Ranges of limestone mountains and hills move up and down along winding roads on Dong Van Plateau in northern Ha Giang Province, making this tableland a destination of original stone landscapes that capture the eyes of all nature lovers once they travel to the province.
Every year, a lot of local and foreign tourists travel by motorcycle and car through more than 460km of passes and curving roads from Hanoi to the plateau to see with their own eyes the imposing natural wonders at more than 1,000m above the sea level.
The Quan Ba Heaven Gate leads visitors to this plateau of magnificent wonders. There, winds, sunlight and fog have carved limestone mountains and hills into magnificent natural works and whatever shapes that visitors can imagine.
It is hard to describe the beauty and magnificence of the open world. Many visitors call it a painting featuring shy ethnic lasses nestled in their traditional costumes in the morning when it is shrouded by clouds of thick mist and then burly mountainous men with strong muscles when they are shined under the sunlight.
The painting looks more beautiful on clear days in summer and spring when ethnic people, especially women in their colorful costumes, climb on the mountains to do the farming. Wild flowers blossoming from stone cracks also add liveliness to the painting.
No one knows exactly when the limestone mountains and hills came into existence. Geologists say they must be hundreds of millions of years as they provide links and clues to the development of the earth's crust and keep geological heritage values.
There are caves and grottos under the limestone mountains, where geologists have discover astonishing landscapes and biodiversity. These factors are the reasons behind a plan to establish a geological park from 2007 till 2012 to restore natural heritages of the plateau covering Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Meo Vac and Dong Van districts in the province.
Dr. Vu Cao Minh of the Vietnam Institute of Geology says that the geological diversity and the restoration of stone sediments on the Dong Van Plateau will make this region a great destination for research, geological education and sightseeing.
Of course, the Dong Van Plateau attracts visitors near and far because it is home to not only ranges of mountains and hills but also streams, rivers and passes including Ma Pi Leng Pass located between Dong Van and Meo Vac in the northern province.
The 15km pass on the sides of magnificent mountain ranges runs along a certain section of the Nho Que River that weaves its way like a white silver ribbon through the limestone ravines.
A good time to visit the pass is from July to October, when the imposing views of mountains and rock walls shine under the blazing sunshine. This pass turns into a festive street in the early morning of Sundays when lines of Dao, H'Mong and people of other ethnic groups walk from all directions of the mountains down to the pass before heading for the colorful Dong Van Market on that day.
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