ĐÀ NẴNG — The Ngũ Hành Sơn (Marble Mountains) landscape site in the central city of Đà Nẵng has been recognised as a National Special Relic, one of the 16 approved by the Prime Minister recently.

Director of the city’s Department of Culture and Sports Huỳnh Văn Hùng said the mountains were one of the most visited sites in Đà Nẵng and the city’s second National Special Relic after the Điện Hải Citadel was recognised last year.

He said the recognition will help the city invest more funds in preserving historical sites, cultural relics and ancient buildings.

The site – which features five mountains by a pristine beach in Ngũ Hành Sơn District – was first recognised as a national historical and cultural relic in 1990.

The landscape, which covers 2.2sq.km, was given the name Ngũ Hành Sơn, or Non Nước, by the 18th of King Minh Mạng under the Nguyễn Dynasty in 1837.

According to archaeologists, the complex of marble mountains were formerly islands. The beach they sit on ranges from Sơn Trà peninsula to Non Nước beach.

Rainwater and weather gradually turned the five mountains into different shades of white, pink, red, blue and brown, and formed caves with beautiful stalactites.

Over time, pagodas were built in the caves and a stone sculpture village emerged.

Thủy Sơn Mountain stands 160 metres tall on an area of 15 hectares. Its caves and stalactite formations are the most visited feature of the complex.

Kim Sơn Mountain, the largest of the Marble Mountains, hosts the annual Quán Thế Âm (Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva) Festival – one of the 15 largest events in Việt Nam – at the Đá and Quán Thế Âm pagodas on the 19th day of lunar February. The festival draws around 10,000 residents and tourists each year.

The 400-year-old Non Nước stone sculpture village at the foot of the Marble Mountains was also recognised as a national intangible heritage.

The complex hosted 1.5 million tourists in 2018.

According to the cultural heritage department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, a total of 106 relics have received National Special Relic status.

Đà Nẵng has included 50 historical sites and 18 national historical monuments in its restoration project for 2016-20. — VNS