Yen Tu Pagoda is located in Uong Bi City, Quang Ninh Province, about 130km from Hanoi city’s center. Nestled in the magnificent landscape, Yen Tu pagoda sits 1,068m above sea level. It is part of a complex of pagodas, temples, towers and perennial forest.
Situated within the immense arched mountain range of north-eastern Viet Nam, Yen Tu Mountain bears at its peak Dong (Bronze) Pagoda at an altitude of 1,068m above sea level. The beauty of Yen Tu consists in the majesty of its mountains, and forest mingling with the ancient and solemn quietness of its pagodas, shrines and towers.
A Center of Buddhism
Under the Ly Dynasty, Yen Tu held Phu Van Pagoda with An Ky Sinh as its warden. However, Yen Tu only really became a center of Buddhism when King Tran Nhan Tong surrendered his throne to establish a Buddhist sect called Truc Lam Zen. He ordered the construction of close to 100 buildings of various sizes on Yen Tu Mountain. After his death, his successor, Phap Loa Dong Kien Cuong (1284-1330), ordered the building of 800 pagodas, shrines and towers throughout the country.
During the Le and Nguyen dynasties, Yen Tu pagoda became the focal point of Vietnamese Buddhism and was often subject to restoration. Consequently, Yen Tu conjugates different styles from various historic periods, visible in the many different designs and decorations that ornate its constructions.
Dong Pagoda
You can get to Hoa Yen Pagoda at the altitude of 534m by the cable car system and will see on this peak two 700-year-old frangipani trees, and then continue by the cable car system to An Ky Sinh. The bronze statue of King – Monk Tran Nhan Tong (138 tonnes in weight, 15m in height) is placed here. This is the largest bronze statue in Asia in 2014.
Besides, you can choose climbing up stairs leading to Dong Pagoda (Bronze Pagoda). There you will feel like walking on clouds. If the weather is agreeable, from this summit you can admire the dramatic landscape of the northeast of Vietnam.
Yen Tu Pagoda Festival
In spring, Yen Tu pagoda festival attracts a large number of visitors going on pilgrimage and sightseeing. Especially when Yen Tu Festival begins on the 10th day of the first lunar month and lasts until the end of third lunar month.
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