Động Nhị Thanh

Nhi Thanh Cave - Nhi Thanh Grotto

Useful Information

Location:	52 Đ. Nhị Thanh, Tam Thanh, Thành phố Lạng Sơn, Lạng Sơn. Nhi Thanh Street, 1 km from Lang Son City. (21.8516233, 106.7517766)
Open:	All year daily. [2024]
Fee:	Adults VND 20,000, Children VND 10,000. [2024]
Classification:	Karst Cave Cave Church
Light:	Incandescent Coloured Light
Dimension:	L=500 m.
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Động Nhị Thanh, 52 Đ. Nhị Thanh, Tam Thanh, Thành phố Lạng Sơn, Lạng Sơn.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1779	Ngo Thi Si hired workers to clean the cave.

Description

Động Nhị Thanh (Nhi Thanh Cave) houses the Tam Giao Pagoda (Pagoda of the Three Religions), which means Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. The temple was built in front of the cave, with a wall which encloses a small park, a pagoda and the cave entrance. Huge letters above the cave entrance say "Khu Danh Thang Nhi-Tam Thanh". There is an altar inside the cave portal. The cave was developed with trails and electric light, and it is possible to visit the cave behind the cave temple. The site is popular as a temple and has a huge car park on the opposite side of the road.

Nhi Thanh Cave was discovered by Ngo Thi Si (*1726-✝1780), who was the ruler of this province between 1777 and 1780. In this short period of only three years he had a great influence. He changed the economy and national defence, strengthened culture and architecture, and developed scenic spots. This cave was one of eight beautiful landscapes of Lang Son he discovered and supported. He built the temple in the cave.

The cave is a long passage with a small cave river which flows out of the cave entrance. Some parts contain many graffiti of famous visitors across the centuries. These inscriptions are a sort of historic document, information on the history of Lạng Sơn Province. Some poets who visited the cave used the wall to write down their poems or literary works. There is also a statue showing Ngo Thi Si, engraved in 1779.

Động Tam Thanh and Động Nhị Thanh are only 700 m apart, both are on the western outskirts of the capital Lạng Sơn. The Ngoc Tuyen River flows through bot caves, it enters the karst tower at the river sink of Động Tam Thanh and reappears in the portal of Động Nhị Thanh. Then it flows into Sông Kỳ Cùng river. Both caves were discovered in the 18th century by Ngô Thin Sy, a military commander at the Lạng Sơn garrison.