There are hundreds, if not thousands, of lost cities scattered around the world. Many of them were simply forgotten while others were destroyed by tyrants and invading forces.
And some have been intentionally forgotten in time, such as the ancient “Lion City” in China.
Just 60 years ago, spurred by industrialization and the country’s “Great Leap Forward,” the historic city was flooded to make way for a new hydroelectric plant.
The city has recently been refounded and what divers have discovered among its remains is incredible.
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Located at the back of Qiandao Lake in Hangzhou, eastern China, the mysterious city stands exactly as it was when it was built in 621 AD.
It was founded and built during the Tang Dynasty and is believed to resemble many other Chinese cities of the time, although it is incredibly complex in its design and facilities.
Shī Cheng, as it was called by others of the time, was once a bustling cultural and advertising center.
Historical records recommend that it had more than 60 football fields and had 265 arches in 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.
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Much of the really old architecture disappeared a long time ago, as Shī Chéng was frequently inhabited until the 20th century and thus underwent wonderful changes in its architecture over the years.
While the city walls date back to the 16th century, the remaining streets date back to the 18th century.
However, they are incredibly old and have been preserved in such pristine condition thanks to the floods acting as a protective barrier against the elements.
While the previous government’s resolution destroyed the city and forced its 300,000 inhabitants to relocate, it preserved the relics for inspection and examination today.
Shī Cheng lay dormant for 40 years until he discovered it when in 2001 the Chinese government planned an expedition to explore the remains of the lost city.
Subsequently, in 2011, the Chinese publication National Geography photographed his numerous remains, which again aroused the interest of the general public.
A few years later, in 2014, diver Lou Shanliang was one of the first to dive into the lake and explore the wreckage.
Accompanied by a team whose task was to photograph the remains and then digitize them, they discovered a total global in the water, adding up the walls of the old city, the vast promenades, more than two hundred arcades, the five entrance gates and the six main streets.
“I hope that through our filming and exploration, more submerged ancient relics and the stories they contain can come to light again,” photographer Wu Lixin told The Smithsonian.
Today, Shī Cheng is a popular tourist destination, with organized underwater tours to get a glimpse of this once-filthy rich city.
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