Kinh Chu Cave

Kinh Chu Cave is a limestone cave on Duong Nham Mountain in Pham Thai Ward, Kinh Mon Town, Hai Phong (formerly Hai Duong Province). It is notable for its large natural cavern and a unique system of stone steles carved into the cave walls and cliffs. Recognized as a National Historical and Cultural Relic, it preserves inscriptions from the Tran, Le, Mac and Nguyen dynasties and is part of the An Phu - Kinh Chu - Nham Duong heritage complex.

Visitors can expect a limestone cave set on a forested hillside accessed by stone steps. Inside is a spacious cavern with stalactites, stalagmites, and natural rock formations, plus Buddhist statues and an altar. The main feature is the collection of historic stone steles with Han-Nom inscriptions carved directly onto the rock faces. The surrounding area includes mountain scenery, pagodas at the foot of the mountain, and viewpoints over the Kinh Thay River valley.

Kinh Chu Cave preserves a unique collection of 47 ma nhai stone steles with Han-Nom inscriptions dating from the Tran dynasty to the Nguyen dynasty, including Le and Mac periods. The inscriptions record poems, historical events and visits by scholars and officials. The site was recognized as a National Historical and Cultural Relic in 1962 and is a core component of the An Phu - Kinh Chu - Nham Duong Special National Relic Complex.

The cave is a long-standing Buddhist worship site with statues and altars inside, and a significant literary and epigraphic heritage site. The steles are valued as a stone archive of Vietnamese literature, calligraphy and history, reflecting the cultural and religious practices of scholars and monks who visited the cave over centuries.