To discover many interesting things of Chau Thoi Mountain

Chau Thoi Mountain located in Binh An ward (Di An City) was recognized and ranked as a national scenic relic in 1989. This is considered one of the most beautiful landscapes in Binh Duong, which is well known to many people. Here, visitors have chance to enjoy beautiful landscape of mountains and forests, and visit Chau Thoi Mountain Pagoda - one of the oldest pagodas in Binh Duong.

From a distance, tourists are able to see the pagoda perched on Chau Thoi Mountain.

 To visit Chau Thoi Mountain

According to archives of Provincial Museum, Chau Thoi Mountain is 82m high above sea level, and is very convenient for sightseeing. As arriving in Binh An ward of Di An city or surrounding areas, everyone is able to see Chau Thoi Mountain very clearly from afar. On the mountain, the pagoda shadow hidden behind trees makes the scene more impressive.

From the gate at the mountain root, we can go to the mountain by two ways. Many tourists, who love hiking, may go along 220 steep steps to walk up the mountain. This 220-step mountain path was built by monks themselves. Although climbing mountain by walking is a little tired, it is not a problem, if you walk leisurely while enjoying the scenery or take a break when you find your legs are tired.

Another way is to ride a motorcycle up the mountain. This path is quite steep and zigzag, but in return, you may admire the beautiful scenery at each height level. The feeling of riding a motorbike up the mountain is quite thrilling but also very interesting. After only a few minutes riding and we can reach the top of the mountain. Now, the thrill at first is replaced by a gentle, peaceful feeling as hearing the pagoda bell ringing in the middle of the air. That is also where Chau Thoi Mountain Pagoda is perched, an indispensable destination in many Buddhist pilgrimages.

Standing in the front yard, tourists may overlook  sceneries, streets below, which appear vastly and very beautifully. All these scenes plus the secluded space, bell ringing here form a very gentle scene that attracts visitors from everywhere. Especially, on weekends or big holidays, full-moon days, Chau Thoi Mountain welcomes large numbers of visitors. They come here to enjoy beautiful scenery and visit a Buddhist temple to find peace and comfort for their hearts.

Historical value

Chau Thoi Mountain is located in the middle of a crowded residential area, very close to Dong Nai province and Ho Chi Minh City. Along with the erosion of time, the destruction of war and human exploration, the scenic beauty of Chau Thoi Mountain in general, Chau Thoi Mountain Pagoda in particular has many changes, but this mountain and this pagoda still exist, is chosen by many people as a tourist destination or whenever there is a chance to go on a pilgrimage. According to archives of Provincial Museum, on the top of Chau Thoi Mountain, there is a pagoda built in 1612 by Monk Khanh Long. Up to now, the pagoda has been restored and embellished many times and undergone many generations of monk abbot.

Chau Thoi Mountain Pagoda is now considered to be the oldest pagoda in Binh Duong and was formed early in the Southern region. In addition to Buddhism cultural values, the pagoda also used to be the shelter of many revolutionaries in some historical periods. With the advantage of rugged terrain and concealed mountain landscape, during the two resistance wars against the French colonialists and the US imperialism, Chau Thoi Mountain was home to many revolutionary soldiers. The pagoda is also the rear supporting money, rice, and medicine for the revolutionary forces.

Unique architecture

Visitors coming here are quite impressed with the decorative pattern covered with porcelain pieces. From dragons placed on temple roof to patterned lines in the main hall are made up of reassembled porcelain pieces. Pictures of  four supernatural creatures, the Buddha etc. in front of the pagoda are also inlaid with porcelain pieces. For local people, Chau Thoi Mountain Pagoda is not only a place for Buddhist activities but also folk beliefs. There are also a number of shrines within the pagoda.

In particular, the pagoda still preserves two large bells cast in 1988 (according to Thien Mu Pagoda's bell (Hue), weighs 1.5 tons; and in 2003 (weighs about 5 tons). In addition, in the years 1996-1998, the pagoda also cast 7 bronze Buddha statues; built another 24m high stupa within the pagoda. In 2009, the late monk Thich Minh Thien started building an open-air statue of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva of 22.5m high, over 100 tons. According to Culture and Information Office of Di An City, Chau Thoi Mountain Pagoda still preserves many valuable ancient artifacts, with about 55 classified objects. Among these, the most valuable is three Buddha statues carved in stone dating back to the end of the eighteenth century, and a statue of Avalokitesvara carved from jackfruit wood of over 100 years old.

With these values, on 21 April 1989, Chau Thoi Mountain was ranked as a national monument. Chau Thoi Mountain and Pagoda is one of the most famous scenic relics of Binh Duong. Due to the mountain scenery plus beautiful features of a mountain pagoda, every year, Chau Thoi Mountain attracts thousands of visitors inside and outside the province.

Reported by Cam Ly - Translated by Ngoc Huynh

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