Xuong Giang ancient citadel, located exactly in Xuong Giang ward, right in the center of Bac Giang city, Bac Giang province.
When talking about Bac Giang, people think of a land of outstanding people, with a rich history of building and defending the country, marking resounding victories. Among them, it is impossible not to mention the magnificent place Chi Lang - Xuong Giang. Since then, Xuong Giang Citadel has become a spiritual and tourist destination, honored as a special historical relic. National level, an interesting destination when visiting Bac Giang.
Xuong Giang is the name of the ancient citadel built by the Ming army in the 15th century (1407). The citadel was built of soil. According to the remains excavated, the citadel was built in a rectangular shape, along the East - West direction with a measured length of 600m, width measured in the North - West direction. South is 450m and with a total area of 27ha. Surrounding Xuong Giang Ancient Citadel is a thick and sturdy high earthen wall, with four corners surrounded by a fortress and a wide moat, with four open doors, the main door facing west.
According to the actual survey and relic records left behind by Xuong Giang Ancient Citadel, there are not many vestiges of the ancient citadel left, in which the citadel wall is about 3-4m higher than the surrounding ground, the base is 25m wide and the front is 16-20m wide. The 4 corners of Xuong Giang ancient citadel have 4 fortresses 4 meters higher than the citadel surface, protruding completely outside and outside the citadel is a surrounding trench system running around to ensure the ancient military strategy.
According to historical books, Xuong Giang Citadel is a place associated with the Xuong Giang victory of the famous Dai Viet army and people led by Le Loi. Here, the army defeated 100,000 Ming invaders in a battle lasting nearly a month stretching along the areas of Lang Son and Bac Giang today with four major victories:
October 10: Defeated the enemy and finished off Crown Prince Lieu Thang at Chi Lang gate;
The battle on October 15 defeated the military service in the Can Tram area, today Huong Son - Lang Giang, causing enemy general Bao Dinh Ba Luong Minh to commit suicide;
The battle of Ho Cat on October 18, located in the area of Voi, Xuong Lam, Phi Mo - Lang Giang today, caused Minister Ly Khanh to commit suicide.
Especially the battle of Xuong Giang on November 3, 1427, on Xuong Giang field (today in Tan Dinh, Xuan Huong, My Thai communes, Lang Giang district and Tho Xuong, Bac Giang city), our army won after 10 days of siege. In that battle, the insurgent army defeated up to 70,000 enemy troops, led by two talented generals Thoi Tu and Hoang Phuc, forcing the Ming army at that time stationed in Dong Do - Hanoi to withdraw to the country.
Last year's victory of the Lam Son insurgent army led by the talented general Tran Nguyen Han to take over Xuong Giang citadel and destroy Lieu Thang's powerful army made an important contribution to drawing a historic victory from which to continue. The foundation to help our country overthrow the brutal rule of the Ming Dynasty that lasted for 20 years, deciding our country's independence in the 15th century.
At that time, Xuong Giang Citadel was considered the center of the battle and was continuously a historical witness to many important historical events of the homeland at that time, especially the famous uprising with its leadership. The leadership of general Nguyen Huu Cau, also known as District He, occurred in the second half of the 18th century.
As a historical witness of many illustrious historical events, Xuong Giang Ancient Citadel is still chosen every year by Bac Giang province as a festival venue, usually on January 6-7. During the festival, there are many unique rituals and fun games to commemorate the historic victory of the Lam Son insurgent army at Xuong Giang Citadel that year. Before the opening day of the festival, usually on the evening of January 5, young people here organize campfires and at communal houses, pagodas and cultural houses, they will light torches all night to wait until the fifth watch to line up. party, banging gongs and dancing drums and bringing them back to the gathering place to open the festival. Therefore, every year in the early morning of the 6th day of the first lunar month, we will enjoy the wonderful festive atmosphere with groups of people from the wards and communes, raising flags, beating drums, and all kinds of floats and pants. Brightly dressed, one after another poured from the streets towards the festival center and started the biggest festival of the year here.
With that historical significance, on January 22, 2009, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued a decision to classify Xuong Giang Citadel as a national historical relic, with 14 relic sites: northeast, east gate, north gate, southwest gate, south gate, central area, traces of the citadel, the section of Xuong Giang river flowing through the citadel; Archaeological excavation sites No. 2, 3, Phu well, Thanh temple and 2 points outside the protected area: southeast gate, west gate.
Bac Giang
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