Laos Tour Part 4: Unforgettable Ancient Capital
*Laos Tour Part 4: Unforgettable Ancient Capital*
In 1353, the Lan Xang Kingdom, which unified Laos for the first time, established its capital in Luang Prabang.
Thanks to the China-Laos Railway, this ancient capital listed as a World Heritage Site is unveiling its veil and welcoming more and more tourists.
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Mount Phu Si is a landmark of the ancient capital located in the city center.
We climbed up more than 300 stone steps and reached the top of the mountain in one go.
Walk around the golden-roofed pagoda and the cave Buddhist temple on the top of the mountain, and look around; although the mountain is not high, the ancient city is in full view.
The Nam Khan River merges into the Mekong River here, and the two rivers surround this thousand-year-old city like bright silver ribbons, nourishing it.
There are no tall buildings in the city. Except for the temples and pagodas, most of the buildings are a mixture of Laotian and French styles.
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The Grand Palace, built in 1904, is located between Mount Phousi and the Mekong River.
This has always been the sleeping palace of the king and his family of the Kingdom of Laos. After the monarchy was abolished in 1975, it was converted into a museum.
In the Grand Palace, the most magnificent hall is the one that houses the golden Buddha "Prabang".
The symmetrical and beautifully curved sloping roofs and the intricately carved colonnades on the temple walls still retain the elegant Laotian national style.
The main building of the palace looks like a large French mansion, but the spire on the roof and the three elephant emblems on the door still show the style of the Lao royal family.
Photography is not allowed in the palace. The king's council chamber, study, living room, dining room, entertainment room...all still look the same as they did back then.
The walls of the rooms are mostly purple-red in color, with colored glaze inlaid with patterns, exuding elegance and splendor.
The Grand Palace has a rich collection of exhibits.
The unique equipment of the Laotian royal palace, such as the candlesticks, elephant seats, and hearses, are very impressive.
The gifts that China presented to the Kingdom of Laos, including screens, silk banners, and ivory balls, were exquisite and elegant.
The leather shoes and other items customized by the French for the king also tell the story of the historical humiliation that Laos endured from colonialism.
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Wat Xieng Thong is a magnificent royal temple and the most magnificent Buddhist holy place in Laos.
The big curve of the sloping roof looks like it is taking off into the sky. The lintel and outer walls are decorated with exquisite patterns.
In the hall, a giant Buddha stands majestically.
The four walls are black in color, with stories of Buddha and the king painted in gold foil, which looks dazzling.
There is a large gong against the wall. If you touch the bulge in the middle, it will emit a dull but penetrating sound.
The most worthy of careful appreciation is the large mural on the back wall outside the hall: "Tree of Life".
The murals are inlaid with colored sulfur glass and gems. Around the colorful and magnificent trees, you can see hunters, fairies, as well as peacocks, deer, cows, turtles and other birds and animals.
There are different versions of the meaning of the Tree of Life: a bridge connecting heaven, earth, people and gods; life and death follow each other, the philosophy of reincarnation...
My favorite is the simple and appropriate explanation:
The turtle rescued the entangled deer; the deer led the hunter away and protected other lives; in the forest of the Tree of Life, there is mutual assistance and harmony, and all beings are fulfilled.
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The meaning of the Tree of Life has penetrated into the hearts of Lao people. The power of simplicity and harmony may help this country get rid of poverty and move towards prosperity.
Lao people firmly believe that all living beings are Buddhas, are willing to give alms and help each other, tend to live a slow-paced life, and prefer cleanliness. It is said that there is rarely beating or scolding, very few thefts, and very few people spitting.
There are no traffic lights in Luang Prabang. Although large vehicles are not allowed to pass, there are still many small cars. Cars are coming and going, but I didn't hear a single car horn.
I visited the morning and evening markets in the ancient capital, where there were stalls everywhere, tents connected to each other, a wide variety of goods, and a constant flow of people. Most of the stall owners are women, and they all speak softly and with a pleasant expression.
We took a boat trip on the Mekong River as the sunset glowed. The dinner on the boat was sumptuous, the performance was natural and enthusiastic, and the changing scenery on both sides of the river was even more exciting.
It's time to say goodbye to this country. A boat full of excited tourists were talking about their unforgettable experiences.
I will never forget the Redwood Museum with its huge and exquisite collections; the Xiangkun Temple Ten Thousand Buddha Park with its solemn and humorous and profound meanings…
I can’t forget the ugly but sweet pineapples and mangoes; the lingering fragrance of bamboo tube rice and mango glutinous rice balls…
The ancient capital is unforgettable, and Laos is unforgettable.
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