Giếng Ngọc Gia Sinh

Useful Information

Location:	Gia Sinh, Gia Viễn, Ninh Bình. From province capital Ninh Binh follow QL1a north 6km turn left on QL38B. Signposted. (20.26893, 105.86325)
Open:	no restrictions. [2024]
Fee:	free. [2024]
Classification:	Karst Spring
Light:	n/a
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	yes
Bibliography:
Address:	Giếng Ngọc Gia Sinh, Tel: +84-.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Description

Giếng Ngọc (Jade Well, Pearl Well) is a rather common name for springs in Vietnam, even more if the water in the spring shows a blue-green colour. To make clear which Jade Well is meant, this one is generall called Giếng Ngọc Gia Sinh (Jade Well Gia Sinh), Gia Sinh is the name of the village where it is located. This is the largest water well in Vietnam. It is a karst spring at the foot of the Bai Dinh karst tower, located at the southern end of the Chùa Bái Đính (Bai Dinh Temple). It is also known as Giếng thần (God’s Well) or Mắt Rồng (Dragon’s Eye).

The well is used for 1,000 years. Legend has it that Zen Master Nguyen Minh Khong was told that the water from this spring has healing properties. So he started to make medicine from the water to cure nobles as well as commoners. He once even cured King Ly Than Tong. Nguyen Minh Khong lived during the early Ly Dynasty (1009-1225). He was not only a renowned medical practitioner, he also was the father of Vietnamese bronze casting, and he built some 500 Buddhist temples including nearby Dich Long. After his death in 1141 he has been worshiped as one of the four immortals of Vietnamese Buddhism. He is still revered as both a Saint and a God.

Today the well is surrounded by a circular wall with a diameter of 30 m. The water is 6 m deep.