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It
is situated on the
south-west side the
bay, 4 km from the
wharf outside of Ha
Long City. The way
to Thiên Cung is a
perilous one,
covered on both
sides by thick
forest. After
entering a narrow
gate, the grotto’s
130-meter-long girth
opens up. Getting in
we are more
astonished in front
of the very animated
and splendid beauty
which is made from
stalactite. On the
east wall of the
grotto, there is a
grandiose and
imposing picture
with characters of
tales.
Going out of the
Thiên Cung Grotto,
we have a sensation
of just watching a
unique, meticulous,
interesting fine-art
museum which is made
by nature, get out
of the imagine,
ability and
intellect of man.
This grotto is
recently discovered,
one of the most
beautiful grottoes
in Hạ Long Bay.
Legend has it, that
beautiful young lady
named Mây (cloud),
caught the eye of
the Dragon Prince
and he fell in love
with her. They were
betrothed, and their
wedding lasted seven
days and seven
nights in the very
centre of the
grotto.
In honour of the
wedding, small
dragons flew about
through the
stalactites and
stalagmites,
elephants danced
together happily,
snakes twined
themselves around
trees and two stone
lions danced with
their manes flowing
in the wind. A large
elephant, smartly
dressed, waited for
the bride and the
groom. The genies of
the south and north
stars also came to
attend the banquet,
and the atmosphere
was definitely
animated and lively.
All these scenes
have been
seemingly
fossilized in the
grotto.
In the centre are
four large pillars
supporting the "roof
of heaven.” From the
base to the top,
many strange images
seem to live in the
stone: birds, fish,
flowers and even
scenes of human
life. On the north
wall of the grotto a
group of fairies
seem to dance and
sing in honour of
the wedding. Under
the immeasurably
high roof,
stalactites make a
natural stone
curtain. Somewhere
there is the sound
of a drum beating,
but it is actually
just the noise made
by the wind blowing
through stone.
Arriving at the last
partition of the
grotto, a natural
gushing stream of
water babbles
throughout the year.
Here are three small
ponds of clear
water. Legend has
it, that this was
where Mây bathed her
100 children,
bringing them up
wisely and happily
into adolescence.
One path meanders
out of the grotto;
it was the way Mây,
together with 50 of
her children, took
to harvest new
lands. The 50
remaining children,
together with their
father, were left to
build the native
land. Left behind by
the mother was the
natural stream
described above.
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