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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 Thien
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 Ha 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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