Real life ‘Atlantis’ found on site of forgotten ancient city entirely submerged
Ancient city uncovered beneath Chinese lake
There are hundreds if not thousands of lost cities scattered across the world. Many of them have simply been forgotten while others have been destroyed by tyrants and invading forces.
And some have been purposefully forgotten in modern times, like the ancient so-called ‘Lion City’ in China.
Just 60 years ago, fuelled by industrialisation and the country’s ‘Great Leap Forward’, the historic metropolis was flooded to make way for a new hydropower plant.
Only recently was the city rediscovered, and what divers found among its remains is unbelievable.
READ MORE Archaeologists find ancient brick which could prove existence of Tower of Babel
Located at the bottom of Qiandao Lake in Hangzhou, eastern China, the mysterious city sits just as it did when it was first built in 621 AD.
It was founded and built by the Tang Dynasty, and it is believed to have been similar to many other Chinese cities of the time, though was extremely advanced in its layout and facilities.
Shī Chéng, as it was known by the people of the time, was once a bustling hub of commerce and culture.
Historical records suggest it was bigger than 60 football fields, and featured 265 arches throughout its streets.
While the norm for Chinese cities of the time sees four city gates built for entry and exit, Shī Chéng has five — a rarity and perhaps pointing towards some unknown significance.
Don’t miss…
Archaeologists taken aback by grim death of baby girls found inside Tut’s tomb[REPORT]
Archaeologists taken aback by Ancient Greek tool used at Stonehenge[LATEST]
Archaeologists stunned by death of ‘perfectly preserved’ 13,000-year-old girl[INSIGHT]
- Support fearless journalism
- Read The Daily Express online, advert free
- Get super-fast page loading
Much of the truly ancient architecture is long gone as Shī Chéng was continuously inhabited right up until the 20th century and so saw great changes to its architecture over the years.
While the city walls date to the 16th century, its surviving streets date to the 1700s.
Still, they are extremely old and have only been kept in such pristine condition because of the floodwaters acting as a protective barrier from the elements.
While the former government’s decision did in effect destroy the city and force its 300,000 inhabitants to relocate, it did in a way preserve the relics for inspection and study in the present day.
Shī Chéng lay dormant for 40 years until anyone took notice of it when, in 2001, the Chinese government planned an expedition to explore the remains of the lost city.
Later, in 2011, the Chinese National Geography publication released photographs of its many remnants, which further sparked interest among the general public.
Some years after, in 2014, diver Lou Shanliang became one of the first people to plunge into the lake and explore the remains.
Accompanied by a team whose task was to photograph the remains and later digitally enhance them, they found a whole world within the water, including the old city walls, vast promenades, over 200 archways, the five entry gates and six main streets.
“I hope that through our filming and exploration more submerged historic relics and the stories behind them can be brought to light again,” photographer Wu Lixin told the Smithsonian Channel.
Today, Shī Chéng is a popular tourist destination, with organised tours taking visitors underwater to catch a glimpse of the once-thriving city.
Source: Read Full Article