|
 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. |
