Xuong Giang Ancient Citadel in Bac Giang Province

Xuong Giang Ancient Citadel is located in Xuong Giang commune, Bac Giang City, Bac Giang Province. This is an ancient citadel built by Minh dynasty (of China) in the 15th century.

Bac Giang is an ancient land with long tradition connected with the history of the country during the period of building and defending the country.

Xuong Giang Ancient Citadel is located in the commune of Xuong Giang, Bac Giang City

Xuong Giang Ancient Citadel is located in the commune of Xuong Giang, Bac Giang City, Bac Giang Province. Xuong Giang is the name of the ancient citadel built by the Minh dynasty in XV century (1407). Built from earth, the remnants show that the citadel is rectangular, the length in the direction of East – West is 600m, the width in the direction of north - south is 450 meters and it has an area of 27ha, with thick soil walls, four fortresses in four corners and the citadel is surrounded by wide moat with 4 doors, the main door faces the West.

According to the actual survey and monument records, the left traces of this ancient citadel are not much, the walls are around 3- 4 meters above the fields, the foot is 25 meters wide, the surface is from 16 to 20m wide, 4 fortresses in 4 corners protrude, the citadel is surrounded by the trench.

In the first excavation in 2008, archaeologists from the Archaeological Institute initially outlined the system of works in the architecture of Xuong Giang citadel.

According to historical records, Xuong Giang victory of Dai Viet army and people led by Le Loi defeated 10 thousand Minh invaders in nearly 1 month in the provinces of Lang Son and Bac Giang today. There were four great victories: the Battle on 10/ October smashing enemy’s vanguard and killing Prince Lieu Thang at Chi Lang border pass; the battle on 15/ October defeating the enemy in Can Tram (Huong Son- Lang Giang), forcing the enemy’s general Bao Dinh Ba Luong Minh to suicide; Ho Cat Battle on 18/ October (Voi, Xuong Lam, Phi Mo, Lang Giang) making Minister Ly Khanh suicide and the Battle taking place on the field of Xuong Giang (in the communes of Tan Dinh, Xuan Huong, My Thai of Lang Giang district, and Tho Xuong, Bac Giang city) on 3/ November/ 1427, after 10 days of siege, our military defeated more than seven thousand enemies led by Thoi Tu and Hoang Phuc, forced Minh invaders in Dong Do (Hanoi) to surrender and withdraw from our country.

The victory of Lam Son- Le Loi insurgent troops led by General Tran Nguyen Han occupied Xuong Giang citadel and destroyed Lieu Thang's army, made an important contribution to the historical victory overthrowing the yoke of tyranny Minh lasting 20 years and was a decisive victory for the independence of our nation in the XV century.

Xuong Giang citadel was considered the center of the battle and then also witnessed many important events in the homeland, especially the uprising led by Nguyen Huu Cau (Quan He) occurred in the second half of the 18th century.

To celebrate the historic victory of the Lam Son insurgent army in Xuong Giang, annually, Bac Giang holds the festival on 6th – 7th lunar January. During the festival, there are many ceremonies and special fun. Before the start, the festival (the night of 5th January) young people make a campfire. In communal houses, pagodas, temples, shrines and culture houses, lights and the torches are lighted all nigh. In the early morning of the 6th lunar January, the caravan with bright colorful clothes from the wards holding flags, playing drums, carrying palanquin from the streets flock to the center to start the festival...

With this historical significance, on 22nd January 2009, the Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued Decision No. 293 / QD-BVHTT-DL, which rated Xuong Giang victory historical relics as a national monument. There are 14 relics: The northeast door, the east door, the north door, the southwest door, the south door, central section, traces of the citadel, the part of Xuong Giang River flowing through the citadel; the archaeological area no. 2 and 3, Phu wells, Thanh Temple and two points outside the protected area including the southeast door and the west door. The protected relics scatter in the alternating location of the residential area of the villages of Dong Giang, Nam Giang, Trai Bac in Xuong Giang commune. There is also a part of Bac Giang School of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, Department of Plant Protection of Bac Giang province ...

With the values recognized in history, the consensus of all levels and sectors and people, the historical monument of Xuong Giang victory is forever the pride of the people of Bac Giang in particular, and people of Vietnam in general in the history of defeating the invaders of the country.

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