on both sides of the door, one side running into the mountain, the other down to the sea. There was a guard post there to guard strictly.
In the article “Ngang Pass, a heavy burden on both shoulders”, the book Quang Binh relics and scenic spots wrote: Hoanh Son Quan - the gate was built during the Minh Mang dynasty with two stone walls running towards the mountain and down to the sea. The stone-paved road passing through “Hoanh Son Quan” has been marked with the footprints of many famous people of the country: From Ly Thuong Kiet, Le Thanh Tong to Nguyen Du, Le Quy Don, Cao Ba Quat, Ba Huyen Thanh Quan.
Referring to this stone road, the book Dong Khanh geography also wrote: "A southern road adjacent to Hoanh Son gate in Quang Binh".
Mr. Nguyen Chi Thang, Secretary of Quang Trach District Party Committee, said that restoring the current status of the "North-South Thien Ly" road connecting from Lieu Hanh Holy Mother Temple to Hoanh Son Quan with more than 1km and the original stone steps will help tourists have impressive experiences in their cultural and spiritual tourism journey in the northern region of Quang Binh...
In addition, it is expected that the old guard house of Hoanh Son Quan will also be restored to create an ancient cultural space for people and tourists to learn and experience how their ancestors crossed Deo Ngang. This restoration activity is also the basis for proposing to recognize the thousand-mile road through Deo Ngang as a historical relic.
Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/phat-lo-duong-thien-ly-bac-nam-qua-hoanh-son-quan-108160.html
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