The land of Quang is famous as land that preserves many impressive and ancient cultural and historical values, so a trip back to the golden past in the ancient citadel of Quang Ngai is an extremely worthwhile activity to experience.
History of Quang Ngai Ancient Citadel
Nui But or Cam Thanh ancient citadel, Gam citadel is an ancient citadel located on Phan Huy Ich street, Nguyen Nghiem ward, Quang Ngai city, Quang Ngai province, formerly Phu Nhon village, Son Tinh town, Binh district. Paint.
The name “Nui But” originates from the mountain symbolizing Quang Ngai literature located near the citadel, while “Cam Thanh” began to appear in the 19th century with the meaning of talking about a beautiful citadel in the list of 12 scenes. the beauty of Quang.
The current citadel that we see
It is known that the citadel was first built in 1749 under the reign of Lord Nguyen Phuc Khoat in the north of Tra Khuc bridge. Then in 1802 it was moved to Phu Dang commune, in 1807 it changed to Chanh Mong commune and it took 8 years to complete.
The period from 1815 to 1945 was when the ancient citadel of Quang Ngai reached its most glorious period because it was used as the administrative center of the feudal regime and the French army. And it is a pity that in 1947 the old citadel was completely destroyed, leaving only traces in front of Ninh Tho hotel, in the square of Quang Ngai province.
Remnants of the old citadel
The historical work that we see today is a model of reconstruction according to the old structure through images and drawings, established by the Quang Ngai Center for the Promotion of Multi-Cultural Values to preserve and promote Quang Ngai heritage to domestic and international tourists.
How to move to the ancient citadel of Quang Ngai
From the center of Quang Ngai city, you go east onto Nguyen Nghiem street towards Quang Trung street, at the first intersection, turn right onto Le Trung Dinh street, then turn left at Quang Ngai Provincial Veterans Association and enter the road. Tran Cam, then at the intersection with Phan Huy Ich Street, turn right to see the tourist area of Quang Ngai ancient citadel on the right side of the road.
Architecture of the ancient citadel of Quang Ngai
Quang Ngai Ancient Citadel was built based on the inspiration of Sa Huynh and Champa cultures, so it has a square-shaped architecture with an area of over 26ha and a facade overlooking the imperial city of Hue. in the north. Surrounded by the romantic Tra Khuc River, Thien An mountain, Ong mountain and majestic Da Den mountain, creating a charming scene.
Moreover, because the citadel is built of 1.6m thick laterite with an eye-catching brown-orange color and the walls are carved with delicate symmetrical motifs, it gives us the feeling that we are lost in the unique architecture of the temples. India’s ancient castle.
Initially, the ancient Cam citadel had 4 gates, but then it was believed that the South had a bad ass and gathered many evil spirits, so the southern gate was filled with 3 doors in the remaining 3 directions. arches with ironwood doors, gazebos and cannons to protect the citadel. More interesting is that the gate is not in the middle like other buildings, but they are all deviated by about 15 degrees.
Ancient city gate (Illustrated image)
The inner city area was distributed through two phases: the first period in 1885 the Nguyen Dynasty arranged military camps and palaces in the South, and the North was dedicated to the court of An Sat, Doc Hoc, Thai hospital, and Lanh. soldiers, Bo Chanh, officials’ houses and prisons.
After the French colonialists invaded, they changed almost all the positions and names of the ancient citadel of Quang Ngai , typically: the Thai medical clinic changed to a hospital, the Bo Chanh palace changed to Tuan Vu palace and moved to the South, the Palace of Lanh Binh was moved to the side of the Dic Hoc Palace, the Doc Hoc school was abandoned, replaced by a villa and a legation office, added a post office, and at the same time a primary school and a salary warehouse to the East.
The Gam ancient citadel in Quang Ngai is now restored, although it is not as big and wide as the original, but the architecture is quite similar, and there are a few more works inspired by Cham culture and ancient temple architecture to visit. Guests have much more to explore.
Quang Ngai Ancient Citadel today (Photo @thanhcoquangngai)
Great experiences in the ancient citadel of Quang Ngai
It is not simply just to admire the ancient architecture like other relics, but when coming to Quang Ngai ancient citadel, visitors can also experience many interesting cultural activities such as admiring the “ceramic road on the sea”, Vietnam’s largest collection of ancient ceramics and the architecture of the Ancient Viet House.
Coming to “the ceramic road on the sea”, visitors will see decoding documentaries about 9 700-year-old Binh Chau shipwrecks found in Vietnamese waters as well as observe thousands of precious antiques with their own eyes. Once sunk under the coral reef in the ocean, how was it recovered?
Antiquities display area in the citadel (Photo Facebook of Quang Ngai Ancient Citadel)
At the exhibition space of the oldest ceramics set in Vietnam, you will learn more about Chu Dau pottery – a famous Vietnamese cultural quintessence born in the 15th century and discover the cradle of Sa culture. Huynh with the ancient pottery kilns still existing on this land.
Meanwhile, coming to the Ruong Vo Viet house in Quang Ngai Gam citadel , visitors will be satisfied with the 300-year-old ancient architecture collected intact like the house of a mandarin under the Nguyen Dynasty, or the ancient buildings of the Nguyen Dynasty. The architecture is inspired by Vietnamese and Champa culture, extremely unique and impressive.
The architecture of ancient houses is preserved (Photo Facebook of Quang Ngai Ancient Citadel)
In addition, here also regularly organize cultural exchange and experience events with different topics in order to educate people to always preserve and promote the unique cultural values of Quang Nam so The next generation is more known and proud.
But the most impressive and interesting activity is the country market – where students can create ceramic products by themselves, then draw patterns on their faces or print and paint them. Dong Ho paintings from woodblocks to stimulate thinking and practice patience. Especially, you can also enjoy delicious specialties such as: braised beef, Sa Huynh sticky rice and many other interesting drinks… so who doesn’t love this.
Delicious dishes at the ancient citadel tourist area (Photo Facebook of Quang Ngai Ancient Citadel)
If you are tired of visiting poetic beaches or majestic mountains, you can visit the ancient citadel of Quang Ngai to relax and feel the glorious cultural beauty of the nation once.
Photo: Internet