Elephant Mountain Hai Phong

Elephant Mountain Hai Phong is a complex of rocky mountains. The mountain is located about 20 km from Hai Phong city, shaped like an elephant lying down. Elephant mountain belongs to Truong Thanh, An Tien and An Thang communes of An Lao district. Mountain is one of the historical relics and national landscapes of Hai Phong city which was ranked by the state on April 28, 1962. This is also one of the major archaeological sites in the northeastern coast.

Archaeological relics on An Lao Elephant Mountain

In 1930, French archaeologists discovered and confirmed that the Elephant Mountain area is an archaeological relic, the cradle of prehistoric and primitive people. At the end of the Bronze Age in the Iron Age, over 2,500 years ago, it was a period of development between the Dong Son culture and Ha Long culture. This is one of the major archaeological sites in the northeastern coast between the East-West corridor.

Historical traces on An Lao Elephant Mountain

Under the Hai Ba Trung period, female general Le Chan chose Elephant Mountain to build bases, recruiting soldiers and soldiers, and collecting food to fight the enemy.

By the sixteenth century, the Mac Dynasty chose Elephant Mountain to build troops, set up and build a big budget base to protect the area of Duong Kinh gateway (in Ngu Doan commune, Kien Thuy district today). During this period, many works such as palaces, citadels were built, temples were built in the Elephant Mountain area. However, until now, these works are no longer available, only saved by some traces of names of some places such as Chot cave (kitchen), Dau battle, Mac house, princess palace…

When the French colonialists invaded Vietnam, Elephant Mountain was the base of rebellion against the French of the Capital, the Binh Binh. During the war against France, Elephant Mountain is an unimportant battlefield to protect the North West gateway of Hai Phong.

Ancient buildings and architecture

Area of the relics, Elephant Mountain is famous for its ancient cultural structures. Long Hoa pagoda was built in the Ly dynasty (11th century) because of war, although the pagoda is no longer present, but the name and beauty and the pure beauty are still deposited and passed down from this life through other life. The current Chi Lai Communal House is an ancient wooden structure of unknown construction year. The temple worships Cao Son Dai Vuong, a blissful minister of the 18th Hung King. Chi Lai Pagoda (Linh Son tu) has the upper part of the wooden frame architecture made in the 19th century; the part of the temple road was restored.

Elephant Mountain was once one of the bustling metropolitan Buddhist centers from the 11th – 12th centuries.

Sights and Festivals

Elephant Mountain is quite unique with charming water and paint, bordered by Lach Tray and Da Do rivers. There are many interesting caves in the mountain (Mong Voi cave, Nam Cao cave, Bac Dau cave, clustered hills and mountains, lush forest trees stretching on hillsides and valleys extending over an area of nearly 300 ha.

Elephant Mountain traditional festival on January 15, 16, 17 every year.