HÀ NỘI — Quảng Ninh Province authorities have anounced a plan to build a second cable system on Yên Tử Mountain, famous for its beautiful landscape and Buddhist heritage.

According to the plan, the total length of the two new cable routes will be 2,200m.  The destination landing station will be situated some 500m away from Buddhist King Trần Nhân Tông’s statue and some 600m away from the Đồng Pagoda.

The project with a total investment of VNĐ650 billion (US$2.9 million) is aimed at reducing traffic jams during the festivive days.

The Quảng Ninh project has been supported by relevant agencies and the Most Venerable Thích Thanh Quyết from the Việt Nam Buddhist Shangha.  Representatives from the agencies also contributed their suggestions to be incorporated in the document.

Deputy Chief of Ministry Agriculture and Rural Development‘s Administration of Forestry Cao Chí Công, however, expressed concern about the project, saying it could affect the local forest .

Chairman of the National Heritage Council Lưu Trần Tiêu said the new cable system should not affect the pilgrims and landing stations should not be higher than Buddhist King Trần Nhân Tông’s statue.

A Construction Ministry representative stressed that the new cable system should be designed keeping in mind tourists’ safety because the Đồng Pagoda is located in difficult terrain.

Buddhist King Trần Nhân Tông (1258-1308), the third king of the Trần dynasty, ascended the throne when he was just 21. He is famed for defeating Mongol invaders twice during his 15-year reign.

The King abdicated the throne when he was 35 and spent the rest of his life on Yên Tử Mountain practising and propagating Buddhism. He founded the Trúc Lâm School of Zen and worked to unify different Vietnamese Buddhism sects into Vietnamese Zen Buddhism. 

The Complex of Yên Tử Monuments and Landscape is located on the Đông Triều mountain range, at the intersection of the two provinces of Quảng Ninh and Bắc Giang.

The heritage site is mostly situated in a mountainous region, some 600m above sea level. With its peak at 1,068m above sea level.--VNS