If you are looking for a journey that is both immersed in nature and challenges courage, experiencing adventurous ziplining at Yen Son Heaven Gate in Lang Son will definitely be a worthwhile choice to try once.
Located in Yen Son commune, former Huu Lung district, now Cai Kinh commune, Lang Son province, Yen Son Heaven Gate is a unique destination belonging to UNESCO Lang Son Global Geopark. This is a giant natural stone dome that pierces from one side to the other of the limestone mountain. The height of the dome is more than 60m and is located at an altitude of about 80m above the ground.
The terrain here is characterized by the Huu Lung limestone mountain region with vertical cliffs. Tower-shaped and cone-shaped mountain blocks interspersed with valleys create a scene that is both majestic and challenging. This is also what makes Yen Son Heaven Gate an attractive destination for those who love trekking and extreme sports.
Ms. Ngoc Yen (Hanoi) chose a day tour to reward herself with a trip beyond her own limits.
From early morning, the delegation departed to Yen Son Heaven Gate. After gathering at the meeting point, everyone was instructed by the tour guide on safety procedures, health checks and fully equipped with belts, helmets and specialized equipment before starting the journey.
The first trekking section is not too difficult, mainly crossing lush green custard apple gardens. The trail leading up the mountain is quite easy to travel but still has many slopes, enough for participants to feel their heart rate gradually increasing as they approach the conquering point.
After lunch and a break, the whole group took the opportunity to check-in at the Heaven Gate area with overlapping mountain scenery. Visitors can take a look at the lush green custard apple gardens and the winding roads between the limestone mountain ranges.
The highlight of the journey is the abseiling challenge – rappelling from the cliff down to the Heaven Gate area at an altitude of about 120m.
Standing in front of the edge of a vertical cliff, below is a deep space, the suspense and tension are clearly visible on the faces of many members of the delegation. According to the coach's instructions, each person gathers all their courage, slowly retreats from the edge of the cliff and performs rappelling down along the cliff.
When you are used to the height, the feeling of being suspended in mid-air becomes an exciting experience. This is also the time for Ms. Ngoc Yen and many members of the group to save a series of impressive and memorable photos in this unique "heaven gate".
After completing the challenge, the whole group continued to get off the mountain and get on the car to return to Hanoi, closing the journey of the day with many emotions.
Sharing after the trip, Ms. Ngoc Yen humorously said: "It's really a challenging trip to overcome personal limits when a lazy office worker aunt is diligently climbing. There are many sections where I really crawl on cliffs in the literal sense.
According to Ms. Yen, the most valuable thing about the trip is not only completing the rappel challenge but also the feeling of winning yourself.
If you don't want to experience ziplining, you can also go to Yen Son Heaven Gate yourself. The entrance is quite easy, motorbikes or cars can go. From the foot of the mountain, just go through the custard apple garden and climb about 1km to reach the top. However, there are many sloping sections and sharp gravel, so you need to prepare gloves and hard-soled mountain climbing shoes," she added.
Currently, the cable swing experience tour at Yen Son Heaven Gate is priced at nearly 3 million VND/person if you take your own vehicle to the trekking spot. With the option of private car pick-up and drop-off from Hanoi, the cost is about 3,500,000 VND/person.
For a smooth trip, tourists should prepare long-sleeved shirts with cool materials, stretchy pants, good-grip shoes, bring hats, scarves, sunscreen and drinks. In particular, you should choose clothes with striking colors to create accents when taking photos in the gray stone background and the green of the mountains and forests.
